Pa. lawmakers benefit from automatic pay raises

State Rep. Eric Davanzo is opposed to the law that guarantees legislators a salary increase each year.

Pennsylvania lawmakers received a 3.25% automatic pay raise this week, lifting their base salary to $113,575.

The increase went into effect Monday, even though the state budget was 135 days late, which forced schools, counties and nonprofits across the region to borrow money or cut services to get through the fall.

The raise is part of a 1995 law that grants annual costof- living increases to every member of the General Assembly and certain executive officials, including Gov. Josh Shapiro, whose salary rose from $245,760 to $253,747.

Lawmakers do not vote on the raises, which has renewed criticism in a year marked by gridlock.

Bruce Larson, a political science professor at Gettysburg College, said the public may see the automatic bump as out of touch.

“Most people don’t get annual raises written into law,” he said. “So when elected officials do, especially after a long budget delay, it lands badly.”

The delay wasn’t abstract for the Mon Valley.

School districts and nonprofits reported tightening budgets, freezing programs and in some cases taking out high-interest loans just to keep operating while the state held up funding.

Among local representatives asked to comment on the matter, Sens. Nick Pisciottano, Devlin Robinson, Camera Bartolotta and Patrick Stefano did not respond to request for comment. State Reps. Bud Cook, Tim O’Neal and Andrew Kuzma also did not respond to requests for comment as of press time.

State Rep. Eric Davanzo did respond and criticized the automatic raise system and the broader political climate in Harrisburg.

He opened by arguing that the frustration many residents feel extends beyond the pay issue itself.

“By all means, add automatic pay raises to the long list of issues that drain the public’s confidence in Har risburg,” Davanzo said. “That list already includes refusing to require ID at the polls and allowing biological males to compete in women’s school sports. The reality is, with divided government, we can’t even agree on what a woman is and is not.”

He then addressed the mechanism behind the raise and the timing of this year’s increase.

“As for the COLA, it’s automatic under state law and happens whether legislators support it or not. I understand why people are frustrated. When the budget is more than four months late, no lawmaker should feel comfortable with a pay increase. Taxpayers deserve better,” Davanzo said.

He went on to defend the budget standoff, arguing that the final agreement avoided tax increases and delivered wins he said are important for the region.

“The budget holdout was painful for many, but the House Democrats’ proposal lacked good policy and would have guaranteed a tax hike and hurt both families and communities,” he said. “The final result was a more responsible budget and getting Pennsylvania out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which was worth fighting for. Reopening our energy industry means jobs, lower energy costs and real economic growth for western Pennsylvania. That’s a fight I’ll show up for every time.”

Davanzo also repeated his long-standing position that lawmakers should be required to take public votes on their own pay.

“I’ve long believed that pay raises for elected officials should require a public vote. If House Democrat leaders schedule these reform bills, I’ll be a strong ‘yes’ and stand with the majority of Pennsylvanians who want commonsense solutions,” Davanzo said. He noted that the consequences of the delayed budget were felt in the Mon Valley.

“The budget impasse had real consequences here at home,” he said. “Schools, nonprofits and county agencies in the Mon Valley were forced to borrow money or cut back services just to stay afloat. When Harrisburg can’t get its work done on time, it’s our communities — especially our most vulnerable — who pay the price.”

Davanzo closed by saying he shares constituents’ concerns and frustration.

“My message to constituents is simple: Your frustration is justified. I share it. I’ll continue fighting for accountability, transparency and a budget process that respects the people who fund this government,” he said.

Before the latest raise, all eight local lawmakers earned the standard rank-and-file salary of $110,015.54, the base rate set for the year beginning Dec. 1, 2024.

With the 3.25% cost-of-living bump that took effect this week, their annual pay now stands at $113,575.

None of the lawmakers listed hold leadership posts that would qualify them for higher compensation.

Lawmakers in Harrisburg have been split on whether to keep automatic raises.

Some argue the COLA helps attract and retain qualified candidates.

Others have pushed repeatedly to eliminate the system entirely and force open votes on salary increases.

Political analysts say the tension is predictable.

Thomas Baldoni, who taught political science at Wilkes University for nearly three decades, said the raise “becomes unnecessary only because the legislators bring it upon themselves by not fulfilling their obligations. In this instance, by not passing a budget on time.”

Pennsylvania remains one of the highest-paying legislatures in the country. Only New York and California have higher base salaries.

Meanwhile, many states with parttime legislatures pay far less. New Hampshire lawmakers earn $100 a year and New Mexico legislators are unpaid.