Three local legislators will not be accepting the yearly Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), which is set to go into effect for Pennsylvania lawmakers on Jan. 1.
"Last year, my seniors in my district did not get a cost increase. With the conditions of the economy, I don't have the right to take it yet. We need to be in a better economic place for me to take a raise," said state Rep. Lynda Schlegel Culver (R-108) Friday evening.
She plans to return the money to the treasury.
State Rep. Kurt Masser (R-107) has not yet decided whether he will be following Culver's example or donating the increase to a local charity.
"The economy is not what we'd like to see right now. We have more work to do," he said.
State Sen. John Gordner (R-27) said he was not planning on taking the increase.
"My senate staff is in its third year without a raise because of budgetary issues with the state. I don't feel it's appropriate to take an increase when my staff hasn't gotten one," he said.
Last year, the senator wrote 17 checks, giving money to public libraries in his district, but this year, he plans to donate to local charitable organizations and projects.