As Pennsylvania General Assembly incumbents trek the campaign trail this year, one of the questions voters ought to ask them is, "How much per-diem pay did you receive in 2005?"

State lawmakers are paid $72,187 in base pay, receive generous car allowances and premium health insurance, as well as generous pension benefits. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported last week that some Pennsylvania lawmakers are greatly enhancing their income by way of per-diem compensation.

That's the extra money lawmakers receive for showing up at the state capital to attend regular sessions, committee meetings — or just spending time in their Harrisburg offices when the legislature is not in session. It is not part of their regular legislative salary.

According to the Inquirer, some lawmakers have collected more than $46,000 in per diems over the last two years. Each year, the state's taxpayers dole out about $2.7 million in per diems, the newspaper reported.

That's excessive.

Per-diem pay in this state — $141 a day — is more generous than similar pay received by lawmakers in most other states. Meanwhile, rules for per diems here have been described as being scant and loose.

The National Conference of State Legislatures reports that some states allow per diems only for days lawmakers are voting. In addition, six states, including Delaware, Ohio and New Jersey, don't allow them at all.

Pennsylvania ought to tighten the rules for per diems. What restrictions now exist do little to counter the reality that too many Keystone State lawmakers are in Harrisburg to serve themselves, more than to work on behalf of their constituents.

Because of lawmakers' already generous salary and benefits, for starters, the per-diem pay should be scaled back to only those days when lawmakers are present for actual legislative sessions.

While some vehicle owners ignore inserts that accompany their annual registration application, concentrating instead on filling out the card for their new license plate sticker, they shouldn't ignore the yellow card that is included with their applications this year.Some of the information on that card is too important to ignore.The state Department of Transportation merits a thumbs-up for taking the time to produce it."If you encounter an aggressive driver, make a safe attempt to get out of the way and avoid challenges and eye contact," the card recommends. "Report aggressive driving behavior to authorities."With many people these days carrying cell phones, reporting dangerous driving is easy to do — at the time it is occurring. People who have access to police monitors are hearing more frequently about calls to 911 relating to dangerous driving practices.Some reckless drivers don't bother to consider the "cell phone factor" as they engage in unsafe practices, but they should.Among the other information on the PennDOT card is that in Pennsylvania alone, 1,490 people died in crashes in 2004, many because of aggressive driving and drunk driving. The card reports that in 2004, 578 people killed in car crashes on Pennsylvania highways were not wearing a seat belt.In addition, the card says drivers can obtain more information about safe driving at the Web site www.dmv.state.pa.us.The card is worth the time and effort that was involved in producing it. Anyone who receives one should read it, front and back.

An article in last Sunday's Butler Eagle that accompanied a story about the new executive director of the Butler County Humane Society reported that the Points of Light Foundation, in partnership with USA Weekend magazine, had honored five society volunteers by way of a Make a Difference Day Award.The volunteers — Trisha Abrams, Diane Alberti, Mary Angert, Kathleen Gardina and Mary Wile — were recognized for operating flea market booths inside and outside the Clearview Mart on Route 8 in Center Township to raise money for the society's animal shelter.They deserve praise for their dedication to the effort, which has continued each weekend for three years. The booths have raised $5,000 or more each year.Since all of the flea market items that are sold are donated, many other people are involved in this successful project."We have a good time, for a very good cause," Alberti said.Butler County has a very good record in terms of people volunteering for worthy causes. The five humane society flea market booth workers have an important place in that big picture.