Dear Editor:

Our state legislators recently bragged that they are not accepting an automatic cost-of-living raise. It's interesting that none of them has co-sponsored House Bill 1331 or Senate Bill 1074, which would repeal these raises.If they are truly opposed to raises that none of us in the real world receives, why not put their money where their mouth is by co-sponsoring permanent repeal? Could it be because those raises beef up their pension?Dave Argall's pension is now close to $100,000 a year. Argall actually had the gumption to state that it is common practice for him to give back pay raises, yet Argall never gave back the illegal 30 percent pay raise he helped ram through in 2006.Senator Rhoades, who was a true statesman, gave back every nickel of that raise. It is a shame that Dave Argall continues to make a mockery of Sen. Rhoades' legacy while insulting the intelligence of the taxpayers.Sincerely,Wendell GainerWashington Township