At a time when so many Pennsylvania families are struggling, is it right for elected officials already making $80,000 a year to give themselves a pay raise?

From a Harrisburg Patriot News editorial urging Pennsylvania lawmakers to forgo a scheduled pay increase on Dec. 1:

Teachers do it. State workers do it.

It's about time our elected officials did it, too.

Tens of millions of private-sector employees have seen their pay frozen for one, two or even three years now.

Federal employees have had a freeze on cost-of-living adjustments since last fall.

The state House should accept a one-year pay freeze. The state Senate should do the same.

It's not about politics. It's about integrity.

Does your state representative or state senator feel your pain? If not, perhaps you should send them a simple message: Give yourself a pay hike on Dec. 1, and I'll vote you out of office in 2012.

Read the full editorial at the newspaper's website.