Pol Position: Legislature votes to increase pay

New York legislators could now be the highest paid in the nation, after the electeds voted last week for a $32,000 increase.

Starting on January 1 2023, if signed by Governor Hochul, Albany lawmakers will make $142,000. According to the National Conference of State Legislators this would make them the highest paid lawmakers in the country, with California ringing in at second with a pay of $119,702. 

The legislation would also limit outside income lawmakers can receive to $35,000, starting on January 1, 2025. ANy violations of the pay increase rule would also be a Class A misdeameanor. 

While Governor Hochul has not yet signed the legislation, she did signal support for the legislation earlier this month.

“I believe they deserve a pay raise,” Hochul said at a Bronx press conference earlier this month, as reported by Gothamist. “They work extraordinarily hard. It’s a year-round job. I’ve been with them many times in their districts and they work very hard and they deserve it. It is up to them on whether or not they want to come back and make that effective.”

But on last Friday, Hochul did not commit to a position in an unrelated press conference, as the New York Post reported.

“I have many bills on my desk … so I will address that in proper time,” she said.

Lawmakers last received a pay increase in 2019, where the salary was increased to $110,000 from $79,500.

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