It's not the fact that Saskatchewan MLAs voted themselves a 4.5 per cent raise that sticks in taxpayers' craw. Rather, it's the principle of the raise and the unavoidable long-term consequences of this action.

Last year's budget implemented a number of so-called "austerity measures" aimed at holding the line on spending. It was hard not to laugh while writing that last sentence, because none of those measures actually saved taxpayers a nickel. On the contrary, program spending in 2004-05 surpassed budget forecasts by an estimated $300 million.

The most important spending control initiative announced in last year's budget was the"0-1-1 mandate" restricting public sector salary increases to zero in the first year and one per cent in each of the following two years. The province said - correctly - that the payroll was an important part of spending control. Salaries account for nearly 70 per cent of education budget and 60 per cent of health spending (although other estimates suggest that number is as high as 75 per cent).

Their resolve melted away when striking government employees picketed the legislature on the day of an important vote, thereby forcing a "light at the end of the tunnel" concession from government.

In an effort to lead by example, our MLAs turned down a proposed 2.3 per cent pay increase last year. While hardly noble, this was a sensible decision in light of the province's now laughable "austerity measures."

This year, however, all bets are off. An all-party committee of MLAs voted to give themselves a raise of 2.2 per cent. But they didn't stop there. Remember that 2.3 per cent they turned down last year in an effort to show some leadership and back bone Well, they are taking that raise too.

Adding salt to taxpayers' wounds are the pathetic excuses for this hypocrisy. NDP MLA Kevin Yates defended the move in the Regina Leader Post by saying "[I]t was unanimous amongst government and opposition members on the board that to play with this would just cause more problems and, because it was set independently, just to leave it."

Umm-right. Giving themselves a bigger raise than anyone else in government actually prevents problems, their story goes. Do they really expect the public to buy this drivel

This isn't just another case of greedy politicians helping themselves to taxpayer money. A $3,000 raise for your average MLA isn't reason in itself to chase these people out of Regina. The issue is much greater than the dollars involved because it speaks to the character and judgment of our elected representatives. Shame on the Saskatchewan Party for making political gains by mocking the NDP's lack of resolve on 0-1-1 and then turning around and voting themselves a double raise. Shame on both parties for showing such appalling lack of discipline, leadership and judgment.

Having voted themselves a 4.5 per cent raise, MLAs have no moral authority to say "no" to anyone else who wants a similar increase.

As always, it is the taxpayers who will be footing the bill for this mess. And it's not just the six figures for the MLA raise. The cost of the litany of public sector unions crying "me too!" will be measured in millions.