"A legislator's pay is inadequate to support a family." - Joe Zarelli, Republican State Senator of Washington State
From The Seattle Post Intelligencer, dated September 25, 2002
State tells Zarelli to repay unemployment
He received checks for lost job, but still worked as a state senator
By DAVID AMMONS
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
OLYMPIA -- State senator and Republican congressional challenger Joe Zarelli collected unemployment checks for months while drawing his legislative salary and expenses.
Zarelli confirmed reports obtained by The Associated Press -- not directly from Employment Security -- that he received unemployment checks and now has been ordered to repay the money.
He said he hopes voters will be understanding, acknowledging the pain of being thrown out of work and trying to pay family bills. A legislator's pay is inadequate to support a family, he said.
Read More