A few weeks ago in this space I criticized Gov. Ed Rendell for the hypocrisy of placing a moratorium on the use of taxpayer funds for policymakers to travel out-of-state (to ease the strain on the commonwealth's depleted coffers), but then allowing Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff to use a taxpayer-funded car and fuel to go job-hunting outside of Penn's Woods.

Well, the governor has earned himself another scarlet "H."

In September, he ordered a freeze on the hiring of state workers to abate the commonwealth's worsening revenue shortfall. Commendable. But recently it was learned that Rendell hired a crony - former longtime Democrat state legislator Dan Surra - for a $95,000 per-year, custom-made job with the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR).

Several midstate legislators, justifiably angered by the move, penned a letter to Rendell asking several pointed questions, including:

1. Can you assure the people of Pennsylvania without hesitation that the $95,000 being spent on the former House Democrat leader's salary will better serve their needs than if this money had been spent on any of the programs or services that you cut in September and December?

2. Was the job for which the former House Democrat leader hired publicly posted?

3. Did more than one person apply for the position and, if so, were there more qualified candidates?

Sidebar: The upside of Rendell's latest hypocrisy is that it leaves egg on the faces of those who stubbornly defend the pay raise caper of 2005 on the grounds that higher pay is needed to lure talented individuals from the private sector to government. Surra joins a long list of ex-legislators who found the government sector quite comfy after their stints in the General Assembly came to a close (some others include Joe Gladeck, Tim Pesci, Pete Zug, Joe Conti, John Lawless and Len Gruppo).

Rendell fired back saying that he reserves the right to make exceptions. In other words, do as I say, not as I do.
What do you think?

Matthew J. Brouillette is president and chief executive officer of the Commonwealth Foundation. For more about Brouillette, click here.

He has to be shown that He works for the people of PA. He is not a dictator.

Bill Mitchell

Does Mr Rendell even know what the word 'accountable' means? How about 'role model'? (If not, I suggest he find a Webster's dictionary. I'd rather not loan him mine, I'm not sure a LOAN would be returned to me.)

As an American I have the right of free speech. I also have the right to move to another state if I so wish. It's the devil I know vs. the devil I don't. I'll stick with what I know for now, keep stating my opinion loud and often AND vote my conscience. At least I have one.