Texas lawmakers push for substantial raises, benefits in new bills for state workers - KVUE

[TexasTowelie]

New proposed bills aim to increase pay for all state employees and provide the first cost-of-living-adjustment for retirees in 25 years.

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The base salary for legislators is $600 per month and they also receive a per diem when the Legislature is in session. Due to this low salary it limits the field of candidates that appear on the election ballots to the wealthy, although on occasion a truly dedicated individual will appear.

As a former leader in the public employee association, I can't count the number of times that I was treated as a second class citizen and its been that way for three decades. Pay raises are inadequate to meet the cost of living and some times we received were conditional based the comptroller certifying that adequate funds are available. There was once 3% pay raises for two years that were approved by the Legislature, but the comptroller waited until the 24th month of the biennium to grant the entire 3%.

The COLA for retirees is obviously necessary. Considering that most retirees receive about 70% of their salary there have to be some retirees that can't tighten the belt buckle any further.