Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a Republican and former Vice President of Lehman Brothers, has suggested that members of the Ohio General Assembly should get a pay raise.
Dispatch:
Gov. John Kasich said last week that he has developed a "beautiful relationship" with Republican legislative leaders, and he even suggested that lawmakers might deserve a pay raise.....
....Lawmakers get a base salary of $60,584, though most earn more through stipends for caucus and committee leadership positions. A bill by Rep. Terry Boose, R-Norwalk, that would cut lawmaker salaries by 5 percent has not yet had a hearing.
State workers took 10 unpaid furlough days this year. Lawmakers did not participate in that pay reduction. And the "raise" is mostly a lump-sum payment already provided for in the current state contract.
Let me address that "pay raise" for state workers first--- Kasich is not giving them a raise. Ask any state worker how much they'll lose as a result of Kasich's elimination of pay steps, and they'll give you an exact figure. I know because I've talked to a few of them.
If members of the Ohio House and the Ohio Senate vote themselves pay raises, they can guarantee a strong response from Ohio voters. Why do they need pay raises for what is essentially a part time job? Why should they get more money when they've voted for Kasich's budget which cuts programs for school children, the elderly, the poor, and cities?
Ohio's voters will be watching to see if the legislators grab the money while they cut off everyone else.
