With the elections now over, lawmakers are hoping for their first pay raise since 1999.
“It’s long overdue,” said state Sen. Martin Golden (R-Brooklyn), who hasn’t had a raise since taking office in 2003. “You want responsible leadership in Albany, you need to be able to pay them responsibly.”
By law, a sitting Legislature cannot give itself a raise, meaning action to hike the current $79,500 annual lawmaker base pay would have to be taken by the end of the year or the issue will be shelved for at least another two years.
A source close to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said the powerful Manhattan Democrat has long supported a legislative pay raise, noting many lawmakers have no other income.
But while not definitively ruling out a pay raise this year, the Silver source and an aide to Senate GOP Leader Dean Skelos said there have been no high-level talks on the issue.
Others, however, say that could change quickly, especially if the Legislature returns to Albany before January to take up some other issues, which is possible.
9 comments:
What about all those people in America who live off of just minimum wage? How about all those people who are just getting by living pay check to pay check? These assembly people should all be ashamed of themselves. To make it worst is that they do nothing at all for their pay as it is. All assembly people can go and jump in a lake. Isn't it obvious that no one thinks these politicians are doing anything?. I mean the low poll turnouts should say a lot.
I believe that in addition to the base pay of $79,500, they get per diem pay for every day the legislature is in session.
A source close to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said the powerful Manhattan Democrat has long supported a legislative pay raise, noting many lawmakers have no other income.
Not Shelly - we all know he has a very high-paying job at that law firm that constantly advertises on local television trying to get more money from the tobacco settlements. The Daily News tried to find anyone who was a client of Silver, but couldn't.
Give them raises - and make them work full time - no outside law practice - no non-profits - no side work "consulting". Just like other state employees. Then see how many want to be Members of the Assembly and State Senators.
Who are the takers now?
Bribes and kickbacks are not enough.
Marty Golden had alot of nerve talking. He does nothing. He had such attitude.
For what they do TO voters they should be paying for the privilege to have the damned job.
From a 2012 NY Post story about pols collecting per diems without showing up:
"The per diem system grants state senators and Assembly members $165 a night, reduced from $171 last year, for food and lodging. Lawmakers who stay in apartments or second homes in Albany can still collect it.
If they don’t spend the night, they get a $61 per diem."
http://nypost.com/2012/10/14/politicians-caught-collecting-albany-per-diems-when-theyre-not-there/
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