Sen. James Sanders Jr., who initially sponsored the pay raise for legislative members, is pictured.

New York state legislators are some of the luckiest in the nation already, earning the highest salary in comparison to any other state.

Therefore it comes as no surprise that concerns would be had over the idea of raising that salary even further. Assembly Andrew Molitor, R-Westfield, and Senator George Borrello, R-Sunset Bay, have expressed their own concerns about such a use of money, emulating the worries of many constituents.

The bill to amend the legislators’ pay, numbered S9329, was initially proposed on March 2 by Sen. James Sanders Junior, D-South Ozone Park. New York Legislative members are already the highest earning in all of the nation, beating out California after the previous pay raise back at the end of 2022. This pay raise saw New York’s legislators go from earning $110,000 per year to the current salary of $142,000.

Some lawmakers, during the 2022 raise discussions, argued that the bill came with some factors that would better accountability, such as capping outside income at $35,000.

However, many still refute the argument of this being responsible, as this does not apply to pay in excess of that from military service, retirement plans, or investments. Borrello was one of these legislative members that spoke out about the pay raises back in 2022, specifically criticizing how the bans would discourage successful citizens from seeking public office as well. Borrello is once again advocating against the bill to raise salaries further, having noted that it is an irresponsible use of taxpayer dollars during an already difficult time for many.

“I cannot support this proposal to raise legislative salaries to $180,000. New York already has the highest-paid Legislature in the nation, and this increase would push lawmakers’ pay even higher than members of Congress. Families across our state are already struggling with affordability, in large part because of the reckless, radical policies being advanced and enacted by the Democrats who control Albany. New Yorkers face some of the highest taxes in the nation, skyrocketing utility costs, and a cost of living that continues to drive people out of our state in droves. This proposed pay increase would only further insulate these out-of-touch legislators from their own harmful policies which have made New York unaffordable for the working class,” said Borrello. “At a time when families are tightening their belts, the Legislature should be focused on putting more money back in the wallets of the people we represent, not adding more to our own.”

The justification made by Sanders largely points to the heavy demand and work load that comes with the legislative position. Sanders noted specific responsibilities such as oversight of one of the largest state budgets in the United States; continuous types of various sessions and negotiations; committee leadership, investigatory authority, and oversight of executive agencies; year-round constituent services across large, diverse, and often high need districts; and emergency and crisis response functions involving public health, housing, infrastructure, public safety, and economic stability.

“These responsibilities are not episodic or seasonal. They demand continuous engagement, sustained availability, decision-making under pressu

re, and a high level of professional expertise throughout the calendar year. Senators routinely manage complex legal, fiscal, and policy matters with statewide implications and substantial public impact,” Sanders stated in the bill’s justification. “As a practical matter, these demands materially limit the ability of senators to maintain meaningful outside employment without conflict or dilution of public service. This bill recognizes the functional reality of legislative service and aligns compensation standards accordingly. Establishing a compensation of $180,000 for state legislators reflects the professional expectations, accountability, and workload inherent in the office.”

Molitor was equally unenthusiastic about the idea of yet another legislative pay raise. Specifically, Molitor noted that it would be an irresponsible use of taxpayer money, similarly to the argument of Borrello. Molitor drew reference to New York state’s already very high tax burden, and stated legislative members should be focused on reducing this for residents rather than using it to self-enrich.

“Higher compensation for state legislators is an irresponsible use of taxpayer funds. Spending never seems to stop in Albany and we are paying for it,” said Molitor. “Why do we have the highest combined tax burden in the nation, why don’t businesses want to invest here, why do we lead the nation in outmigration? Because our state government thinks overtaxing its citizens and frivolous spending is good economics. Instead of lining their pockets, state legislators should be working on solutions to cut taxes, cut regulatory red tape, and lower energy prices, health care costs, and increase our affordable housing supply.”