Common Cause calls on Legislature to take pay cut or resume session

ALBANY — Common Cause New York, a nonpartisan organization that lobbies for good government, is calling on New York legislators to give up half their salaries "for doing half their job" since they approved a budget in April amid the coronavirus pandemic — and then largely shut down their session.

"Why should New Yorkers pay lawmakers $110,000 — in the middle of a budget deficit — to do only half their jobs?" said Susan Lerner, executive director of New York's 68,000-member Common Cause. "Voters elect our representatives to legislate for six months out of the year and handle constituent services, not one or the other. If they are so intent on shirking their responsibilities and not resuming session remotely, then their paycheck should reflect that."

The group noted that the New York City Council, operating in the nation's hardest-hit city from COVID-19 infections and deaths, have conducted 20 hearings and passed five bills using remote legislating. The state Legislature, despite have the ability to resume its legislative session using remote technology, has conducted two hearings in the past two months.

For weeks, legislators declined to provide a firm timeline for resuming their session remotely, but a Senate source said Tuesday afternoon that the chamber will return to session on May 26 and 27 to take up coronavirus-related legislation, as first reported by Newsday. Spokespeople for Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie did not immediately respond to a request seeking the Assembly's plans.

Read more: https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Common-Cause-calls-on-Legislature-to-take-pay-cut-15280318.php
(Albany Times Union)