There are a number of talented people who I think are underpaid.
(02/06/12) Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver continues to advocate for a pay raise for state lawmakers. Silver says it's time for them to see their wages increase for the first time since 1999.
The last time state legislators raised their base pay, to
$79,500, was over a dozen years ago. Lately, the Speaker of the State Assembly,
Sheldon Silver has been saying perhaps it’s time for an increase. He says since
1999, more legislators than ever have eschewed outside income and live only on
their Assembly and Senate pay, which in downstate New York, is not a lot of
money.
“There are a number of talented people who I think are
underpaid,” said Silver, who says if the pay is not raised soon, the job will attract a lesser quality of candidate.
Governor Cuomo has also complained that it’s hard to hire
top level commissioner’s because of the relatively low pay scale, but says now
is not the right time for pay hikes, with the economic slowdown.
Silver favors appointing a commission to decide future
legislative salaries, to take it out of the political process.
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