Pennsylvania's state legislature just gave itself a nice, big pat on the back, in the form of a ridiculous 16 percent pay raise, making it the second-highest-paid in the country.

The legislature currently makes $69,647 a year. This increase will put salaries at a little more than $81,000 -- and that doesn't include annual cost-of-living increases, fully paid health insurance, sizeable pensions, $7,800 a year for vehicle costs, and a $129-a-day allowance for those who live more than 50 miles from Harrisburg.

That just doesn't seem fair compared to the average Pennsylvanian's salary, especially when so many citizens are living on minimum wage.

And while state lawmakers can figure out a way to give themselves a raise, they cannot figure out a way to ease other financial problems, including threats to our own Centre Area Transportation Authority and Philadelphia's Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. And let's not forget the inevitable tuition hikes that will occur because of a lack of funding.

There isn't much that can be done to prevent these pay raises, but voters can prevent future hikes by remembering their local representatives' decision next Election Day. More immediately, voters can contact local representatives to complain.

Sen. Jake Corman, R-Centre, approved the pay hike, as did Rep. Lynn Herman, R-Centre. Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre, voted against the raise.

Their contact information, and contact information for all state lawmakers, can be found at www.state.pa.us.