A group of incoming legislators announced Friday they plan to kill a pay hike for lawmakers approved by the Citizens’ Committee on Legislative Compensation earlier this week.
The group, led by Sen. Glenneda Zuiderveld of Twin Falls and Sen.-elect Christy Zito, said they will advance a resolution to reject the proposed pay hike on the first day of the 2025 legislative session, which opens in early January.
“On day one of the 2025 legislative session, we will introduce a concurrent resolution to reject this proposed salary increase and call on our fellow legislators to join us in standing against it,” the group wrote in a press release Friday. “Idahoans expect to see their elected officials prioritize policies that directly support hardworking families—not raises for themselves.”
The group includes three incoming senators: Zito, Zuiderveld, and freshman Josh Kohl of Twin Falls. It also boasts five incoming House members, all freshmen: Lucas Cayler and Kent Marmon of Caldwell, Clint Hostetler and David Leavitt of Twin Falls, and Faye Thompson of McCall.
Instead of approving a pay hike for legislators, the eight lawmakers suggest prioritizing grocery tax repeal.
“With Idahoans facing increasing expenses for essentials such as food, housing, and energy, the Legislature must exercise fiscal responsibility by prioritizing the needs of Idaho residents over expanding government and increasing legislator pay,” the eight wrote. “It sends the wrong message to use taxpayer funds for lawmaker salary increases during this time of financial strain.”
Legislative compensation has been on the minds of many since legislative leadership proposed a 43% pay hike for lawmakers a few weeks ago. That proposal, which would have ended per diem payments for lawmakers while boosting the base salary, died at the hands of the Citizens’ Committee on Wednesday.
The panel opted Wednesday to approve a 22% pay hike for lawmakers. The new plan would keep the per diem payments that cover food and housing for lawmakers during each legislative session.
Taxpayers also cover lawmakers’ health insurance plans, along with retirement contributions.
The group of eight suggested a more modest pay hike of 2.5%, which reflects only increases in cost-of-living expenses. They want to take care of Idahoans before legislators, who have punted on important issues like school choice and grocery tax repeal.
The 22% pay hike proposed by the committee will take effect if lawmakers take no action on legislative compensation – meaning lawmakers do not have to vote to accept the pay hike.
The Idaho Freedom Foundation hammered the original proposal, pointing out that a 43% pay hike for lawmakers would have sent the wrong message to Idaho residents and government agencies who are preparing to have their budget requests considered by lawmakers.
“The optics of such a large increase are terrible, and the message sent to government agencies when the topic of spending comes up will make this request rather ill-timed,” IFF’s Legislative Affairs Director Fred Birnbaum wrote recently. “State employees will naturally seek bigger raises if legislators lead with such a large increase.”
It’s refreshing to see there are at least a few legislators who have their eye on the ball with regard to families who may be struggling in an economy fraught with inflation, instability, and uncertainty. Kudos to these legislators who are coming to Boise with an Idaho-first perspective. Every lawmaker should be eager to sign onto this proposal.
