Now not the time for lawmakers to push for raises
A bill that would give state lawmakers a $7,900 annual raise should never make its way to the bank. The increase, from $16,500 to $24,600, is too much and legislators are already showered with incentives that make their annual salary far exceed that amount.
In addition to their base pay, lawmakers receive $525 a month for home office expenses. That’s $6,300 a year.
State law also mandates legislators receive $129 for every day they’re in Nashville. That’s money which adds up quickly when you do the math.
If lawmakers are at the Capitol four days a week during the normal four-month legislative session, that amounts to around 70 days. If lawmakers make an office visit just once a week to check messages and conduct other routine business during the eight months the General Assembly is not in session, that’s around another 32 days a year.
Using those estimates, lawmakers receive an additional $13,158 a year in per diem expenses. Added to home office expenses and base salary, that puts annual compensation around $36,000. They also get 32 cents a mile for travel expenses.
Lawmakers – and their families – are eligible for the state’s health insurance plan. That’s a tremendous perk for legislators who might not have health care offered through their place of employment.
Upon retirement, lawmakers also receive $70 a month for every year in office. A 10-year legislator would receive $700 a month.
If legislators want to argue they haven’t received a pay increase in 16 years, that’s certainly a valid point. And perhaps some pay raise is in order.
But expecting the public to accept a 48 percent pay increase without considerable outcry is not going to happen. That wouldn’t float during times of prosperity – and certainly not during these lean economic years when people are losing their jobs and state government is fighting for every available dollar.