The legislature does not deserve a raise, end of subject, move on. At the same time the judges seem to be held hostage and are at the very whim of the legislature. Some how this has to be seperated.

Legislative pay raise bill hits a snag

A strange thing happened Monday in Albany on the way to a pay hike for lawmakers. In the morning they were overwhelmingly in favor of a plan that could do just that. By nightfall, no longer.

“No we are not gonna pass it,” Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said.

Speaker Silver said Governor Spitzer should be in favor of the plan first. And Spitzer isn’t. The Governor said before lawmakers get their dough they must at least pass a campaign finance bill. But by changing their minds, Silver and Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith are accused of being Spitzer lackeys.

Ask anyone if they want to be paid more, and the answer will be yes, of course. But state lawmakers are now turning down a move that would increase their own salaries. Josh Robin has the story.

“You know what, you gotta be a leader and your word ought to mean something, and that’s how I function through my career. I can’t speak to others,” Bruno said.

One Democrat agrees.

“I’m tired already of doing Governor Spitzer’s bidding,” Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr. said.

There won’t be too many tears outside Albany over legislators’ salaries staying the same. But the bill also would have boosted wages for the state judiciary for the first time in eight years. And without it, good lawyers might not take the bench or stay on it.

“Our judges expect to treat other people fairly. They have committed themselves to that. They should be treated fairly themselves,” said Chief Judge Judith Kaye.

The state’s top judge says her colleagues’ salaries are dangerously low. And she gave lawmakers, including Governor Spitzer, a public tongue lashing at a ceremony Monday.

“This cannot absolutely cannot go on,” Judge Kaye said.

But Kaye knows Albany and how hard it is sometimes to solve simple problems. So on it goes