Gothamist: State Senator's Idea to Pay Full-Time Lawmakers Draws Criticism

NannyState

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 22:49:48 -0500

All of Cattaraugus County will be running for office next year.

arsguide

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 14:03:40 -0500

the shocking truth is we don't NEED full time politicians.

fifirouge

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:26:08 -0500

Contrary to how it seems, this bill actually is not about lining legislators’ pockets. Most of the legislators are lawyers or in other high-money professions and make hundreds of thousands per year in addition to their legislative salary. Connor himself would lose money if this bill went into effect and he quit his election law practice. According to the Brooklyn Heights Blog (http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/2978), Connor made $350,000 in 2002 at his law practice. That’s a whole lot of money he turns down if this bill goes into effect and he opts for the $52,000.

Jen Chung

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:59:22 -0500

Well, one notable example is Sheldon Silver, who makes an undisclosed amount at a Manhattan law firm. He has refused to say how much he makes. If paying civil servants more money means they are not working for outside firms and more susceptible to corruption...well, I'm open to that.

ianmac47

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:53:15 -0500

And how many part time legislators make more than $52,000 from other taxpayer funded jobs?

Spiritof76

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:46:08 -0500

Almost $80k a year and what do we have to show for it in Albany? Perennially late and bloated budgets. Idiotic laws. Loss of Federal funds since they didn't approve congestion pricing. Would anybody in the state miss them if they all dropped dead tomorrow?

JenChungsBra

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:15:39 -0500

They should give them all $52,000 to go away.

Toby von Meistersinger

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 11:52:04 -0500

It's a way to give incentives to the career politicians and maintain the clouds that hang over the institution.