Assembly Republicans:  Let The Public Determine Legislative Pay Raises

ALBANY, NY- Assembly Republicans today put forward a proposal to require pay raises for members of the New York state Legislature to be determined by public referendum.

Democrats rejected the Republican amendment, and then immediately voted to raise their own pay by $32,000. The new annual salary of $142,000 for a state legislator in New York is the highest in the nation, nearly 20% higher than California ($119,000/year), the second-highest state.

“New Yorkers have gone through the most expensive year they’ve ever experienced, but Democrats are focused on giving themselves a pay raise. How much more out-of-touch can they get,” Assembly Republican Leader Will Barclay (R,C,I–Pulaski) said. “I’m sure millions of hard-working New Yorkers would love the ability to boost their paychecks. But that’s not how things work in the real world and not how they should work in the state Legislature. Assembly Republicans put forward a proposal that would let the people vote on a pay raise for lawmakers. Democrats voted against it. It’s obvious they’ve forgotten who they work for.”

The Democrat leaders of the Assembly and Senate called a special session of the Legislature to pass a pay raise by year’s end. Throughout 2022, Republicans urged Gov. Hochul and legislative Democrats to come back to Albany to fix criminal justice laws, address rising inflation and consider other issues. While those calls went unheeded, Democrats today convened in Albany to boost their salaries by 29%. The new rate represents a nearly 80% increase from legislators’ pay in 2017 ($79,500/year).

“Go to any community event, talk to any New Yorker or look at any public poll – a pay increase for state legislators is not a priority for anyone,” said Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square), the Ranking Republican Member on the Assembly Ways & Means Committee. “We heard over and over throughout our campaigns that people want action on the issues of rising crime and crushing inflation. Calling a special session to rush through a $32,000 pay hike further demonstrates that Democrats in the Senate and Assembly aren’t listening to the people they represent.”

The amendment put forward by Assembly Republicans would have stalled this year’s proposed legislative pay increase until a public referendum was held in November. In addition, it would have made future pay increases of the Legislature subject to voter approval.

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