House members take pay cut
Published 10:53 pm Thursday, April 14, 2011
More than 50 Republican state House members and several Democrats have voluntarily taken a 15 percent pay cut to match proration, legislative leaders announced Thursday.
The Republican announcement comes a week after Democrat Alvin Holmes suggested a 15 percent pay cut but was shouted down on the House floor. Leaders said he was out of order during the session.
The move would save about $7,000 per legislator.
“Given the state of the budgets and the economic situation we are in, taking a self-imposed pay cut is a highly honorable thing to do,” Republican House Speaker Mike Hubbard said. “I commend our Republican members, and all members, who have voluntarily cut their pay. It’s a show of good faith on behalf of the Republican leadership and I believe it’s the right thing to do.”
Hubbard said some of the newer members would not be taking the pay cut.
“I’m not going to punish our new members for the actions of the Democrats that came before them,” Hubbard said. “I voted against the pay raise and never took home a dime of it, and neither did many of my colleagues.”