CHARLESTON, W.Va. — State Senate President Craig Blair says a legislative pay raise bill that could pass before the end of the 60-day session Saturday night may be the last time in the foreseeable future that lawmakers will have to vote on the issue.
Blair supports Senate Bill 740 that ties legislative pay to the per capita income of West Virginia determined by the U.S. Census Bureau the prior year. The pay raise would not take effect until the next legislature takes office in January 2025.
“Who wants to go vote themselves a pay raise? None of those likes doing that. So I’m anticipating that’s the last time this will happen unless they chance the formula,” Blair said during an appearance Wednesday on MetroNews Talkline.
Lawmakers currently receive base pay of $20,000 a year with most of that paid to them during the first three months of the year when the annual legislative session occurs. A per capita increase would now that that salary to $28,000 a year. The bill, which is before the full of House of Delegates, also includes increases in per diem rates and what lawmakers receive for monthly interim committee meetings.
Blair said increasing or decreasing the the pay each year will be a direct reflection on how the state is doing.
“There’s going to be a reward system in place for the first time in this state where lawmakers don’t have to get to the critical mass where lawmakers lose money coming down here to be part of it,” Blair said.
He added it’s not good to have a legislature full of members that enjoy high incomes.
“We want to make so that people of lesser means can afford to be part of this process,” Blair said. “It takes all of us to be able to have an understanding of good government.”
The 7-member Citizens Legislative Compensation Commission recommended state lawmakers receive a raise of $10,000. The commission, which meets every four years as spelled out in the state code, passed a resolution earlier this year recommending the pay increase.
The legislative pay raise bill will be on second reading, amendment stage, during Thursday’s floor session in the House of Delegates.