NY lawmakers to get raise: 63% over three years

FRITZ MAYER
Posted 12/12/18

ALBANY, NY — New York legislators have not had a raise since 1998, and many have been pushing for one in recent years. The issue came up during budget negotiation in April, but lawmakers could …

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NY lawmakers to get raise: 63% over three years

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ALBANY, NY — New York legislators have not had a raise since 1998, and many have been pushing for one in recent years. The issue came up during budget negotiation in April, but lawmakers could not reach an agreement.

What they did agree on is that they would create a body called the New York State Compensation Committee. Members of the committee would be able to decide if lawmakers should get a raise and, if so, what the amount would be. This would, among other things, shield lawmakers from having to vote in favor of a salary increase for themselves.

In early December the commission—comprised of current and former New York State and New York City Comptrollers Carl McCall, Thomas DiNapoli, Bill Thompson, and Scott Stringer—decided the raise would be 63%, phased in over three years. Currently, the base pay is $79,500; that would climb to $110,000 on January 1, 2019, and eventually the total would be $130,000.

This increase is tied to limiting lawmakers’ outside income, for which currently there is no limit. Several lawmakers have sought to limit outside income in recent years, because such income has played a central role in several high profile corruption cases. If the commission’s ruling is not challenged, lawmakers will be able to earn just 15% of their salary in outside income, which is the same level as federal senators and representatives.

At least one academic believes the committee is prevented from doing the job it was assigned to because of the state constitution. James Coll, an adjunct professor of American and Constitutional history at Hofstra, writes in the website City Journal (tinyurl.com/yd2jjs9y), “The New York State Constitution states clearly that “no law shall be enacted except by bill,” and that “no bill [shall] be passed or become a law, except by the assent of a majority of the members elected to each branch of the legislature.” The Constitution mandates that no bill can become law unless it goes through both legislative houses and is signed by the governor.”

Committee members, however, said they’ve discussed the issue with their attorneys, and they believe they have the right to set the salary increases. When the first increase goes through, New York state will have the highest-paid state lawmakers in the country.

albany, salary, lawmakers

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