Totalitarian Pennsylvania Update.

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- If lawmakers repeal the unpopular pay raise they approved in July, a 1995 law will kick in and provide both them and judges with a cost-of-living increase this year.

And they'll get the cost-of-living increase whether or not they pay back the extra money they reaped over the past four months.

The 1995 law introduced an annual cost-of-living adjustment that was billed as an end to the practice of giving themselves an occasional pay raise.

Legislation that would repeal the pay raise is poised for a Senate vote Wednesday.

The cost-of-living increase will take effect on Dec. 1, and is based on the inflation of consumer goods in the Philadelphia area through the end of October.

That figure has not been released by the federal government yet, but one economist estimates it will be above four percent.

See How House Members Voted On The Pay Raise
See How Senate Members Voted On The Pay Raise