Assemblyman Steve Katz Opposed To Pay Raises For Legislators
The following is a press release from Assemblyman Steve Katz:
Despite having their least productive year since 1914 the State Assembly of New York is slated to return to Session in the Fall and vote themselves a twenty five percent pay raise. Assemblyman Steve Katz opposes the raise.
Dr. Steve Katz, currently serves the 99th Assembly district and is running for reelection to this seat, which has been redistricted as the 94th. One of his leading objectives has been to push Albany into the 21st Century by implementing long-needed spending cuts and modern improvements in efficiency.
At present, Members of the Assembly enjoy a base salary of $79,500; the new legislation will increase that base to $100,000, which will make them the highest paid State legislators in the United States – for a job that requires them to be in Albany only 66 days per year.
“After one term in Albany, I have seen the waste and inefficiencies first-hand,” said Dr. Katz. “We are the most expensive state government in the Nation with the highest percentage per tax dollar spent to run a State Capital. Changes must be made.”
Dr. Katz is sponsoring legislation to reduce the number of days the Legislature is in session from sixty to thirty with a reduction in Legislators’ salaries to $35,000. Less work should result in less taxpayer funds being spent. This measure alone would save New York taxpayers more than $150 million per year in salaries and operating costs.
Dr. Katz is the most frugal Legislator in Hudson Valley and among the most parsimonious in New York according to a recent article analyzing Legislators’ per diem charges to the State.
The reduction in Legislators’ pay and length of the Legislative Session is part of a comprehensive plan, put forth by Dr. Katz, to save New York State approximately $2.5 billion over ten years. Other measures include:
– A reduction in the number of bills before the legislature from 1,000 to less than 200 per year
– A requirement that all bills have a companion bill in the opposite house before being introduced
– A requirement that any bill requiring funding be accompanied with a fiscal impact statement
– The elimination of Home Rule bills
– The ability for members to vote on bills via computer at their District Offices
– All bills meeting this criteria would be voted on by the entire Assembly
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.
