Former Lt. Gov. Bill Scranton yesterday called for repeal of a controversial legislative pay raise while voicing cautious approval for calls to reduce the size of the Legislature.

In response to a question at a Downtown breakfast meeting sponsored by the Republican Committee of Allegheny County, Scranton, a candidate for the Republican nomination for governor, said the pay increase, "is absolutely wrong. It ought to be repealed.''

Asked to assess the chances of a reversal by the same lawmakers who approved the salary measure, Scranton said, "I think there is a greater chance than some of the legislators think.

"I'm around this state every day and in every county and I've got to tell you this is a universal issue and people are still hot about it," Scranton continued. "If it doesn't get repealed, my guess is you'll see some real consequences in the primaries and general election next year."

While it was enacted with bi-partisan support, Scranton tried to focus his indictment of the pay raise on the Rendell administration.

Scranton wouldn't know anything about lean government. When he was Lt. Gov. taxes and spending jumped significantly... at a rate greater than under the current administration. Good luck selling that Lemon.