The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

December 12, 2008

Robbins will return pay raise

By Nick Hildebrand

MERCER COUNTY AREA — State Sen. Robert D. “Bob” Robbins is among the Pennsylvania lawmakers and state officials who said they will return a 2.8 percent cost- of-living increase.

Robbins, who as Caucus Secretary is a member of the Senate Republican leadership, was among the legislators who announced early on they would return the automatic raise in light of the state’s dire financial state.

Pennsylvania is looking at a $1.6 billion deficit because of reduced tax revenues. Gov. Ed Rendell, members of his cabinet and House and Senate party leaders have pledged to return their raises to the state’s treasury.

State Rep. Michele Brooks, Jamestown, R-17th District, has said she would return the raise. Reps. Mark Longietti, Farrell, D-7th District, and Dick Stevenson, Grove City, R-8th District, said they will keep the money.

Calls earlier this week to Robbins’ office and Salem Township home were not returned. On Friday, the pay raise return was the subject of a Herald editorial that cited the lack of a call-back from the senator, whose 50th District includes all of Mercer County.

In an e-mail Friday, Carol Maravic, director of the Senate Republican Communications Office, brought to The Herald’s attention a Dec. 3 news release about the leadership’s decision to return their pay raises. The news release wasn’t available on Robbins’ Senate Web site.

State employees can’t refuse the raises. They must return the money to the state after they are paid and they remain responsible for any taxes on the income.

On top of a base salary of $78,314, Robbins earns an additional $10,985 a year as caucus secretary, according to W. Russell Faber, chief clerk of the Senate.

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