NY Lawmakers' to Vote on Bill That Would Make Them the Highest Paid in the Country

Rockland Daily Staff

New York State legislators introduced a bill on Monday night that will raise their annual earnings from $110,000 to $142,000, making New York's legislature the highest-paid in the country, New York State of Politics reported.

Members of the California state legislature, who earn more than $114,000, currently rank as the highest-paid legislators in the US.

New York lawmakers have earned $110,000 since 2018, which was their first pay raise after jumping to $79,000 in 1999.

Democrats, who dominate the New York legislature, say the $32,000 raise aligns with the state's high cost of living and national inflation, but New York Republicans, through robocalls and digital ads, have blasted the Democrats' calls for increased salaries.

Assemblyman-Elect Mike Lawler is one of those who has blasted the raise in a number of tweets. 

"Albany. 12pm. Thursday," he tweeted from Albany. "The @NYSA_Majority is calling a special session to give themselves a $32,000 pay raise just in time for Christmas. An absolute disgrace. I look forward to one last debate on the Assembly floor…"

"Albany, a cesspool of corruption," Lawler also tweeted, "rewarding itself with a massive pay increase just before Christmas and a ban on outside income effective 2025. This on the heels of taxpayer funded campaigns to the tune of $100m. What could possibly go wrong?"

In another tweet, Lawler shares, "Fun Fact: Potted plants in Albany are now worth $142,000." letting us know just how out of hand and ridiculous Albany's overspending has become. 

Starting in 2025, the pay-raise measure also would limit lawmakers' freedom to earn outside incomes, except for pensions and investment income. 

Although many legislators retain the jobs, such as owning businesses or working for law firms, they held before they were elected, good-government groups in NY raised concerns.

On Thursday, the New York Senate and Assembly will vote on their new salary, which will, if passed, take effect on January 1.