Well, that didn't take long! Following a populist uproar sparked by Governor Paterson's untimely decision to give staffers a total $70K in raises while simultaneously forcing 100,000 state workers to take unpaid furloughs, Paterson has caved. A spokesman tells NBC the governor has decided to reverse the raises of between $5,000 and $10,000 to four press aides. The staffers are getting promoted to fill positions vacated by others who resigned amid Paterson's scandals. Because of their resignations, the administration's total press payroll has dropped more than $300,000 since July 2008—which Paterson's spokesman Morgan Hook was quick to point out today in an attempt to quell the rancor. Feeling quelled? more ›

State Senator Martin Connor, a Democrat who represents parts of Manhattan and Brooklyn, recently introduced a bill to give a $52,000 bonus to those lawmakers who stick to being lawmakers. In other words, the many lawmakers who have outside jobs wouldn't get them. Daniel Squadron, who is running against Connor this fall, told the Post, "While Marty Connor clearly believes he should get an additional $52,000 bonus just for doing the job he was elected to do, in these economic times, he'd be hard-pressed to find a single New Yorker who agrees." However, the Sun suggests the that Connor's idea "may contain the contours of the compromise" that would allow Governor Paterson to give lawmakers a raise (lawmakers have a base of $79,500). Connor said, "It's a way to professionalize the Legislature and remove the clouds that hang over the institution." more ›

State judges have been agitating for a salary raise for a while, but since state legislators are determined to link judicial raises to legislator pay raises. Now judge are planning a "rule-book slowdown" and other ways to get back at the Assembly Leader Sheldon Silver and the state legislature. more ›