Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA)   July 28, 2005 Section: LOCAL Edition: CITY-D Page: A01  Pay-raise opponents stripped of posts 15 House Democrats who voted against a 16 percent   increase were demoted. Some say they are paying a penalty. Amy Worden INQUIRER HARRISBURG BUREAU   Fifteen House Democrats who voted against the controversial legislative pay raise were stripped of their committee leadership positions in an unusual midterm shake-up that some members viewed as payback for their "no" votes.   In a letter to House Speaker John Perzel (R., Phila.) last week, House Minority Leader H. William DeWeese announced changes in 16 House committees. Committee assignments are routinely made at the beginning of a new session, not mid-session. The moves appeared designed to reward lawmakers who voted for the 16 percent pay raise and punish those who did not. Under the new salary structure, those in committee leadership positions receive an additional $4,050 a year.   DeWeese would not comment on the shake-up. His spokesman issued a statement but refused to discuss the timing of the changes or why they were made. "The leader has discretion to change assignments whenever he wants," said Tom Andrews, press secretary for DeWeese. "This is just a shuffling of positions."   Others said the reason was clear: It was payback time.   Under the pay-raise bill, which was approved by the General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Rendell earlier this month, the legislative base pay rose from $69,648 to $81,050. Committee and subcommittee chairmen make an additional $4,050; committee and subcommittee secretaries receive no additional compensation.   "What Democratic leadership said to members was: If you vote for the pay raise you will get [$4,050], if you don't you won't," said Rep. Greg Vitali (D., Delaware), who voted against the pay raise and was demoted to secretary from his position as chairman of the subcommittee on energy.   Vitali said the move raises legal questions.   "They are using tax dollars to entice a legislator to vote one way or another," he said. "It's not about the money, it's about leadership acting within its legal authority. My gut feeling is they have exceeded it."   In all, 12 subcommittee chairmen and three committee vice chairmen who voted against the raise were removed or demoted to secretary. One was stripped of leadership in two subcommittees. Democratic lawmakers who voted for the pay hike were moved into the higher-ranking and higher-paid positions.   The state constitution forbids lawmakers from taking the raise until December 2006, the beginning of the next term. But most lawmakers are expected to sidestep that requirement by taking the extra pay from expense accounts, starting with next month's paychecks.   Rep. Robert Freeman (D., Northampton), who voted against the pay raise and was removed from his position as chairman of the subcommittee on townships, said he thinks that using committee posts to punish or reward members "hurts the caucus in the long run."   "Individuals have achieved expertise in these areas that have advanced the caucus agenda," said Freeman, an expert in land-use issues. He spearheaded the "Elm Street" initiative to revitalize aging suburbs that is now funded as part of the budget.   Because Republicans control the House and thus the committees, Democratic chairmen wield little power in controlling movement of bills through committee, but lawmakers say the positions are an important way for Democrats to have a voice at the committee table.   Rep. Daylin Leach (D., Montgomery), who supported the pay raise, said he had no idea why he was promoted to chairman of the subcommittee on counties. He replaced Rep. Michael Hanna (D., Centre), who voted against the pay raise.   "I was threatened with nothing and promised nothing," Leach said.   Steve Miskin, spokesman for House Majority Leader Sam Smith (R., Jefferson), said there are no plans to make any committee changes in the House Republican caucus.   Marc Stier, an organizer of a new Democratic political group in Philadelphia, said he was appalled at the notion that members were punished for voting independently.   "On an issue like this, they should be free to vote their conscience," said Stier, whose group, Neighborhood Networks, is planning to circulate a petition urging lawmakers to obey the constitution and not take the raise until the new term.   Political analyst G. Terry Madonna said the move is not surprising in a legislature known as one of the most controlling in the country. "They do what they need to do to enforce discipline," he said.   DeWeese has been accused of retribution against mavericks in his party in the past.   Rep. Rosita Youngblood (D., Phila.) sued DeWeese and Minority Whip Mike Veon (D., Beaver) in 2002 after they cut $25,000 from the budget of her district office. She claimed the reduction was punishment for refusing to support the party line on key votes. The suit was dismissed in 2003 by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.   In 1997, then-State Rep. Lisa Boscola (D., Lehigh) said she was removed from committee positions by DeWeese for voting in favor of several Republican-sponsored bills.   Boscola was among those who supported a successful effort to change the way committee chairmen are named. Democratic leadership must now appoint committee chairmen on the basis of seniority, not merit.   Contact staff writer Amy Worden at 717-783-2584 or aworden@phillynews.com.   Removed From Posts   The following House Democrats who voted against a pay hike were removed as subcommittee chairs or as party vice chairs on committees.   Removed Subcommittee   Anthony M. DeLuca (Allegheny) Second-class cities and counties   Robert L. Freeman (Northampton) Townships   Jennifer L. Mann (Lehigh) Third-class cities and counties   Michael K. Hanna (Centre) Counties   Anthony J. Melio (Bucks) Highways   John Myers (Philadelphia) Human services   Joseph A. Petrarca (Armstrong) Aviation   Chris Sainato (Beaver) Recreation   Steve Samuelson (Lehigh) Care and services   Thomas A. Tangretti (Westmoreland) Economic impact and infrastructure   Financial service and banking   Greg S. Vitali (Delaware) Energy   Thomas F. Yewcic (Cambria) Economic development   Removed Committee   Richard T. Grucela (Northampton) Democratic vice chair, Agriculture and Rural Affairs   Gary Haluska (Cambria) Democratic vice chair, Game and Fisheries   James E. Shaner (Fayette) Democratic vice chair, Finance   SOURCE: Office of Minority Leader H. William DeWeese