Assembly OKs Bill to Raise Lawmakers’ Pay

A politically sensitive bill to increase state legislative salaries by 10% after next year’s elections--from $33,732 to $37,105 annually--was narrowly approved without debate Thursday by the Assembly.

A 56-20 bipartisan vote, two more than the two-thirds or 54 votes required, sent the measure, to the Senate.

Forty-six Democrats and 10 Republicans voted for the pay raise; all 20 no votes were cast by Republicans.

“The dishonesty is incredible,” said the bill’s sponsor, Louis J. Papan (D-Milbrae), referring to GOP members who voted against the last pay raise but later took the money anyway. “The games continue.”

Mixed Feelings

Assembly Minority Leader Pat Nolan of Glendale said he had “mixed feelings” about the bill and did not vote Thursday. Nolan said he told other GOP lawmakers “to vote their consciences.”

Papan was the only member to speak on the measure. He simply said it would provide a yearly salary increase of 5% as permitted by the state Constitution. The 10% hike would cover two years.

Some lawmakers complain that the 5% annual limit has prevented them from keeping up with the cost of living.

Legislative salaries rose from $28,110 to $33,732 last December. That 20% raise covered four years.