Rip Van Richards' perspective problem

House Speaker Jody Richards pre-filed House Joint Resolution 5 today along with co-sponsor Rep. Brent Yonts in an effort to take away LRC Executive Director Bobby Sherman's fat raise he got Wednesday.

While I can appreciate the desire to not give out the raise and although the political opportunity is certainly a no-lose proposition for Richards, it's a little hard to understand how he can muster so much outrage for this issue after he slept through the growing public employee benefits crisis for more than two decades:

"Whereas, the current dire economic situation in the Commonwealth and in our nation demands that legislatures take drastic measures to ensure sound fiscal stewardship; and"

"Whereas, in these unprecedented financial times, all public servants, including teachers, General Assembly members, and state and local employees are struggling with low salary increases and facing economic hardships; and"

"WHEREAS, it would be egregious to award one employee a 47 percent pay increase while other employees are limited to one percent or less by the biennial budget;"

Speaker Richards credibility on "sound fiscal stewardship" isn't so hot right about now. And I'm sure you noticed the bit about "General Assembly members" who are, according to Richards, "struggling with low salary increases and facing economic hardships."

Boo-hoo, Jody.