New York lawmakers approve $32K salary boost for themselves, now highest paid in U.S.

ALBANY — Christmas came early for New York lawmakers as they gave themselves a $32,000 pay raise Thursday during a one-day special session.

The Democrat-led Legislature returned to Albany to vote on a measure increasing their own salaries from $110,000 to $142,000 — making senators and Assembly members the highest paid state lawmakers in the country.

The measure, which passed the Senate 33-23 with several Dems voting against it, will also cap outside income at $35,000 per year, although there are several exceptions and the limit doesn’t go into effect until 2025.

“The assignment today is to make sure people can both do these jobs with honor and integrity, not corruption, and also be able to pay their rent and feed their children and take care of themselves,” Sen. Liz Kreuger (D-Manhattan) said.

Republicans railed against the increase and slammed their Democratic colleagues for not using the special session to address other concerns facing the state including crime and cost-of-living.

“You gave yourselves a tremendous bonus for the holidays,” Sen. Jim Tedisco (R-Johnstown) said during the floor debate. “You know what you gave your constituents? The largest lump of coal that anyone has ever received.

“Even the Grinch, who you probably conferenced with before you came up here, couldn’t get that lump of coal down the top of the chimneys,” he added.

The Assembly approved the measure 81-52 and it now goes to Gov. Hochul for her signature. Hochul has said she supports the salary bump.

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie

A Republican-backed amendment that would have stalled the increase until a public referendum could be held in November and make future pay bumps subject to voter approval was dismissed by Dems.

The salary jump will make New York’s state legislators the highest compensated in the country, catapulting them past California lawmakers who currently make just under $120,000 a year.

Much of the debate throughout the day centered on whether the job is indeed a full-time profession since the legislative session only runs from January through June.

Republicans argued that the higher pay will create more career politicians who won’t be able to relate to average New Yorkers, while Dems in favor of the measure maintained capping outside income could help curb corruption.

The Senate Chamber

The pay boost comes a month after the state’s top court upheld the legality of a controversial commission that recommended legislators’ pay be increased from $79,500 in phases to $130,000 back in 2018.

Lawmakers’ salaries went up to the current compensation of $110,000 a year, but subsequent raises planned for 2020 and 2021 were blocked by the courts following several lawsuits.

The commission, which backed raises for statewide offices including the governor and attorney general, also recommended limiting outside income for lawmakers.

Based on a congressional model, the panel proposed capping outside income at 15% of lawmakers’ legislative pay.

The bill approved on Thursday includes a $35,000 cap on outside income, roughly 25% of the proposed $142,000 salary. It includes exceptions for pensions, investment income and family-run businesses.

Asked about any potential political fallout from the move as New Yorkers struggle with high inflation and cost-of-living, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Yonkers) argued that there would never be an ideal time for lawmakers to approve legislative pay raises.

“It’s a full time job,” Stewart-Cousins told reporters ahead of the vote. “We’re in a difficult situation. I don’t kno when people would ever feel comfortable about what we do as it relates to our compensation but we’re the only ones who can do it and here we are.”

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