Never thought I would see the day

That a politician did not take a pay raise. . . but it is here. This from the Boston Herald:

One Republican lawmaker has already refused a pricey 5.5 percent pay increase for state legislators Gov. Deval Patrick recommended yesterday, saying the raise is a slap in the face to struggling families.

The hike would raise legislators’ base pay from $58,237 to $61,440, even as they consider slashing millions from the state budget.

“I cannot in good conscience accept a raise in legislative pay when there are so many families across the state who cannot afford to meet their household expenses,” said Rep. Karyn Polito (R-Shrewsbury) in a statement.

Why am I not surprised that in this state it was a REPUBLICAN that did the right thing? Yet we still leave the Dems in charge. Any bets on what she just did to her chance to get re-elected or otherwise ground to dust by the Dems in charge for making them look bad?

We are going to go down fast now that the economy is not turning around even with Dear Leader Zero getting ready to take over. We are going to spend our selves out of existence at the State and Federal levels . . . . can't wait. . .

Update from the Boston Globe - More Lawmakers do the right thing:

Representative Viriato deMacedo, the ranking Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, said he would donate the raise of $3,203 to a Plymouth food pantry, which lost $150,000 in funding in the last round of budget cuts.

House Minority Leader Bradley Jones said he would not accept the pay hike. Representatives Karyn Polito, a Republican from Shrewsbury, and Democrat Garrett Bradley of Hingham are also planning to reject the raise, according to State House New Service.

Representative Harriet L. Stanley, a West Newbury Democrat, said she too would donate her raise to charity.