Another state lawmaker is stepping forward to do the right thing - refuse to taking the controversial pay raise earlier than the state's constitution allows.

Rep. John Siptroth, D-Monroe, has joined 26 other lawmakers in refusing the take the additional pay - ranging from $950 a month to more than $3,000 a month - in the form of so-called "unvouchered expenses." Earlier court challenges of unvouchered expenses have failed, despite the fact that they appear to clearly violate the intention of the state constitution to prohibit lawmakers from taking any increase in pay until after the following election - where they presumably face the risk of defeat.

Siptroth is coming to his senses late, but he is still demonstrating higher ethical standards and respect for the voters than many of his colleagues - more than half the General Assembly is still receiving the additional pay through the use of bogus expense reports, known to Harrisburg veterans as unvouchered expenses.

Voters remain angry over the pay-raise vote that was approved at 2 a.m. on July 2, with no advance public discussion and no debate among lawmakers.

The stealth pay raise has been seen by most citizens as symbolizing legislators' greed and arrogance.

Siptroth, who declined an opportunity to provide further commentary on the pay raise, should urge more of his colleagues to follow suit. If he now sees the pay raise-vote as wrong, he should join the small group of reform-minded legislators trying to repeal the pay raise and to ban the use of unvouchered expenses.