April 30, 2009
California set to cut lawmakers' salaries
Here's an idea from Sacramento that's likely to have zero traction in Albany: slash the salaries of state legislators and other state elected officials by 10 percent.
The California Citizens Compensation Commission is expected to do just that at its June 1 meeting. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who endorsed the reduction, quickly filled three vacancies Wednesday shortly after the commission voted 3-to-1 for the measure, but fell short of the required four votes.
The Los Angeles Times reports commission members cited California's rocky economy as well as salaries of officials in other states. "Given the economy, the budget . . . to vote for a decrease across the board is the only way we should go," said commission Chairman Charles Murray, who owns an insurance business in Los Angeles.
A decrease would apply to officials elected next year. Current officeholders would have their pay frozen through December 2010.
(snip)The 10% pay cut was proposed by Commissioner Kathy Sands, who noted that most state employees had their pay reduced by 9.2% starting in February, when Schwarzenegger ordered them on twice-monthly unpaid furloughs. (snip) Cutting officials' pay is necessary, she added, "so they can really share in this [budget] deficit that they helped create."
The independent commission, which sets salaries, was created in 1990 after California voters approved a statewide ballot measure.
The California governor's salary is $212,000, which Schwarzenegger does not accept. Legislators are paid $116,208.
In contrast, the New York governor is paid $179,000. Governor David Paterson has voluntarily taken a 10 percent pay cut. New York legislators are paid a base salary of $79,500. In addition, most get additional stipends, or lulus, for committee assignments or other leadership posts. The Assembly speaker and Senate majority leader are paid $121,000.
In New York, salaries of legislators, statewide elected officials, judges and agency commissioners are set by law. The Legislature, fearing either public backlash or a gubernatorial veto, has not raised those salaries in a decade.
« Previous |
Main
| Next »
|
