New York lawmakers could be receiving a 29% pay raise in the new year after passing a measure to give it to themselves.
If Gov. Kathy Hochul signs the bill into law, then members of the state Assembly and Senate would begin receiving $142,000 annually effective Jan. 1. Hochul, earlier this month, expressed support for the increase.
That would also make New York state legislators the highest paid in the country, earning more than twice what the average household earns in the state.
The Senate voted 33-23 to pass the bill just before 2 p.m Thursday. The Assembly followed suit with an 81-52 vote 90 minutes later.
The votes were largely on partisan lines, with Democrats largely supporting the measure and Republicans opposing it.
Under New York’s constitution, lawmakers cannot vote for a pay raise that takes effect during their current term. Had they waited until after Jan. 1 to pass it, the $32,000 hike wouldn’t have occurred until 2025.