Legislators may face pay cut

Some state legislators believe their pay should be trimmed to reflect cuts to other state employees - despite not getting a raise since 2006.

"I think that whatever move is made ought to reflect what the state has had to do with its other employees," said Sen. John Goedde, R-Coeur d'Alene. "They have had to take cuts in pay or furloughs and the Legislature should be treated in the same manner."

Two members of a committee scheduled to meet Wednesday to review compensation for state legislators say a pay cut is possible.

"I would expect to see a small decrease or no increase," said Legislative Compensation Committee chairman Rich Jackson, echoed by panel member Deb Kristensen.

Legislators will consider the committee's recommendation.

Idaho's legislative salary has been $16,116 since December 2006. Lawmakers also receive health and pension benefits along with $2,500 a year for constituent services, and up to $1,000 for travel expenses.

Lawmakers living within 50 miles of Boise receive $49 per day during the session. Lawmakers living outside Boise who maintain second residences get $122 per day.

Rep. Frank Henderson, R-Post Falls, said he would not oppose a pay decrease even though legislators' expenses have increased, but he hopes the panel takes into account that a drop may prevent some legislators, but not himself, from serving in the future.

"If there's a pay reduction, that would be acceptable, but I do know some in the Legislature who are very competent people who barely can afford to be there," Henderson said. "I'd hate to see a reduction to the point of losing them."

Two years ago, legislators refused a proposed 5 percent increase. In the unlikely scenario that an increase is recommended this year, Henderson said he believes legislators would turn it down again.

Henderson and fellow District 5 legislators Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene, and Sen. Jim Hammond, R-Post Falls, plan to give 5 percent of their salary to the Post Falls School District next month. He said the trio intend to fulfill that promise even if legislators take a pay cut.

Rep. Marge Chadderdon, R-Coeur d'Alene, said she also believes a pay cut is warranted.

"Legislators are in the same economy as all the other people," she said. "Our pay scale should be adjusted the same way as the state departments to shoulder this downturn."

Chadderdon said most legislators don't serve for the money anyway.

"A lot of them don't even know what their salary is until they get elected," she said.

Don Burtenshaw, a former GOP state senator from Terreton, said he has received a lot of calls telling him to hold the line on pay.

"Even legislators are telling me they don't want an increase in the face of everyone taking a cut," he said.

But he said he's reluctant to cut lawmakers' pay because of the long hours they often put in outside the session.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.