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Ways and Means Committee tables resolution opposing proposed legislative pay increase
Summary
The Ways and Means Committee voted to lay on the table Senate Concurrent Resolution 101, which would reject a citizens committee recommendation to raise legislative pay to about $25,000, after debate over legal authority and payroll timing.
The Ways and Means Committee voted to lay on the table Senate Concurrent Resolution 101, a measure that would reject a recommendation by the citizens committee to raise legislative pay to about $25,000 a year, after members questioned the legal mechanics of rejecting versus reducing the committee’s recommendation and noted payroll timing complications.
The resolution, introduced in committee by State Representative Kent Marmon of Caldwell, urged the House to oppose a roughly 26% increase recommended by a citizens compensation committee. Marmon said the increase would “send[] a message to the people of Idaho that we, the citizens' legislature, is out of touch with them,” and cited local strains including students served under the McKinney‑Vento program and seniors facing property tax pressure.
Members debated whether the resolution as written would constitute a rejection of the recommendation or a partial acceptance followed by rejection. Representative Monks raised a legal concern that Idaho Code section 67‑406B limits the legislature to accepting or rejecting the compensation panel’s recommendation and argued the resolution, which would allow legislators to receive the higher pay for a period beginning Dec. 1 while rejecting the longer term increase, functionally reduced rather than rejected the recommendation. Committee discussion also noted that payroll already processed for the period beginning Dec. 1 would not be reclaimed because of the practical difficulty of reversing prior payroll disbursements.
During debate, Representative Monks moved to lay SCR 101 on the table, citing the statutory question and urging caution about the body’s compliance with existing law. Representative Rebel opposed tabling, arguing the pay increase could help make the legislature accessible to working people and invoking a historical argument for paid, rather than strictly volunteer, legislatures. The motion to lay on the table carried; Representative Crane was recorded voting nay.
The committee also approved minutes from its Jan. 21 meeting earlier in the session. With no further agenda items, the chair adjourned the meeting and said members should expect committee materials to be shared digitally via OneDrive unless items are confidential and printed for the meeting.
The vote to table SCR 101 halts committee action on the resolution pending possible future consideration or revised language; no change to Idaho law or permanent decision on compensation was made at the meeting.
