Letter: Rosemary Brown personifies integrity

C.S. Lewis is quoted describing integrity as, “doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.”

I can’t think of a more apt description of Rosemary Brown’s tenure in public service. However, in her race for the State Senate, her opponent is running an ad calling her corrupt. The reasoning? Rosemary earns a salary.

Since being elected as State Representative, Rosemary has led by example on reform - simply because it is right. Unlike most legislators, Rosemary refuses per-diems. Per diems are a set dollar amount of non-taxable income, paid out by the tax-payer to legislators, without needing to show proof of expense. For example, in 2021, another legislator in Monroe County collected an additional $13,000 on top of her annual salary. Rosemary collected $0.

Additionally, several lawmakers in Harrisburg have their cars leased for them, costing the tax-payers an additional $419-$640 per month to cover the cost. Rosemary voted to remove this perk for legislators in April of 2022 and has never taken a car while in office. Rosemary even refuses to cash her paychecks if the state doesn’t pass a budget on-time – one of very few legislators willing to forgo pay when their job isn’t done.

Rosemary personifies integrity - and will always do what is right.

Maura Adorno, East Stroudsburg

This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: Letter: Rosemary Brown will lead by example in Senate