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Ways and Means committee sends legislative pay resolution to House floor
Summary
The Ways and Means Committee voted to introduce and recommend concurrent resolution RS 31954, by Representative Monks, to the full House. The resolution recounts recent pay changes across state offices and says lawmakers may donate legislative pay to the tax relief fund defined in section 57‑8‑11.
At its first meeting, the Ways and Means Committee voted to introduce and recommend concurrent resolution RS 31954, authored by Representative Monks, to the full House floor. The resolution concerns legislative compensation and says members may donate any or all of their legislative pay to the tax relief fund as defined in section 57‑8‑11.
Representative Monks told the committee that legislative compensation recommendations come from an independent committee and “will end up becoming law unless the legislative body acts” to reject them. Monks summarized comparative salary changes since February 2005, saying legislative salaries have increased about 27%, while judges have increased about 46%, constitutional officers about 55%, the lieutenant governor about 98%, and the average state employee about 74%.
Monks said the resolution includes an option for members who believe subsequent raises are unnecessary to donate part or all of their compensation to the tax relief fund. He described the fund as having “a couple of provisions,” including what he said was “an automatic $39,000,000” distributed into other accounts and money that is also “distributed into the school facilities fund, which also helps reduce property taxes.”
Committee discussion on the motion was brief. Committee Chair (name not specified) moved that the committee introduce RS 31954 and recommend it be sent directly to the House floor. With no further debate, the committee conducted a voice vote; the chair declared, “The ayes have it,” and the motion carried.
Representative Bridal asked whether the sponsor preferred the resolution be recommended directly to the floor or sent to committee; Monks said he preferred it go to the floor. Committee members did not record roll-call votes in the transcript. The resolution was introduced and recommended to the floor; no amendments or conditions were recorded.
The committee noted this was its only agenda item and that future meetings will likely be scheduled early to accommodate the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee. The chair adjourned the meeting.
