Perzel returns to area, reserves comment

While the pay-raise blow-back has raged for much of the summer, state House Speaker has conveniently been out of the line of fire (see prev. here) traveling the world. However, he's back now, and his colleagues and the state press were sure to look to him to defend the measure and/or provide some cover. However, at his first public appearance he avoided the topic and claimed to know nothing about the various bills introduced to repeal the raise or the unvouchered expenses portion. John Baer opines that the legislative leadership thinks "public discontent goes away if you don't talk about it." He may be right, but they just might be wrong.