Sheehan Declines Legislator Pay Hike

Sen. James C. Sheehan (D-Dist. 36, North Kingstown and Narragansett) announced yesterday that he will decline the 3.2 percent salary increase that took effect on July 1.

Under the state constitutional change that downsized the General Assembly in the mid-1990s, Rhode Island legislators were to be compensated at an annual rate of $10,000 beginning in 1995, with annual salary increases at the beginning of each subsequent fiscal year, tied to the Consumer Price Index for the previous year.

“Given the state of the economy and the fact that there have been budget cuts, I will not accept the constitutionally guaranteed pay raise,” Sheehan said. “I do not think it is appropriate in principle to accept a pay raise when sacrifices are being made all across state government and in most of the households in our state.”

The constitutional change that established legislative salaries also allows them to receive health insurance benefits comparable to other state employees. Sheehan does not accept the health insurance coverage and has, in the past, declined the more than $2,002 payment for legislators who do not accept the health coverage.

Release courtesy of Sheehan’s office.