NY state lawmakers vote in favor of hefty pay raise

Dan Levy WNYT

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State lawmakers in Albany have voted to give themselves a hefty pay raise.

It’s a special session of the legislature that has created an especially large amount of controversy.

Lawmakers in both houses came back to Albany specifically to debate the merits of the pay raise issue. It was a spirited debate.

Members of the Senate and Assembly last received a bump in 2019, from $79,500 up to $110,000.

Now that salary will jump to $142,000 a year, which is $62,000 more than they were making four years ago.

Just in time for Christmas, New York legislators are set to return to the state capital Thursday to give themselves a nice holiday gift: a pay raise that would make them the nation's best-paid state lawmakers.

There is justification – and plenty of outrage – at the state Capitol.

In the Assembly, the vote count was 81-52. Every Republican voted no. Many Democrats – including Phil Steck and Carrie Woerner – also rejected the pay raise.

Over the Senate, it was 33-23 in favor.

It now goes to Gov. Hochul’s desk.