NYS TAXPAYERS: Say NO to 47% Raises for Elected Officials!
- by: Liberty Belle
- recipient: Governor
A 47 percent salary increase is being considered for Andrew Cuomo and your New York State representatives, which would make them the highest paid legislature in the country.
These are the same people who just passed a budget that will make it even less affordable to live in New York State -- budget items that were passed without reading the bills or holding public hearings.
With ongoing corruption investigations and a steady exodus of people and businesses leaving New York, our legislators are now being considered for a whopping raise?
Cuomo’s base salary could increase from $179,000 to $263,000. The part-time base salary for a legislator would jump to $116,900.
Have YOU ever gotten a 47% raise?
The New York State Commission on Legislative, Executive and Judicial Compensation (appointees chosen by the same people who will receive these exorbitant raises) will meet very soon to consider this proposed salary increase. This "independent" commission has until a week AFTER Election Day to issue its recommendations.
Please sign the petition. This is an election year. Let Albany know we are watching very closely.
A recent Federal Reserve Board survey on the financial health of Americans revealed that nearly half of the adults surveyed would struggle if they had to cover emergency expenses. When asked how they would pay for a $400 emergency, 47 % of respondents said they would have to borrow it or sell something, or they would not be able to come up with the $400 at all. (“The Secret Shame of Middle-Class Americans,” The Atlantic,http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/05/my-secret-shame/476415/
Perhaps those numbers don't resonate with you because you are far removed from the typical American experience, but they surely resonate with the rest of us who are happy to get a 2% raise (or any raise at all) and now face the possibility of paying for up to a 47% boost to our elected officials’ salaries because someone “would like the legislators to be well enough rewarded that they'll stick around.”
It is inconceivable that anyone could think a raise is appropriate at this point in time -- NOT for a legislature that passes bills without even reading them -- NOT in a state that is still uncovering layer upon layer of corruption in government -- NOT for legislators who have denied our pleas for meaningful ethics reform in the wake of the most shameful period in our state’s history.
The New York State Commission on Legislative, Executive and Judicial Compensation determines your salaries, but you have the power to tell them that this is NOT the time to consider any raise, let alone one so massive that it will be a most resounding slap in the face of hardworking taxpayers who are already struggling to support your salaries.
I respectfully request that you take appropriate action to prevent this proposed salary increase from any consideration at this time. Thank you.
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