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August 27, 2011 in News
Some legislators opt to cut pay in solidarity
OLYMPIA – About half of the 15 members of the Spokane-area legislative delegation have volunteered for the same 3 percent pay cut they imposed on state workers.
Many who have done it, such as Rep. Kevin Parker, R-Spokane, say it’s a personal decision.
“As a businessman, the buck starts and stops with me,” said Parker, who owns coffee shops. “It’s the same with us as legislators.”
Parker’s seatmate in Spokane’s 6th District, Republican John Ahern, said he doesn’t plan to ask for a pay cut, but he is donating 3 percent or more to charities, including his church and the Boy Scouts as well as organizations that oppose abortion.
“This way I know exactly where the money is going,” Ahern said. If he took a pay cut, the money would stay in the state’s general fund and go to state programs or agencies he doesn’t support, he said.
Ahern acknowledged he could receive a tax benefit from making those charitable donations. Taxpayers who itemize deductions can reduce the federal income tax they owe with donations; he won’t know until his taxes are done next year.
State employees should have the same option of donating 3 percent of their salary to charity instead of taking a pay cut, he added. “I don’t have that authority,” but the Legislature should consider it, he said.
The budget that legislators approved in May gave other state employees a 3 percent pay cut starting July 1, the start of the biennium. During their session, legislators talked about taking the same level of cuts.
There was a problem, however: Legislators don’t set their own salaries. That’s done by a special commission voters created through a constitutional amendment in 1986. The commission has the authority to raise or maintain legislators’ salaries, but not lower them.
Rep. Andy Billig, D-Spokane, co-sponsored a constitutional amendment to let the commission lower the salaries of legislators and other elected officials, but it didn’t pass. Legislators agreed to let members volunteer for a cut.
Billig did. “I wanted to show solidarity with the other state workers,” he said.
As of Friday morning, 34 legislators had volunteered for pay cuts of 3 percent, and four Democrats – House Speaker Frank Chopp of Seattle and Reps. Troy Kelley, University Place; Larry Seaquist, Gig Harbor; and Kevin Van de Wege, Sequim – opted for 5 percent cuts. Standard legislative pay is $42,100 a year, so a 3 percent cut is $105.25 a month.
Some state workers had their pay cut and others have been laid off, so opting for a pay cut can show a legislator understands some of what others are experiencing, said Sen. Lisa Brown, D-Spokane.
“But people’s situations are fairly diverse. It’s an individual decision,” she added.
Being able to choose is one advantage legislators have over others on the state payroll, she said.
Sen. Jeff Baxter, R-Spokane Valley, said taking a pay cut was in line with his view that state government has grown out of proportion to the population, and its size and costs have to shrink. It was also in keeping with his decision to decline state health insurance and stick with the coverage he has through his business, even though that’s more expensive: “I want to set an example as far as being frugal.”
Rep. Joe Schmick, R-Colfax, took a pay cut but didn’t want to discuss it in detail: “I don’t want to put other legislators in a bad position. It’s just something I felt I should be willing to do.”
Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, said he’s still trying to decide whether to take the pay cut or donate to charity. He said he’s been busy with the wheat harvest and a death in the family and hasn’t had time to make a decision.
“I didn’t even remember that it was an option until it started getting some play in the press,” he said.
Sen. Bob Morton, R-Kettle Falls, said he hasn’t made the request yet, although he might this fall if the state’s revenue forecast continues to drop.
“I haven’t ruled it out,” Morton said, although he added that legislators haven’t had as many raises in recent years as state employees and have had to cut their expenses.
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greenlibertarian on August 27 at 12:11 a.m.
S/R, you couldn’t have named all of the 15, with party affiliation, and whether or not they were taking a 3% cut or pledging 3% more to charity over and above their usual percentage of charitable giving?
Is there ANYONE left there that knows how to write an INFORMATIVE story about our “lawmakers”?
jesusnoland on August 27 at 2:27 a.m.
The IRS and “Free Tax Settlement” offers several different options for taxpayers to settle their taxes owed. The main factor the IRS takes into consideration when determining if the taxpayer will qualify for a tax settlement is their financial situation.
Wizard_Of_Oz on August 27 at 5:16 a.m.
I bet wacko Shea and balmgartner aren’t on the list.
Ahern needs to retire.
oneanddone on August 27 at 6:15 a.m.
It isn’t the money that legislators are paid that’s the problem. It’s the taxpayer money that they spend. This is just lipstick on a pig.
drywitt99 on August 27 at 6:15 a.m.
Cheers to those who did!!
To those who didn’t…..a pink slip and a 100% pay cut on election day.
And Greenie is right……a full list of all legislators would be a true public service.
But in fairness to the S-R…..they’re probably too busy counting characters in these comments…..and responding to whining complaints from hawken.
drywitt99 on August 27 at 6:33 a.m.
Oneanddone off topic!
This is about state legislator’s salaries…..not our congresswoman’s grooming habits.
Ouch!
Okay….flag me…..
SpokyDaBear on August 27 at 7:11 a.m.
These guys don’t make crap to begin with. $42k is an extremely low salary for a professional.
No winder it only attracts stupid people to office.
D Statler on August 27 at 7:48 a.m.
@Spoky, Some of these people like Jeff Baxter continue to run their small buisness while serving us. Stupid ? Not hardly! He is one of the most dedicated people I have ever met.To his family and our State.We are lucky to have a extremely qualified leader like Jeff. The personal sacrifices he and his family make while in the legislative session are stunning.Thanks Jeff :^) $42K is a bargain for we the people! I will be voting for Mr.FRUGAL :^)
DickAdams on August 27 at 8:18 a.m.
These arbitrary and capricious comments using a name of a contributor who has yet to post their comment, shows me its a little person. They might even be over 6 feet but is still little.
biker on August 27 at 8:20 a.m.
SPoky…Professionals? Really? They were elected and chose to be elected and serve. Don’t forget the perks and the health care. If that salary seems like crap to you, you are part of the problem. A large part of what got us to our spending problem is not just government employee pay in benefits, private sector pay for many skilled workers also spiraled out of control from 1997 to 2008. Most everyone with any type of labor skill or credential was making too much money for what they do. In some respects, the private sector has taken a big hit, but the public sector, including the sacred cows of public safety and education have a long way to go.
DickAdams on August 27 at 8:21 a.m.
The comment I was referring too, evaporated. Good.
DickAdams on August 27 at 8:24 a.m.
Correction, the comment pointing a very small finger remains. Such a small person and a brain the same size.
maria on August 27 at 8:42 a.m.
DICK, I believe your buddy is over on another thread, using another moniker and posting overly long, whiny, liberal-bashy, tripe-lined missives.
maria on August 27 at 8:44 a.m.
DICK, is there anything wrong with that, or is there not anything wrong with that?
maria on August 27 at 8:53 a.m.
You know hawt I’m talking about, DICK?
JBlim on August 27 at 9:03 a.m.
“everyone with any type of labor skill or credential was making too much money”
Whoaa, anybody out there think they were getting paid too much?? I sure don’t.
Bruce (aka thatoneguy) on August 27 at 9:47 a.m.
Not sure what time the sidebar went up, but there is now a list of who took the cut and who didn’t.
$42,100 — 3% = $40,837.
Thoreau on August 27 at 9:50 a.m.
Interesting info about the option to donate the 3% to charity.
Teachers who received the cut don’t get that option.
Then again, teachers already donate part of their pay to charity, everyday they work, and every time they spend their own money on classroom supplies, etc.
Bruce (aka thatoneguy) on August 27 at 9:59 a.m.
Teachers should:
>be paid more;
>be paid less;
>be paid strictly according to performance;
>be paid strictly according to seniority;
>not be paid;
>suck it up like the rest of us;
>be appreciated for their role in shaping & preserving our society;
and
>stop being parasites on society.
Are we clear on that? OK, good. Back to the topic.
Thoreau on August 27 at 10:02 a.m.
Teachers are state-paid employees. It is part of the topic.
Get a job with the SR if you want to be the blog police man.
Bruce (aka thatoneguy) on August 27 at 10:27 a.m.
Good point. I was thinking the article was only about legislators, but it’s not. (And my “back to the topic” comment was directed at myself, not that that was clear or anything)
Dazzeetrader11 on August 27 at 11:38 a.m.
FYI…Mike Baumgartner was the first to take the cut.
Everyone who is paid with St money should as well.
lol I don’t know why since it’s a spending issue with a bad governor. Giving up this small pittance is only symbolic.
Get an “R” like McKenna as governor and things will be a lot better.
liberal_in_right_wing_land on August 27 at 11:48 a.m.
This is good for politicians on BOTH sides of the political aisle. I commend both republicans and democrats for doing this.
As for the ones that didn’t take a pay cut, I think its time we vote them out.
greenlibertarian on August 27 at 2:03 p.m.
S/R thanks very much for that list.
Let’s see, 12 Republicans and 3 Dems.
2 out of 3 Dems are taking the cut. (2/3)
5 out of 12 Republicans are taking the cut. 5/12
2/3rds of the Dems are taking the cut not even a majority of Republicans are taking the cut.
And I bet if you looked at the incomes of the Republicans not taking the cut, they earn far more in their other business or gainful employment than the Dems taking the cut.
Thanks (NOT) Republicans for pitching in when the state is facing hard times.
GOP, thy name is hypocrite.
greenlibertarian on August 27 at 2:16 p.m.
SpokyDaBear on August 27 at 7:11 a.m.
These guys don’t make crap to begin with. $42k is an extremely low salary for a professional.
No winder (sic) it only attracts stupid people to office.
Pay attention for once Spoky. It’s a PART TIME JOB WITH FULL BENEFITS.
No “winder” the S/R attracts so many ignorant comments.
hgimhof on August 27 at 3:24 p.m.
Good grief, giving 3% to charity does absolutely nothing to help the state budget! The idea is to reduce spending, don’t these guys get that?
Public servants (like my wife) and their families are trying to make do with less and I bet many of them still contribute to their charities. I know we do and it is more than 3%.
Vote the greedy idiots out.
D Statler on August 27 at 4:22 p.m.
What we don’t need is another professional lawyer for a Governor. UGH! These out of touch people are what got us in the mess we are in. We need a small buisness owner to run for Governor. Fiscal responsibility is not taught in law school. We need another choice please :^( Could Jeff Baxter be a Senator and the Governor?
DickAdams on August 27 at 4:33 p.m.
Its an obsession with some of the posters to point fingers at people rather than talk about facts. I call them, and I would include you and your ilk, pseudo intellectual pygmies.
DickAdams on August 27 at 4:51 p.m.
I forgot to use your name in my 433p post, Maria. Your so little it was easy to do.
maria on August 27 at 5:46 p.m.
Lol, DICK! You it’s “you’re”, not “your”. Grammar much?
maria on August 27 at 5:48 p.m.
DICK, are you obsessed with fingers? That’s your second reference in this thread!
maria on August 27 at 5:51 p.m.
I have a new nick-name for you, DICK. Can you guess what it is?
jddavis on August 27 at 6:06 p.m.
Giving the 3% to charity does nothing to lower spending. How about passing legislation to immediately revert back the previous pay level (or lower), that would save the taxpayers money.
Marcus on August 27 at 8:10 p.m.
Funny when the people actually wanted to force a pay cut it was determined to be against the collective bargaining agreement that is used for determining their pay.
I kinda think that most of them make way to much like the gov. making 160K a year when the average state is less than 42K.
maria on August 28 at 8:27 a.m.
It really makes me wonder why the Federal Reserve had to meet in Jackson Hole, WY. They spent all that money to fly out there, stay in fancy rooms and eat expensive meals only to get pinned down by forest fire smoke. Serves them right.
JBlim on August 28 at 12:16 p.m.
You mean, why not have all the Districts’ members fly to Washington D.C.? How does that help anything?