For Immediate Release
July 20, 2009
Contact: Todd Nyquist
(717) 787-7084
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Scarnati to Rendell: Pay Our State Workers 

WARREN—Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati is encouraging Governor Rendell to stop using state workers as pawns in his effort to increase our personal income tax by over 16 percent and pay them for their hard work. 

"It is clear that the Governor does not recognize that Pennsylvania families live paycheck to paycheck or he would follow the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and refrain from using payless paydays as a budgetary scare tactic," Scarnati stated.  "Unfortunately, we are dealing with a Governor who just does not care about working families and their desires to meet their financial obligations." 

According to the FLSA and related court cases, the Governor has the duty to pay our state workers, but is unwilling to do so because Senate Republicans are not meeting his budget demand of taking more money out of the pockets of Pennsylvania citizens.  Simply, the Governor can and should pay state workers for their work. 

Scarnati also went on to mention that he is pleased the Supreme Court agreed to hear the Council 13 et al. v. Commonwealth case (60 MAP 2008).  He is now urging the Court to schedule oral argument and resolution of these issues as soon as possible. 

"Quite frankly, I am shocked that the Governor would place the livelihoods of over 77,000 state workers and their families in jeopardy to make a case for a massive tax increase," Scarnati added.  "This budget negotiation needs to take place around a table, not on the backs of state employees." 

"With that said, Senate Republicans are confident that the Governor will finally see the wisdom in a budget that does not increase taxes and spends less than it did last year," Scarnati concluded.  "Once he comes to the realization that the public does not want their taxes raised, I am sure we can bring this budget impasse to a successful conclusion.  However, until then, he needs to pay our state workers."