Pennsylvania State Senate Leader Robert J. Mellow (D-Lackawanna), was first elected to that august body in 1970, and is now in his ninth consecutive term. It's hard to be Mellow, but Robert J. should head out to pasture. First off, he really thinks that, yes, as a top state senator, he ought to be paid $133,771.54 per annum. Long hours, big responsibilities, all that.

His longevity has bred not only a sense of entitlement, but contempt for those he serves. This recent news story recounts that he replied to a constitutent's e-mail, which protested his support of a legislative pay raise, with an e-mail of his own, stating:

"Why don't you get a life? Please do not mail my office another e-mail."

The constituent, 72-year-old Camp Hill retiree Bill McIntyre, was somewhat taken aback.

During the e-mail exchange that followed, McIntyre explained to Mellow that as an elected official, he could, and should, expect to continue hearing from him.

Mellow was free to delete or ignore the messages, McIntyre further wrote, signing the response "A Citizen who cares and will not forget."

That brought another response from Mellow: "You are not the only one who will not forget."

What a Putz, and I'm not talking about J.J. either. Now, the only thing worse than no apology for something like this a botched apology. Mellow says through a spokesman that he "regrets" the "tone and words" used in the e-mail and was under pressure from dealing with so many bulk and spam e-mail messages in his inbox. Try the word "sorry" on for size Senator Mellow, and skip the lame excuses.

Senator Robert J. Mellow (not) has confused himself with a Lesser God and has become the poster boy for "The Chilling Detachment of Pennysylvania Lawmakers." Nine consecutive terms. Feh. I think he's ready to become a lobbyist now.

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Posted by Matt Rosenberg at August 16, 2005 11:11 AM