Pay raises move into legislative cross hairs

Published: February 22nd, 2009

State Sen. Bunde introduces bill to reject increases for lawmakers, commissioners.

Pay raises for legislators and commissioners that were set to slip quietly into place over the next year could generate some political heat under a bill introduced in the Alaska Senate.

Without legislative action, pay hikes developed by a five-member compensation commission automatically would take effect on July 1 for commissioners and in January for legislators.

…

Gabe Aceves, director of the Alaska Public Interest Research Group, said the per diem system is useful because it’s the only record showing who’s doing legislative work over the interim. Under equal pay for all, it would be less clear who is carrying the workload.

“We don’t know how many are working every day when they are not in session unless they are claiming per diem,” Aceves said.

On the other hand, Aceves said, he would like to see more people run for office, particularly after witnessing the evolving political corruption scandal.

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In the News | Pay raises move into legislative cross hairs

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Alaska Public Interest Research Group is a non-partisan, non-profit, citizen oriented statewide organization researching, educating and advocating on behalf of the public interest. AKPIRG exists to promote the public and consumer interests, especially when inconsistent with moneyed, powerful or other special interests.