HARRISBURG – State Rep. Dallas Kephart (R-Clearfield/Cambria) doesn’t think elected officials should receive automatic pay raises but was silenced last week in an attempt to do something about it.
“For years, legislators, judges and executive officials have enjoyed an automatic COLA (cost-of-living adjustment) …a.k.a. yearly pay raise,” said Kephart.
“During session on Monday, Nov. 13, I tried to end that practice by amending a piece of legislation and holding legislators accountable to the people back home by requiring them to vote on their salary increases.”
When Kephart’s amendment was called up for consideration in the House chamber, Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton prevented the vote from happening.
“My proposal isn’t popular with some in Harrisburg, but holding politicians accountable is the right thing to do,” Kephart added. “The good people we represent aren’t getting automatic raises and must deal with increased expenses caused by inflation.
“Giving yourself a pay raise without accountability is not acceptable,” Kephart commented.
Questions about this or any state government issue should be directed to Kephart’s Clearfield district office at 814-765-0609, his Hastings office at 814-247-6210 or his Osceola Mills office at 814-339-6544.
