Legislators Debate Internal Pay Raises

WLBT, 4/14/8

Pay raises for county and state elected officials could hinge on whether lawmakers will concede to raising their own pay.

Lieutenant Governor Phil Bryant stands to receive a big bump in pay if the bill goes through. But he’s fighting to get his name as well as the rest of the state legislature taken off the bill.

House Bill 859 would increase the salaries of state and county elected officials, including state legislators. Perhaps the biggest raise of all will go to the Lieutenant Governor. If the bill is signed into law, Bryant will receive a $100,000 raise. Bryant is against it.

“I’m supporting a measure that would not increase my own salary, because I knew what the job paid when I came here,” said Bryant.