Sen. Zito urges committee to reject legislative pay increase; resolution sent to print

Senator Christy Zito asked the Senate State Affairs Committee to reject a proposed increase in legislative compensation and to send a concurrent resolution, RS 31919, to print.

Zito, who identified herself as representing Legislative District 8, told the committee the Idaho Constitution authorizes a Citizens Committee on Legislative Compensation to set lawmakers’ pay and allows the Legislature only to reject or reduce those rates by concurrent resolution. She said the committee’s proposal would raise compensation by about 22% and argued the increase was inappropriate during a period of high inflation and rising taxes. "I am confident that the forget forgotten men and women of Idaho work hard to pay their taxes," Zito said, asking members to support the resolution.

The measure was moved to print by Senator Shippey and seconded by Senator Anthony. The committee approved the motion by voice vote.

The resolution, as described by Zito, would exercise the Legislature’s constitutional authority under Article IV, Section 23 to reject or reduce rates set by the Citizens Committee on Legislative Compensation. The committee’s action today was procedural—sending RS 31919 to print and preparing it for further consideration on the Senate floor. No final floor adoption of the concurrent resolution occurred at this hearing.

RS 31919 will appear in printed form for subsequent legislative consideration; the committee vote recorded a voice approval to introduce the resolution to the Legislature.