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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2015 - 2016
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 29, 2016 05:02 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Rob Teplitz |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Legislation – Citizens Compensation Commission |
| In the near future, I plan on introducing legislation establishing the Citizens Compensation Commission to determine salaries for legislators. Compensation for legislators is an issue that is constantly debated in the press and the public. Much of the increased public scrutiny around salaries in the General Assembly stems from the infamous 2005 pay raise. Putting legislators in charge of determining their own salaries is at best a public image problem, and at worse a clear conflict of interest. The ten-member commission will be appointed by the governor, and include two members who are affiliated with organized labor, two members who own or operate a small business, two members who represent the interests of taxpayers, one member who is a major corporate executive of a large company, one member who is the head of a non-profit organization, and two members who are professionals in the field of compensation from different organizations. This legislation would also repeal annual legislative COLAs, which will no longer be necessary once the commission starts establishing annual salaries. This proposal is based on a similar system in the state of California, which was established after voters approved a ballot referendum creating a commission to review government salaries. Rep. Lawrence has already introduced a similar version this session as HB 269. Please join me in working to improve the image of the General Assembly and reaffirm our commitment to the constituents we represent by co-sponsoring this legislation. |
Introduced as SB1164