Albany Watch

Legislators will return to the Capitol after the November election to vote themselves – a judges – a pay raise that will take effect in January, one lawmaker predicted.

“We’ll probably do about 3 percent a year, but keep it (base pay) just under $100,000,’’ said the lawmaker, who spoke about the issue only if he wasn’t identified. “Then we’ll jack up the lulus too, ‘’ he said, referring to payments for leadership posts.

Base pay for legislators, $79,500, was last increased in 1999. A 30 percent raise would bring that total to almost $106,000. All 62 senators and 42 Republican members of the Assembly get extra payments that boost the average pay well over $90,000. About two-thirds of the 108 Democrats also get the payments.

If the pay raise is passed after the Nov. 4 elections but before the end of the year it would allow lawmakers to avoid a voter backlash and also have the hikes take effect in January when a new Legislature takes place. By law lawmakers can’t raise their own pay, but can of an incoming Legislature. In practice, of course, almost all of those now holding office will still have their seats in January.

A Senate spokesman said the issue hasn’t come up, while an Assembly spokesman had no comment.

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