Mellow not accepting COLA

Add one more to the bandwagon: Senate Minority Leader Bob Mellow (D-Lackwanna County) said Thursday he will forgo his cost-of-living adjustment raise.

His announcement comes a day after a flurry of government leaders said they would not take their scheduled 2.8 percent pay increase, including Gov. Ed Rendell and Senate President Pro Temp and Lieutenant Governor Joe Scarnati. On Tuesday, House Democratic leadership said it would forgo its COLA.

"In view of the continued deterioration of the economy in Pennsylvania and the United States, I will forgo my cost-of-living adjustment for this year in response to the worsening state budget revenue shortfall," Mellow said in a statement.

The gesture doesn't represent much in actual savings, the minority leader said, it is "symbolic" move "to demonstrate leadership and solidarity with struggling working families during these extraordinarily difficult economic times."

Mellow is a rumored Democratic gubernatorial candidate in 2010.