A bill that would significantly increase the salaries of the governor and other statewide elected officials received pushback, but the House Appropriations Committee approved the proposal. The measure would increase the governor’s salary from $130,000 to $182,000 starting in 2028. Bruce Reilly, the deputy director of VOTE (Voters Organized To Educate), told committee members that’s a huge raise for a state that has a lot of problems.
“I don’t know. With people moving out of state, with toxic chemicals polluting our air, with education going the way it’s going, I feel like even if those things were going great, $83,000 is a lot to give a raise to your governor,” Reilly said.
Actually, the raise would be $52,000, and the other statewide elected officials would also see their pay increase by $41,000 to an annual salary of $156,000.
The bill also provides legislators with additional per diem and the ability to collect a $178 daily stipend when performing legislative duties on days outside of the session. This money would be on top of the $16,800 state lawmakers receive annually.
Rosepine Representative Charles Owen admits the pay is not great to be a legislator, but he can’t vote for this bill.
“I appreciate you doing this, but this is something I would have a hard time staring my citizens in the face and explaining,” Owen said.
Harahan Representative John Illg is the author of the legislation, and he says statewide elected officials haven’t seen a pay raise in 20 years.
“This isn’t something I took lightly in doing. I know it’s a hardship for many of us; in the ways people would portray it. But that’s what I’m trying to do. I’m trying to solve a problem, and I didn’t want to kick it down the road,” Illg explained.
Illg says it’s very difficult to hold down a full-time job, plus perform your duties as a state legislator. He’s worried the low pay that state legislators currently receive will keep younger people from wanting to be a state lawmaker.
“I want a balanced legislature. I don’t want just rich and retired up here, and I fear that’s where we’re going to go if we don’t address this,” Illg said.
The measure passed on an 18-4 vote and heads to the House floor for more discussion.