Legislators differ in responses to repeal

Rep. Chris Sainato is giving the money to a Playhouse scholarship fund.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU
State Rep. Frank LaGrotta of Ellwood City says he's not apologizing for voting for the recent controversial state legislators' pay raise, but he's savvy enough to know when to stop pushing for it.
"I think the jobs that we do are worth $81,000 a year, but I don't anticipate there will ever be another salary increase in the Legislature as long as I'm there. The members are so skittish right now; they will never get 102 votes," said the Ellwood City Democrat who has represented parts of Lawrence, Beaver and Butler counties for more than 20 years.
The hefty pay raises legislators gave themselves, which ranged from 16-percent to 34-percent increases, have been the source of statewide controversy since the bill was passed in the early hours of July 7.
The lawmakers will still receive their annual 3-percent cost-of-living raise next month.
And while lawmakers repealed the pay raises last week, some still took the extra pay through an unvouchered expense.
LaGrotta, D-10th, said he's not giving the money back. He claims the money was used to buy a new computer for his office and pay some mileage to his employees.
But state Sen. Bob Robbins of Greenville, R-50th, does plan to return the money.
"Simply put, this is the right thing to do," he said in a press release.
Robbins, who initially voted for the raise, said he's heard from many voters who urged him to repeal it. He says it's now time to focus on property tax reform and other statewide issues.
Unlike Robbins, state Rep. Chris Sainato of New Castle, D-9th, did not vote for the pay raise, but he did take the unvouchered expense pay when it was passed.
Keeping money in county
Sainato said he initially promised the money to the New Castle Playhouse for a scholarship fund, and he intends to continue with that plan.
"If I were to give the money back, it would go into the leadership account, and no money would come to Lawrence County," Sainato said of his decision. "Most people have been very supportive of my decision. It was the law; you were entitled to it. I wanted to do something good with it."
Sainato said there was a price to pay for his initial vote to not support the pay raise. He said he was removed from a subcommittee chairmanship because he did not support the pay increase.
Other decisions
Other lawmakers in the area did not support the pay raise and did not take the unvouchered expenses. They include state Rep. Rod Wilt of Greenville, R-17th, and state Rep. Richard Stevenson of Grove City, R-8th, and both voted to repeal the pay raise last week.
State Rep. Mike Gruitza of Hermitage, D-7th, did vote for the pay raise and took the unvouchered expenses. He did not return telephone calls seeking comment.
It was a similar situation for state Sen. Gerald LaValle of Rochester, D-47th. LaValle voted for and took the pay raise. A spokeswoman from his office said that he is no longer commenting on the matter.
cioffi@vindy.com