Pennsylvania lawmakers aren’t going to be able to go to work for a while.
Yes, it sounds like the start to a particularly frustrating joke. But it’s true. The House of Representatives won’t be able to go back into chambers for about three months because of repairs.
The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reported that, when state representatives recess this week, they won’t return until March 18, except for two short instances. They will convene as required by the state Constitution on Jan. 2. They also will meet with the Senate in the Capitol Rotunda for the governor’s annual budget address Feb. 6.
Other than that, they will be on hiatus while a ruptured heating coil in the chamber’s historic, muraled ceiling is repaired at a cost of $150,000.
Yes, there is a reason. And yes, all of the representatives do have offices in their home districts where they can work.
But it’s still a bit galling to have the third highest paid lawmakers in the nation get a three-month break — especially when they just got yet another pay raise.
So yes, the chambers will be unavailable, but legislators had best take this forced absence as an opportunity.
They need to listen to constituents. They need to have conference calls and online meetings. They need to resolve the issues that are keeping so many bills languishing in committees so, when they get back to work in March, they can make swift work of issues that have been lingering far too long.
Maybe they could practice reaching across the aisle. Maybe they could find projects supported by people of the other party. Maybe they could hunt around for common ground.
There is certainly enough time.
