Posted: | January 15, 2016 12:27 PM |
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From: | Senator Kim L. Ward |
To: | All Senate members |
Subject: | Salary and Reimbursement Freeze during a Budget Impasse |
I am introducing legislation to freeze the salaries and expense reimbursements of the legislature, Governor, Lt. Governor and Cabinet members during a budget impasse and prohibit any per diems from being collected for days during which a budget is not enacted. We should lead the way on finding ways to save money so that the people we represent know that we are not on a luxury ship, but instead in the same boat as they are. Taking reimbursement only instead of per diems and not collecting salaries or reimbursements, especially during a time that schools, senior centers and other service agencies are struggling to keep their doors open, could be one of the ways we show them that. My bill will allow only for the reimbursement of receipted expenses for lodging, food and mileage incurred during a budget impasse. It will also suspend the salaries, along with all expense reimbursement, for all members of the General Assembly, the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, and members of the Governor’s Cabinet, including the Budget Secretary, from June 30th until a budget is enacted. |
Introduced as SB1208