Rep. Todd R. Platts, R-York, is the only one of the 21-member Pennsylvania congressional delegation -- composed of the state's representatives in both houses of Congress -- who would be an outstanding customer service representative.
Rep. Allyson Schwartz, D-Philadelphia, could, if her heart were in it.
When the Tribune-Review asked recently for their thoughts on the General Assembly's self-dealing pay-jacking -- an underhanded, unconscionable and unconstitutional violation of taxpayers, the treasury and trust -- 19 essentially said "that's not my department."
A few offered self-serving statements about voting against pay raises when they were in the Legislature. But they said nothing about this one. Most did not even respond to the repeated calls and e-mail. The few who did usually said it was a state issue.
Sen. Rick Santorum refused to comment on the matter to another newspaper: "I've got enough issues that I have to deal with," he said.
But Mr. Platts' spokesman said that "Congressman Platts has stated publicly his opposition to the recent state legislative pay increase. He believes it is especially wrong to accept this increase, midterm, as an unvouchered expense."
At least Mrs. Schwartz said that "Had I been faced with this vote a year ago, I would have voted no."
How the 19 could be indifferent to an issue affecting all their constituents seems inexplicable -- unless it's a professional courtesy they anticipate will be reciprocated for their next congressional pay grab.
