Although the Pennsylvania budget is finally a done deal (after 143 days) and the federal government is operating (after 43 days), we the voters need to remember the perfectly pitiful job that our legislators performed during this time. Both state and federal representatives were being paid while not doing their jobs — that is, to work out an agreement to keep the government running, to do the people’s business.

Is there any working person you know who would keep their job and their pay while not performing their work? It was disgusting to keep hearing “It’s the Republicans at fault, it’s the Democrats at fault.” Listen up: The bottom line is you work for Americans, not a political party.

We voters will remember this in 2026.

Henry Clay, a legislator from Kentucky who served as a senator and a representative (and speaker of the House) in the mid-1800s, said there are three rules in Congress: compromise, compromise and compromise. That is how government needs to work.

Tim Babyak

Perryopolis

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