Most California legislators could be hit with pay cut

Associated Press ^ | Sunday, June 8, 2008 | STEVE LAWRENCE,

[BenLurkin]

Some California legislators might claim to be victims of pay discrimination if the commission that sets state elected officials' salaries decides this week to impose its first pay cut.

The California Citizens Compensation Commission is scheduled Tuesday to consider a proposal by its chairman to cut elected officials' salaries by 10 percent to help deal with a $15.2 billion state budget deficit.

But a legal opinion the commission requested could limit those affected by the cut to the 80 members of the Assembly and half of the 40 state senators.

The opinion by attorneys for the Department of Personnel Administration says the commission has the authority to cut officials' salaries, but it can't do it in the middle of an official's term.

That would prevent the commission from cutting the salaries of the eight statewide elected officials, the four members of the tax-collecting Board of Equalization and 20 members of the state Senate this year. Their terms don't end until 2010.

But the commission could impose a pay cut starting in December on Assembly members and the 20 senators who will be elected or re-elected in November. Their terms start Dec. 1.

The commission's chairman... says the commission should approve a pay cut Tuesday to conform with the 10 percent budget cut Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to impose on most state operations.

"This is the only area that would appear to be not covered by his request to balance the budget," Murray said. "We just want to do our job."

...

Speaker Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles, said the Assembly would respect whatever decision the commission makes, but added that Assembly members had already cut their own budget 10 percent.

"We get the message the commission is making that we need to tighten our belts too," she said.

[wastedyears]

How do they like it?

[I got the rope]

Sweet! Florida needs this too. I’m writing our Governor.

[I got the rope]

Sweet! Florida needs this too. I’m writing our Governor.

[Dilbert San Diego]

Well they are elected officials. They are the ones we all look to for leadership and solutions to state problems such as the big deficit. They are the ones with the power and authority to solve the problem. It makes sense to see their pay cut if, due to their own inaction/politicking/grandstanding, that the state doesn’t have its financial house in order.

[444Flyer]

The socialist libs shouldn’t be paid at all. It’s their fault this state is being run into the ground.

[libh8er]

Govt employees? Pay cut ? This is not right..not right. They work tirelessly for us and this is what they get in return ??

[K-oneTexas]

Firs ask, what is their salary? Then ask, how do they like it, when it's cut?

 

National Conference of State Legislatures - http://www.ncsl.org/programs/legismgt/ABOUT/07_legislatorcomp.htm

Legislator Compensation 2007

Updated March 2007

State	Salary	Per Diem
Alabama	$10/day (C)	$2,280/month plus $50/day for three days during each week that the legislature actually meets during any session (U).
Alaska	$24,012/year	$163 or $218 /day (depending on the time of year) tied to federal rate. Legislators who reside in the Capitol area receive 75% of the federal rate.
Arizona	$24,000/year	$35/day for the first 120 days of regular session and special session.  $10/day thereafter. Members residing outside Maricopa County receive an additional $25/day for the first 120 days of regular session and special session.  An additional $10/day thereafter (V).  Set by statute.
Arkansas	$14,765/year	$130/day (V) plus mileage tied to federal rate.
California	$113,098/year	$162/day for each day they are in session.
Colorado	$30,000/year	$45/day for members living in the Denver metro area. $99/day for members living outside Denver (V).
Connecticut	$28,000/year	No per diem is paid.
Delaware	$42,000/year	No per diem is paid.
Florida	$30,996/year	$126/day (V) tied to federal rate. Based on the number of days in session. Travel vouchers are filed to substantiate.
Georgia	$17,342/year	$173/day (U) set by the Legislative Services Committee.
Hawaii	$35,900/year	$120/day for members living outside Oahu. $10/day for members living on Oahu (V).  Set by the legislature.
Idaho	$16,116/year	$122/day for members establishing second residence in Boise. $49/day if no second residence is established and up to $25/day travel (V) set by Compensation Commission.
Illinois	$57,619/year	$125/per session day.
Indiana	$11,600/year	$137/day (U) tied to federal rate.
Iowa	$25,000/year	$118/day (U). $88.50/day for Polk County legislators (U) Set by the legislature to coincide with federal rate. State mileage rates apply.
Kansas	$84.80/day (C)	$99/day (U) tied to federal rate.
Kentucky	$180.54/day (C)	$108.90/day (U) tied to federal rate (110% Federal per diem rate).
Louisiana	$16,800/year	$138/day (U) tied to federal rate (26 U.S.C. Section 162(h)(1)(B)(ii))
Maine	$12,713/year	$38/day housing, or mileage and tolls in lieu of housing (at rate of $0.36/mile up to $38/day) plus $32/day for meals. Per diem limits are set by statute.
Maryland	$43,500/year	Lodging $116/day. Meals $41/day maximum.
Massachusetts	$58,237.15/year	From $10/day-$100/day, depending on distance from State House (V) set by the legislature.
Michigan	$79,650/year	$12,000 yearly expense allowance for session and interim (V) set by compensation commission.
Minnesota	$31,140.90/year	Senators receive $96/day and Representatives receive $77/legislative day (U) set by the legislature.
Mississippi	$10,000/year	$91/day (U) tied to federal rate.
Missouri	$31,351/year	$79.20/day (U) tied to federal rate. Verification of per diem is by roll call.
Montana	$82.67/day (L)	$98.75/day (U)
Nebraska	$12,000/year	$99/day outside 50-mile radius from Capitol. $39/day if member resides within 50 miles of Capitol (V) tied to federal rate.
Nevada	$137.90/day	Federal rate for Capitol area (U). Legislators who live more than 50 miles from the capitol, if require lodging, will be paid HUD single-room rate for Carson City area for each month of session.
New Hampshire	$200/two-year term	No per diem is paid.
New Jersey	$49,000/year	No per diem is paid.
New Mexico	None	$142/day (V) tied to federal rate and the constitution.
New York	$79,500/year	Varies (V) tied to federal rate.
North Carolina	$13,951/year	$104/day (U) set by statute. $559.00/month expense allowance.
North Dakota	$125/day (session) (C)	Lodging reimbursement up to $900/month (V).
Ohio	$58,933.56/year	No per diem is paid.
Oklahoma	$38,400/year	$122/day (U) tied to federal rate.
Oregon	$18,408/yr	$99/day (U) tied to federal rate.
Pennsylvania	$73,613/year	$129/day (V) tied to federal rate. Legislators can receive actual expenses or per diem.
Rhode Island	$13,089.44/year	No per diem is paid.
South Carolina	$10,400/year	$119/day for meals and housing for each session day and committee meeting tied to federal rate.
South Dakota	$12,000/two year term	$110/legislative day (U) set by the legislature.
Tennessee	$18,123/year	$153/legislative day (U) tied to federal rate.
Texas	$7,200/year	$139/day (U) set by Ethics Commission.
Utah	$130/day (C)	$90/day (U) lodging for each calendar day.  Tied to federal rate.  $54/day meals (U).
Vermont	$600.78/week (session)	Federal per diem rate for Montpelier is $88/day for lodging and $51/day for meals for non-commuters. Commuters receive $51/day for meals plus mileage.
Virginia	$18,000/year (Senate)$17,640/year (House)	House $135/day (U) tied to federal rate.  Senate $140/day (U) tied to federal rate.
Washington	$36,311/year	$90/day
West Virginia	$15,000/year	$115/day during session (U) set by compensation commission.
Wisconsin	$47,413/year	$88/day maximum (U) set by compensation commission (90% of federal rate).
Wyoming	$150/day (L)	$85/day(V)  Includes travel days for those outside of Cheyenne.

L = Legislative day

C = Calendar day

(V) Vouchered   (U) Unvouchered

 

[calcowgirl]

When will Arnie reverse the 50% pay hikes he gave to the hundreds on his staff and senior officials in the administration?

[television is just wrong]

they should be. the budget is all messed up because of them. they should have to pay for it. would go far if they’d do that in DC too.

[politicalwit]

New Hampshire...$200/two-year term...No per diem is paid.

The only responsible solution.

[Enchante]

Put ‘em on half-salary and they’d still be overpaid.

[MIchaelTArchangel]

This is an idea that’s long overdue. Legislators should be paid the greater of the minimum wage or what they are worth. My guess is that most aren’t worth the minimum wage.

[river rat]

The incompetent corrupt bastards got us into the mess — they should go to ZERO salary until they have done something worthy of being paid.

[Publius]

Legislators should be paid the greater of the minimum wage or what they are worth.

Better yet, pay them when their terms of office are complete. If the state prospers, they get paid. If it doesn't prosper, they get billed by the state and have to pay out of their own personal fortunes.

[K-oneTexas]

That’s cause they’re already rich, right. :)

[wastedyears]

Well that’s their problem. They’re getting too much money.

[E. Cartman]

Most California legislators could be hit with pay cut

Dear God, please let this be the start of a national trend.

[Mr. Jeeves]

Unless this applies the kickbacks they get under the table from lobbyists, what difference does it make?

[RLM]

The California legislators are already way over paid by any comparison. Not counting per deim, or travel, which most states allow, the incompetent legislators in California that can’t balance the books are paid $133,098 per year. The next highest paying state pays $79,650, so the incompetents in California are paid $33,448 more than the next highest paying state. If all the states are averaged, and California pays their legislators equal to the average of all the other states, they should be paid $24,154 per year. By that standard they are overpaid $88,944 per year. Where is it written that the California legislature must be the highest paid in the nation? If they’re paid based on their competence, and ability to keep the state in black ink, they shouldn’t be paid at all. So, no matter how you slice it, the California legislature should get far more than a mediocre 10% pay reduction.
In fact, if we must pay them at all, we should pay them to stay away from Sacramento so they can’t do any more harm.

[Sherman Logan]

Looks like CA has by far the highest salary. Not much of a shock.

[politicalwit]

My Dad served in the NH House for two terms. Our family was far from “rich”. His campaign expenses for both terms were less than $500.00 (self financed btw). Because of the size of the NH House you get a wide and varied mix of representatives...rich, poor, middle-class. The citizens of New Hampshire are probably better represented by their elected representatives than any other state.

[politicalwit]

You might want to check this page http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/abouthouse/housefacts.htm

[Czar]

"When will Arnie reverse the 50% pay hikes he gave to the hundreds on his staff and senior officials in the administration?"

I have it on good authority that the Austrian plans to do that right after he "blows up the boxes" and slashes the state's bloated public employee payroll. So it should be pretty soon...

[K-oneTexas]

I was joking, sorry if it was not seen that way.

Texas Legislators are paid around $7k a year (see previously posted schedule). My problem with that is they are in session 90 days every two years and all have other jobs. Overpaid and under worked ... but definetly politicians.

Now the question is two-fold. Should they be in session 365 days a year (with holidays and breaks) like other States OR does that only lead to more waste, abuse and idiocy being passed as law.

It's time we got back to the founders original notion of doing your term or two and then "back to the farm" (no pun intended) with you. This would be good on all levels of government, especially federal and even State. It seems once elected the incumbent has a magnet in his/her butt that keeps them glued to their seat. I know the argument on long-term representatives give a district/state a favorable position ... but over all, for the good of all citizens, it may not be worth it.

Anyway it seems we have a dearth of politicians in America and no statesmen ... we really need the latter.

[okie01]

Better solution:

1. The California legislature shall be paid at their current rate for the next four years.

2. However, they shall not meet for the next four years, while adults deal with the financial problems they have created.

[nyyankeefan]

Most California legislators could be hit with pay cut...

they should try it here in the socialist people’s republic of NJ!!!

[Tzimisce]

...somehow, I don’t think this is going to squeak by.

[dragnet2]

Most California legislators could be hit with pay cut

Good for a start. Now lets eliminate all state take home vehicles, reduce their benefits, cut their pensions, and continue to slash their wages.

When that's done, there is a great need to completely eliminate about 20,000 of these state positions.

[calcowgirl]

LOL. Good point. I won’t hold my breath.

Honestly (I guess I am in the minority), I think the salaries of the legislators are perfectly reasonable (assuming it continues as a full time job). On the other hand, there are almost 1,600 employees of the state making in excess of $200K (base salary) — 600 of which are in the Corrections dept. The head of intercollegiate sports at Berkeley pulled in over $1.5 million in 2005. A CalPERS analyst makes more than $300,000. A Higway Patrol Lt. makes 120-130K. $131K for a legislator is the last place I’d look to save money.

[pointsal]

Why stop there....make it 100%!
Maybe they could just start reporting their bribes as ORDINARY INCOME!

[Cringing Negativism Network]

The CA budget situation, is going to become a real dust-up. I don’t think this will be solved peacefully, long term. The state is seriously, out of control.

Liberals have a death-grip on the state. Teachers unions are so strong, that education spending cannot be controlled. Illegals are everywhere, and cost billions in unfunded emergency room care. Property tax revenues are going nowhere but down - yet spending keeps going up.

People are leaving the state, businesses are pulling back - yet the spending keeps on spiralling up and up.

It’s nuts. This state’s gonna implode.

Not sure when. But this cannot be sustained.

It’s like watching a train wreck. From the train.

[OKIEDOC]

Just sent a letter to the editor of the local Newspaper saying pretty much the same thing.

Complaining that the Pols in Sacramento are influencing those at the local level.

Get elected and immediately become big arrogant spenders of other peoples money.

[ridesthemiles]

These members of the California Assembly are the same people who passed AB 2678 10 days ago. That will absolutely freeze real estate sales and lending on houses.

Anyone who wants more info can get me to fax it to them.
This needs to be stopped, and the media is deal silent about it.

[Czar]

"$131K for a legislator is the last place I’d look to save money."

It's the first place I would hit, if for no other reason than these political hacks have done an awful job, ought to be penalized in both pay and perks, and the only way to get to all of the other public employees is to hit the legislators -- and hard.

[calcowgirl]

Well, lower the salary and the ol saying “you get what you pay for” would be even more evident, IMO.

I’d like to hit them hard for not doin’ their jobs, but there are other ways.