So far, Virginia lawmakers' pay immune from budget cuts

RICHMOND

The governor and his senior staff took a pay cut. State employees are facing layoffs and furloughs. But there's one group of people in Richmond whose salaries don't appear to be in danger: state legislators.

While there's been some informal discussion of reducing salaries for General Assembly members, several legislators said they don't expect that to make it into the final budget, which could be approved as early as this weekend.

Currently, state senators earn $18,000 and House members earn $17,640. They receive additional money, called a per diem, for meals and lodging as well as money to cover their office expenses.

Neither chamber has had a pay increase in about two decades, so asking legislators to take a pay cut is a thorny issue.

Anything other than a deep reduction would be more of a symbolic gesture than a substantial savings.

The 5 percent pay cut that Gov. Bob McDonnell and his senior staff took in response to the ongoing economic downturn is expected to save roughly $135,000. For legislators, a $1,000 pay cut - about 5.5 percent of their salaries - would generate $140,000 annually.

Both sums are minimal compared to the $4.2 billion shortfall in Virginia's two-year budget.

Still, said Sen. Jeff McWaters, a Virginia Beach Republican, a pay cut would send "an important signal."

"Americans are without jobs," said McWaters, one of the wealthiest members of the legislature. "Their pay is being frozen and sometimes reduced. We should feel the exact same thing."

Sen. Ralph Northam, D-Norfolk, has a different view.

The two months legislators spend in Richmond each winter keeps them away from their families and cuts into their earnings, he explained.

"The salary and per diem is reasonable," Northam said. "I don't see any need to cut it further."

Senate Majority Leader Richard Saslaw, D-Fairfax, said he is willing to take a pay cut, but some legislators might not be able to afford one.

McDonnell has proposed up to 10 furlough days for state workers to save nearly $181 million. The Senate plan includes up to 6 unpaid days that would save about $108 million, while the House budget has none.

McDonnell also recommended that legislators forgo the $200 per day they receive for meetings attended when the General Assembly isn't in session.

During the legislative session, the per diems are $135 in the House and $169 in the Senate to cover meal and lodging expenses. House officials have been critical of their Senate counterparts for not cutting their figure; so too has the fiscal conservative group Americans for Prosperity.

When compared to other states, Virginia lawmakers aren't at the top or bottom of the legislative pay scale. Compensation models differ, but judged on an annual basis, California ranks first at $95,291 and New Hampshire last, at $200 for a two-year term, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

California's legislature is considered full time, while Virginia's and New Hampshire's are part time.

And compared to Virginia's state workers, lawmakers rank near the bottom - the minimum salary on the state pay scale is $15,371.

"If these legislators worked on an hourly basis, they'd get paid a whole lot more. The governor, too," said Sara R. Wilson of the Department of Human Resource Management. "People would be shocked at how little they get paid for how many hours they work."

Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com