Simply in time for the New 12 months, New York lawmakers have develop into the very best paid state legislators within the nation below a invoice signed Saturday.
Members of each homes are getting a pay increase of $32,000, for a base wage of $142,000, below a invoice Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a day earlier than her inauguration Sunday. That’s a 29% increase over their earlier wage of $110,000.
The legislation went into impact Sunday.
Earlier than the pay enhance, state lawmakers in California have been the very best paid with a yearly base wage of $119,000, in keeping with the Nationwide Convention of State Legislatures.
New York lawmakers handed the pay-raise invoice throughout a particular session in late December.
The brand new pay increase comes with restrictions, although.
Beginning in 2025, outdoors earnings will probably be capped at $35,000. Pay in extra of that from army service, retirement plans, or investments will nonetheless be allowed.
Some Democrats within the legislature supported the pay increase, and stated it was obligatory with a view to sustain with the price of dwelling.
However some Republican lawmakers spoke out in opposition to the invoice in the course of the particular session, criticizing the ban on the surface earnings.
“Their attempt to buy political cover by instituting a ban on outside income won’t make Albany better, it will make it worse,” said state Sen. George Borrello in explaining his “no” vote on the invoice.
Borrello stated the ban would discourage citizen legislators, or “enterprising, achieved people with real-world expertise from getting into public service.”
The final pay increase state legislators acquired was in 2018, and that was their first increase in 20 years.