This is just a sweetheart deal defined.  Governor declares hiring freeze.  Democrat state legislator loses election.  Governor creates new job post for losing Democrat state legislator.  Democrat state legislator gets new job, with a raise!   From the Post-Gazette:

Gov. Ed Rendell yesterday defended his decision to create a $95,000 a year job for a defeated House Democrat, in the face of sharp criticism of the move from six House Republicans.

Mr. Rendell said that former Rep. Dan Surra of Elk County is well qualified to work on the Pennsylvania Wilds program, an effort to increase tourism and jobs in the state’s northern tier counties. Mr. Surra, an 18-year legislator who lost re-election in November, was a member of the House Democratic leadership and a Rendell ally.

The six Republicans, Ron Marsico and Sue Helm of Dauphin, Glen Grell, Will Gabig and Sheryl Delozier of Cumberland and Mauree Gingrich of Lebanon, accused Democrat Rendell of violating his own hiring freeze that was imposed two months ago to address the state’s growing budget deficit.

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