Virginia Democrats talk affordability — and vote to nearly triple their own pay
The Virginia State Senate and its Democratic majority may have voted themselves a nearly 300% pay increase if a provision inserted into their final budget survives the House reconciliation process...
By Fox News · Fox News
The Virginia State Senate and its Democratic majority may have voted themselves a nearly 300% pay increase if a provision inserted into their final budget survives the House reconciliation process and reaches Gov. Abigail Spanberger ’s desk. The development comes as Spanberger has centered her campaign on "affordability," with Richmond Democrats echoing that they are working to improve their constituents’ personal finances. Virginia’s legislature itself was founded as a part-time, gentleman’s chamber, where lawmakers would return to their dayjobs when Richmond wasn’t holding session. VIRGINIA DEMOCRATS SEEK DOZENS OF NEW TAX HIKES, INCLUDING ON DOG WALKING AND DRY CLEANING Proponents of raising the current 1988-established salary of $18,000 for senators and $17,640 for delegates say the structure restricts who can afford to serve as a lawmaker today. Lawmakers also qualify for a $237 per diem, mileage reimbursements, and coverage of office, meeting and other expenses. Senators’ new salary would be $50,000. Republicans were quick to criticize the final budget, with the Virginia Senate Minority Caucus saying in a statement that "teachers got a 3% raise, but Democrats give themselves 300%." "The affordability hoax just gets worse and worse," the caucus said, adding that the chamber’s majority killed a repeal of the car tax — something GOP gubernatorial nominee Winsome Sears ran on — while increasing the state budget by $1 billion overall. Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Rockingham, told WVTF it is the "wrong time" to address lawmaker pay. NEW DEM STAR'S QUICK HARD-LEFT TURN AFTER 'MODERATE' CAMPAIGN WON HER COVETED RESPONSE TO TRUMP: LAWMAKER "It's supposed to be affordability for working families across Virginia, not members of the General Assembly ," he said. Virginia’s legislature — the oldest continuous legislative body in the New World — has been making laws since its inception as the House of Burgesses in Colonial Williamsburg, where Spanberger gave the Democratic Party’…