Several Republican lawmakers are proposing a 5 percent pay cut for themselves and their colleagues in the Legislature.
GOP legislators propose pay cut of 5 percent
February 19, 2009 at 3:17AM
The cut would put annual base pay for Minnesota legislators at about $29,600. It currently stands at $31,140. The salary cut would also apply to constitutional officers such as the governor and secretary of state.
Sen. Geoff Michel, R-Edina, said legislators will have more credibility while trying to solve the budget deficit if they first lead by example and make their own sacrifices.
He says the cut would save the state more than $676,000 over a two-year period.
House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher and Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller, both Democrats, said they're open to looking at a pay cut for legislators as part of a possible budget fix.
Town hall meetings on state budget begin Legislators will begin a series of town hall meetings on the state budget today in Mankato, Rochester, St. Cloud and Willmar.
Members of the DFL-controlled Legislature are seeking reaction to Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty's proposed fix for a deficit currently measured at almost $5 billion through mid-2011, but potentially as big as $7 billion.
The federal stimulus package will pour in more than $4 billion, but state officials estimate that $2.8 billion tops will go to the deficit.
Pawlenty has taken his own tour of chambers of commerce and rotary clubs from Anoka to Winona this month and will visit Willmar and St. Cloud next week.
A list of the legislative town hall meetings is available at www.house.leg.state.mn.us/budgettownhallmeetings.asp.
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