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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | August 4, 2020 11:41 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Melissa L. Shusterman |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Prohibit the Cost-of-Living Adjustment Through 2023 |
| By law, members of the General Assembly receive an annual cost-of-living adjustment based upon the year-over-year change in the Consumer Price Index. However, actions taken to mitigate further spread of the COVID-19 virus have caused a projected $3.2 billion budget shortfall for our state and have led to a spike in unemployment. The state Independent Fiscal Office has estimated we will permanently lose $5 billion in revenue through June of 2021 because of the pandemic. As such, it is unfair that we, as lawmakers, receive a cost-of-living adjustment while millions of hardworking Pennsylvanians continue to struggle to meet their basic needs amidst an ongoing global pandemic. Our residents deserve to know that we recognize the struggles they face every day and that we understand the harsh economic realities facing Pennsylvania. For these reasons, I plan to introduce legislation that will amend the Public Official Compensation Law to prevent a cost-of-living adjustment for the next three years for members and leaders of the General Assembly. Furthermore, my legislation will prevent a cost-of-living adjustment if, at any point in the previous year, the state unemployment rate was greater than 10%. This is a necessary piece of legislation that will ensure members of the General Assembly receive salary increases only in favorable economic times, and not during continued economic fallout from a global pandemic. Please join me in co-sponsoring this legislation. Your consideration is greatly appreciated. |
Introduced as HB2929