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Friday, December 5, 2008
State Rep. Cohen mum on whether he will return his raise

 

Don’t bother asking State Rep. Mark Cohen whether he, like each and every one of the other House Democratic leaders, is giving back his cost-of-living-adjustment that kicked in Monday.


He’s not saying. In fact, the Philadelphia Democrat might just walk away if you pursue it.


That’s what I found out yesterday.


After top Democratic leaders in the House announced late Tuesday that they were foregoing the 2.8 percent COLA, I stopped by Cohen’s Capitol office. He’s been in leadership since 1990, and currently served as Caucus Chairman.


He wasn’t there, so I left a message. No response.


I tried calling. Still no response.


Yesterday, in the basement of the Capitol, I ran into Cohen and told him I had reached out twice, unsuccessfully.


“I respect your right to make phone calls,” he told me. I then asked if he was going to give back the COLA. He turned from me, without answering, and walked away.


He is now making $94,949 -- $2,600 of which comes courtesy of the annual COLA.


A source told me that when House Democratic leaders were deciding early this week whether to give the money back, Cohen argued against the move.


Cohen is the odd man out.


The seven others in the House Democratic leadership ranks – from presumptive House Speaker Keith McCall of Carbon County to Appropriations Chairman Dwight Evans of Philadelphia -- have publicly announced they will return the extra cash given the struggling economy and ballooning state budget deficit.

Cohen, some might recall, is not shy from spending freely when it comes to public dollars.

He has routinely been among the top lawmakers when it comes to racking up state meal and lodging reimbursements and spent more than $28,000 of tax dollars to buy 800 plus books in 2004 and 2005.

 

Click here for Philly.com's politics page.

Posted by Mario Cattabiani @ 2:29 PM  Permalink | 18 comments
Comments   
Posted 02:36 PM, 12/05/2008
Mike S.
Another thieving Democrap....
Posted 02:43 PM, 12/05/2008
Bender
Another thieving politician... anyone who thinks this is about party is ignorant.
Posted 02:43 PM, 12/05/2008
Bender
Another thieving politician... anyone who thinks this is about party is ignorant.
Posted 02:47 PM, 12/05/2008
tonyS
Thieves and crooks never return anything.
Posted 02:50 PM, 12/05/2008
jacksplat
Many of us continue to wonder how and why Coen keeps getting elected. His mannerisms are extremely odd making one wonder about his intelligence. Again, shame on Philly for continuing to re-electe him. Ya get what ya deserve. You have Coen, Vince and a large number of like characters. No much wonder our state government is a mess.
Posted 02:54 PM, 12/05/2008
bdunf
Maybe he's using the money to buy some shampoo before he gets his picture taken again. And as a Democrat in Philly he has that job for life anyway! Of course he's keeping the money!
Posted 03:00 PM, 12/05/2008
idempotent
Why wouldn't he keep his COLA? If you think he's being paid too much then just say that instead, ... but anyone who gets an income should get a COLA with it.
Posted 03:07 PM, 12/05/2008
gobirds556
what a creepy picture!
Posted 03:28 PM, 12/05/2008
akefer
Isn't this the same Mark Cohen who charges taxpayers thousands of dollars a year to feed a voracious appetite for reading books that he, 'Uses for legislative research.'? Phlly, Puhlease remove this man from office. He rarely visits his district and now wants to keep the COLA increase? Does he realize that he makes more than twice the average PA Household income?! I'm sorry, but even as a lifelong, bleeding heart, I find this man to be an utter disgrace. Read him the riot act for god's sake!
Posted 03:45 PM, 12/05/2008
fafafooey
jacksplat, why does he keep getting elected? If the unions/ministers/Democrat ward leaders tell the Philly sheeple that's who they should vote for, that's who they vote for. No thinking - the lemmings do what they're told.
Comment removed.
Posted 04:58 PM, 12/05/2008
fafafooey
Anti, you've got to be kidding. His constituents will re-elect him if the Democrat party bosses say so.
Posted 04:58 PM, 12/05/2008
toph314
First of all, getting a COLA isn't "thieving." Just because the author is spinning his actions as conniving, doesn't mean he's breaking the law by not giving back his raise. Some might deem it the "right" thing to do, and thus think negatively if he doesn't (which you are entitled to think) but let's be realistic.
Posted 05:12 PM, 12/05/2008
John Law
Folks...he ran unappossed last month.
Posted 05:25 PM, 12/05/2008
Fernando08
Maybe he needs the extra money to pay for the 75 cents the stinquire costs or maybe it's to cover his comcast bill increase or his Phillies tickets price boost or all of the other money we are getting ripped off for by corporate billionaire ceo's.
Posted 01:40 AM, 12/06/2008
BROTHER BEAR
Look at him. Do you think the "Pig" cares. But again why should he give it up. He knows the inner circles of politics. All politics take advantage, all of them and I mean "ALL" so he is just honest, the others are liars and sneaks. I congratulate him. He is honest. That is about the only honest thing he has done and you want him to give it up I'll take it. Besides who put him in office. He couldn't have gotten in office and ROB without your help. Think of the gems you put in office and remember to put them back in. I would put Jesse James in at least I know he is a "CROOK"
Comment removed.
Posted 04:17 PM, 12/06/2008
sickofcorruption
This creep has been in office entirely TOO long. In addition to his voluminous book collection paid for by taxpayers (which includes "Zen for Dummies") he needs to add this book, "How to make an HONEST living." This mouth-breathing creep has been sucking taxpayers dry for entirely too long.
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About Commonwealth Confidential
Commonwealth Confidential gives you regularly updated coverage of the state legislature, the governor and the workings of the state bureaucracy. It is written by the political reporters in the Inquirer's Harrisburg bureau, based right in the statehouse.

Mario F. Cattabiani (left) has covered state government and politics from Harrisburg since 1994, the last six years for the Inquirer. In July, he was ranked by PolitickerPa.com as No. 1 among the "Most Powerful Political Reporters" in Pennsylvania.

Angela Couloumbis (center) joined The Philadelphia Inquirer in 1998, and has covered government and politics in New Jersey, Philadelphia and throughout Pennsylvania, including Gov. Rendell’s 2006 race against former Pittsburgh Steeler Lynn Swann.

Amy Worden (right) joined the Inquirer in 2000 and has covered governors, gubernatorial races, U.S. Senate races and three presidential campaigns. When not covering politics she can be found filing dispatches from disaster scenes or digging into local stories of national import.
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