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Ways and Means panel recommends sending resolution allowing legislators to donate pay to tax relief fund to the floor
Summary
The committee voted to recommend RS 31954, a concurrent resolution that would allow legislators to donate any or all of their legislative compensation to the tax relief fund defined in section 57 8 11; the motion passed by voice vote and will be forwarded to the legislative floor for consideration.
The Ways and Means Committee voted to introduce RS 31954 and recommend it be sent directly to the floor. The resolution would permit legislators to donate any or all of their legislative compensation to the tax relief fund referenced in section 57 8 11.
Representative Monks summarized the measure for the committee, saying the independent compensation committee makes a recommendation that becomes law unless the legislature acts to reject it. He told members the salaries of legislators have increased “by only 27% since 02/2005,” while “the salary of judges have increased by 46%,” “constitutional officers have increased by 55%,” “the Lieutenant Governor has . . . increased by 98%” and “the salary of the average state employee has increased by 74%.” Monks said the resolution also lets any lawmaker who believes they are “being overcompensated” donate subsequent raises to the tax relief fund defined in section 57 8 11.
Monks described how money routed through the tax relief fund is allocated, saying one automatic distribution is $39,000,000 to state public defenders and that the fund also sends money to the school facilities fund, both of which he said help offset property taxes. Representative Bridal asked whether Monks wanted the committee to recommend sending the resolution straight to the floor or to refer it to committee; Monks said he favored sending it to the floor.
A motion to introduce RS 31954 and recommend it go directly to the floor was made and put to a voice vote. The chair recorded the motion as carried — “the ayes have it” — and the committee took no roll-call tally on the record. The meeting included brief housekeeping remarks, and the chair said future meetings would likely be scheduled early to accommodate JFAC and other committee schedules before adjourning.
The resolution will next appear on the legislative floor for further action; the speaker of the chamber controls final placement and any subsequent votes.
