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Pa. lawmakers' base salary now tops $106K. Here's what you need to know about their automatic pay raises. [View all]
Spotlight PA link: https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2023/12/pennsylvania-legislature-automatic-pay-increase-cost-of-living-adjustment/HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania lawmakers’ base salary recently rose to more than $106,000, prompting a fresh round of criticism about the annual automatic pay bump. Here’s what you need to know about state lawmakers’ salaries, the history of the increase, and why changes are unlikely:
Why do Pennsylvania lawmakers get an annual raise? The state constitution says that legislators “shall receive such salary and mileage for regular and special sessions as shall be fixed by law.” Since 1995, state law has given all 253 legislators — plus the governor, lieutenant governor, cabinet heads, the row officers, and all judges — an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) based on the rate of inflation in the greater Philadelphia region. ... [more at link]
Why do critics oppose automatic pay bumps? While political scientists and some good-government advocates agree that lawmakers deserve compensation for their duties, the yearly pay bumps still elicit anger from longtime Capitol watchers. Some of that anger is rooted in history. Tim Potts, an education activist and former Democratic legislative staffer, was on a flight to London in July 2005 when he learned the General Assembly had suspended its rules to hold a series of late-night votes on a bill increasing members’ pay, as well as the pay of judges, by between 16% and 34%. ... [more at link]
How does Pennsylvania lawmakers’ pay compare to legislators from other states? Compensation for lawmakers varies widely across the U.S., according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. New Mexico does not provide a salary; rather it reimburses lawmakers for mileage and provides per diems. Other states provide per-day or per-week pay. Annual salaries are common, but in 2022 their amounts ran the gamut from $100 (New Hampshire) to more than $119,000 (California). Pennsylvania had the third-highest legislator salary in 2022, behind California and New York. State law also allows legislators who serve in the commonwealth’s full-time General Assembly to hold outside employment.
- more at link -
Why do Pennsylvania lawmakers get an annual raise? The state constitution says that legislators “shall receive such salary and mileage for regular and special sessions as shall be fixed by law.” Since 1995, state law has given all 253 legislators — plus the governor, lieutenant governor, cabinet heads, the row officers, and all judges — an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) based on the rate of inflation in the greater Philadelphia region. ... [more at link]
Why do critics oppose automatic pay bumps? While political scientists and some good-government advocates agree that lawmakers deserve compensation for their duties, the yearly pay bumps still elicit anger from longtime Capitol watchers. Some of that anger is rooted in history. Tim Potts, an education activist and former Democratic legislative staffer, was on a flight to London in July 2005 when he learned the General Assembly had suspended its rules to hold a series of late-night votes on a bill increasing members’ pay, as well as the pay of judges, by between 16% and 34%. ... [more at link]
How does Pennsylvania lawmakers’ pay compare to legislators from other states? Compensation for lawmakers varies widely across the U.S., according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. New Mexico does not provide a salary; rather it reimburses lawmakers for mileage and provides per diems. Other states provide per-day or per-week pay. Annual salaries are common, but in 2022 their amounts ran the gamut from $100 (New Hampshire) to more than $119,000 (California). Pennsylvania had the third-highest legislator salary in 2022, behind California and New York. State law also allows legislators who serve in the commonwealth’s full-time General Assembly to hold outside employment.
Are the taxpayers paying attention? Are the voters?
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