The new year offers a pay raise as New York lawmakers have become the highest-paid state legislators in the nation under a bill signed Saturday says ABC News.
Members of the New York Assembly debate legislation to approve a legislative pay raise during a special legislative session in the Assembly Chamber at the state Capitol. (Photo: ABC News)
$32,000 Pay Raise For New York Lawmakers Makes Them Highest Paid in The Nation
New York lawmakers are now the highest-paid state legislators in the nation under a bill signed Saturday. Under a bill, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a day before her inauguration on Sunday. Members of both houses are getting an increase of $32,000 in pay, for a base salary of $142,000.
That’s a 29 percent increase over their previous salary of $110,000. The law was set and took effect on Sunday. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, before the salary increase, state lawmakers in California were the highest paid, having a $119,000 yearly base salary.
State lawmakers in New York passed the pay-raise bill during a special session in December. However, the new pay raise comes with restrictions. Outside income will be capped at $35,000 beginning in 2025. Pay more than that from military service, retirement plans, or investments will still be permitted.
Members of the New York Assembly debate legislation to approve a legislative pay raise during a special legislative session in the Assembly Chamber at the state Capitol. (Photo: Politico)
Lawmakers Of New York Are Now The Nation’s Best Paid After Getting A Pay Raise
Some Democrats in the legislature supported the pay raise and stated it was necessary to keep pace with the cost of living. But some Republican lawmakers were against the bill during the special session, criticizing the ban on outside income.
State Sen. George Borrello said that the attempt to buy political cover by instituting a ban on outside income won’t make Albany better, but rather, it will make it worse. This explains his “no” vote on the bill.
Borrello alleged that the ban would discourage citizen legislators or enterprising, accomplished individuals with real-world experience from entering public service. The last pay boost the state legislators got was in 2018, their first increase in two decades.
READ ALSO: New York Lawmakers To Receive $142,000 Pay Raise Annually
