SEN. ABEL MALDONADO: STATE COULD TAKE A CUE FROM COUNTY SUPERVISORS

As printed in the Santa Cruz Sentinel, December 9, 2007

Kudos to the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors for their responsible decision to forego a pay raise during these times of fiscal uncertainty.

I agree with Supervisor Ellen Pirie that, amid potential budget cuts, elected officials should not be focused on their own bank accounts. Not surprisingly, the state's budget outlook is similarly bleak. Current projections are estimating a $10 billion deficit in next year's budget. Ironically, the state Legislature was also recently granted a raise. But unlike Santa Cruz supervisors, all but 12 of my legislative colleagues and I augmented their own salaries by almost 3 percent

California legislators already are the highest paid in the nation, yet earlier this year the California Citizens Compensation Commission gave us a 2.75 percent pay increase. Given our current budget situation, which some have called a "crisis," I refused to accept the raise. In fact, I have never taken a pay raise during my tenure as a state legislator.

In anticipation of this multibillion-dollar deficit, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has asked state agencies to look at ways to cut their budgets by 10 percent. Yet at the same time, each legislator will be receiving an additional $3,110 per year. We have clearly established a double standard. We espouse fiscal responsibility for state spending, except when it comes to our own bank accounts. It is time for the Legislature to lead by example.

Our first priority should be the state's bank account, not our own. Twelve of my colleagues and I believe that your money should be spent funding programs that you have told us are your priorities.

I hope that more of my colleagues take a cue from Santa Cruz County and reject this unnecessary pay raise until we know our state's priorities are fully funded.

State Sen. Abel Maldonado, R-Santa Maria, represents the 15th Senate District, which includes parts of Santa Cruz.

Back to News and Press