By Mark Scott
Albany, NY – As the state Senate prepares to pass legislation boosting their pay, Governor Spitzer has come out with his own salary increase proposal. And it doesn't include lawmakers.
The Republican-controlled Senate has introduced a measure to boost the salaries of state judges along with the pay of state legislators, the governor and other statewide elected officials.
The measure was introduced without fanfare on Wednesday and could be acted on as early as next week. The Senate bill would provide regular cost of living raises for legislators, other elected officials and judges. A 13-member commission would also be created to develop pay raise recommendations beyond that.
But Thursday, Spitzer came out with his own pay raise proposal. His would only apply to state judges who haven't had a pay raise in years. Spitzer's proposal would increase the salary of a State Supreme Court Justice by nearly $30,000 a year to just over $165,000.
The governor is also proposing to streamline the state's court system by consolidating the various trial courts. He would also scrap the current system of electing judges in favor of one in which they're appointed.