HARRISBURG -- Political activists erected a phony state historical marker reading "Site of the Battle of the Pay Raise'' in front of the state Capitol today.

The marker read, "On this site on July 7, 2005, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed an illegal pay raise. After four months and nine days of overwhelming anger, and the removal of a Supreme Court justice, the General Assembly was forced to repeal it on Nov. 16.''

The phony marker, which was taped in front of a real historical plaque that outlines the Capitol's history, lasted about 10 minutes before Capitol police took it down.

"The marker is gone, but that's OK. It will be remembered,'' said Gene Stilp, a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor and an organizer of the protest against the 16 to 34 percent legislative pay raise that still has some Pennsylvanians upset.

"It just shows the arrogance of the General Assembly,'' said Carl Silverman, a member of Pa. Clean Sweep, a group devoted to ousting incumbents.

Mr. Stilp, along with fellow pay raise protestors Tim Potts of Democracy Rising and Eric Epstein of Rock the Capitol, urged the 50 or so people present to vote against all incumbent legislators who are running in the May 16 primary election.

They stood between two 25-foot-high inflatable pink pigs, one marked "House" and one marked "Senate."

"One pig wasn't enough for the Legislature,'' quipped Mr. Stilp.

There also was a 20-foot-high inflatable Liberty Bell, reading "Remember the Illegal Legislative Pay Raise'' and "Restore Liberty.''

A Schuylkill County couple, Jay and Sue Riegel, drove an hour to be present. They were angry.

"I want to get rid of these jokers,'' said Mrs. Riegel. "I don't want any incumbents back. These people make a career of bettering themselves and dumping on taxpayers.''