Republican group decries legislator pay increase

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lisa Peana

March 3, 2008 304-730-4599

Republican group decries legislator pay increase

Leader calls raise ‘an arrogant slap in the face to our working families’

Charleston, WV – Last week, the West Virginia Legislature passed House Bill 4076 which granted its members a five-thousand dollar increase in base pay. “In the biggest display of arrogance and disregard for fiscal responsibility, Democrats in the House and Senate putting their own interests ahead of many more important priorities they should be addressing,” said Lisa Peana, President of the West Virginia Republican Club.

“This bill not only increases the cost of Government to our taxpayers in West Virginia, it also allows for more citizens to become career politicians.”

Awaiting signature by Governor Joe Manchin, the base pay for legislators in both chambers will increase from $15,000 per year to $20,000 per year. The bill also increases per diem pay for legislators staying in Charleston from out of town from $115.00 per day to $130.00.

“According to the Federal Bureau for Economic Analysis , the average West Virginian earns $27,897 per year. A typical West Virginian will have to work 261 days to earn what a Legislator is paid in 60 days in base pay alone.

“It is an arrogant slap in the face to our working families that legislators feel that granting themselves a pay increase is more important that finding ways to cut taxes and bring jobs to our communities.”

House Bill 4076 passed the House of Delegates on Tuesday with 62 yeas, 36 nays, and 2 not voting. The bill was approved by the State Senate on Friday, with 20 yeas, 13 nays, and 1 not present. Governor Joe Manchin has recently indicated that he supports the pay raise and will likely sign it into law, which would grant the legislators their pay increase in 2009.

Related Links:

HB4076 Bill Text

http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Text_HTML/2008_SESSIONS/RS/BILLS/HB4076%20ENG%20SUB.htm

House Roll Call

http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bulletin_Board/2008/RS/House/Votes/00210.pdf

Senate Journal

http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bulletin_Board/2008/rs/Senate/S_DAILY_JOURNAL/sdj-52nd%20day.htm#HDO

Per Capita Income by State (2006 estimates, 2005 actual)

http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/regional/spi/2007/xls/spi0307.xls