10% Pay Raise Bill for Legislators Gets Panel’s Quick OK

An Assembly committee Tuesday quickly approved legislation to increase state lawmakers’ salaries by 10%, from $33,732 to $37,105 a year, starting in December of next year.

A 4-1 vote sent the bill by Assemblyman Louis J. Papan (D-Millbrae) from the Rules Committee to the Ways and Means Committee for more screening. There was no public testimony.

Legislative salaries rose from $28,110 to $33,732 because of a pay raise that went into effect only last month.

The lawmakers also receive $66 a day in tax-free expense money while they are in session, use state-leased cars and gasoline credit cards, and are enrolled in a generous pension plan.

They also can--and do--receive other income from speaking engagements, and some maintain lucrative outside businesses.

A 1966 ballot proposition approved by the voters gave the legislators the power to set their own salaries but limited raises to 5% a year. Some members complain that this limit means they haven’t been able to keep up with the cost of living.

Legislative pay raises traditionally are a politically sensitive matter with lawmakers because of potential voter backlash.

In the past, pay increases have been last-minute items of legislative business to avoid as much adverse attention as possible.

This year, sources said Papan may be moving early to resolve the issue long before the 1986 elections roll around in hopes that voters will forget about it.

Papan urged a yes vote on his bill by saying, “A vote for this pay raise does not require you to accept the pay raise. To not vote for it and accept it is the highest degree of hypocrisy.

“There may be some who do not need it, but others do. A lot of members have difficulty making it financially.”

Dissenting Vote

The lone dissenting vote was cast by Assemblyman William J. Filante (R-Greenbrae), a physician.

He said he felt it was unfair of Papan to lay the hypocrisy guilt on any member who voted against the bill.

“Your position doesn’t make any sense to me,” Papan snapped back.

At the same time, the Rules Committee also approved a 10% pay raise for most Assembly employees that carries a price tag of $1.5 million. The vote on that issue was 5 to 0.

The Senate Rules Committee previously approved a similar pay raise for upper house employees, at a cost of $1 million.