Also from an Aug. 25, 2005, article in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:
Rep. Mark Mustio is returning the salary increase he voted for himself July 7.
Mustio said Tuesday that he planned to use the increase to hire a part-time staff assistant to work on Medicare and prescription-drug issues but changed his mind last week when he realized the funding was included in his paycheck, rather than his office account, and as a result would benefit his pension. …
Mustio said he is pursuing other means to hire the extra worker for his office but will have to find a way to cut other office services — such as his constituent newsletter.
“I have to take money from elsewhere to do it now,” Mustio said.
Maybe there’s ANOTHER slush fund out there from which to get the money. I’m sure your constituents would hate to lose their newsletter …