(The following column by John Baer appeared on the Philadelphia Inquirer website on February 14.)
PHILADELPHIA — Here’s Valentine to SEPTA riders, workers and supporters visiting the Capitol today.
I’m with you. I like your cause and applaud your practice of democracy. But, listen, here’s some advice:
Rallies and protests are old hat in Harrisburg. People with purpose come all the time. They want more money and want it NOW!
They hold signs, chant slogans and cheer stuff screamed into microphones or bullhorns. Then they wander the halls a bit, maybe eat a box lunch, get back on the bus or train and go home. End of story.
Perhaps you’re different. Planners say up to 40 buses and an eight-car train means thousands of you – numbers, no question, hard to ignore. But, trust me, the Capitol’s a place known for ignoring things.
Take mass transit. It’s in trouble because the numbskulls making transportation policy ignored its growing funding woes for years.
So here’s what I suggest.
Get fired up. Walk out to the so-called plaza in front of the Capitol and look at the Cadillacs and SUVs. These are the rides of lawmakers and top staff, one of the reasons there’s little concern about transit.
Many of these rides are free. Members get up to $650 a-month to lease anything they want. Sweet, eh? If you had such a deal, would you worry about bus fare?
Walk into the Capitol. Check out the marble columns, Italian tile floors and honest-to-excessive gold leaf. Gorgeous, no? Enjoy. You paid for it.
Now, find a legislator, and start asking questions.
If a Republican says, hey, look, it’s up to Gov. Ed, he needs to offer a plan, just say, who you tryin’ to kid? Anything Ed offers Republicans trash. Isn’t the Legislature allowed to govern, too?
If a Democrat or a Republican tells you he or she is all for SEPTA but just one vote and the process is controlled by “leadership,” aka the same few middle-aged mostly rural white guys, try this:
Ask then what good are you? If only a handful make decisions, why do we pay you? In fact, why are there so many of you?
California has three times Pennsylvania’s population but less than half the legislators. Of the four states with “full-time” legislatures – us, California, Michigan, New York – nobody has as many as our 253. How come? Heck, cut your numbers in half and SEPTA’s saved.
And full time? You’re in session two or three days a-week maybe eight months a-year. Wish I had such a “full-time” job.
And, while we’re at it, if things are so tight and there’s no money for SEPTA, why is a Legislature that cost $300 million last fiscal year – more than $1 million per member – looking to spend $12 million more in the coming fiscal year?
What? Ignoring problems is increasingly costly?
And if you don’t know and can’t do anything, can I borrow your car until SEPTA’s fixed?
Ask about House and Senate “special leadership accounts.”
This year they total $48 million. Ask what they’re for. Then ask for some evidence of “special leadership.”
If you’re not getting anywhere, get personal.
Ask how lawmakers enjoy their per diems? This is $124 a day they get in addition to $70,000-a-year salaries (“leaders” top six figures) if they actually show up for work. Ask why they don’t have to account for how they spend per diems.
If any have the guts to answer ask this: why is there always money to help themselves to automatic annual pay raises, cars, slush funds and other perks but no money to help people who need public transit?
I mean why are they in office?
Then ask about free stuff from lobbyists: golf outings, ski lift tickets and passes good for free admission to movie theaters.
You like movies, don’t you? How’d you like a lawmakers’ pass for two so you and a buddy can see the latest flicks? Hey, I know, if you borrow the car you pay for, maybe your elected official will let you use his or her free movie pass as well.
That way, if you get no good answers today, when you get home tonight, you have something to take your mind off stuff. After, of course, a long, hot shower.