91 percent pay hike asked by lawmakers

Monday, Dec. 21, 1998 | 11:18 a.m.

The Legislative Commission has voted to draft a bill that would give lawmakers a 91 percent pay increase starting in 2001.

Under the bill, pay for legislators would go from $130 a day to $250 a day for the first 60 days of the session. The bill would also include a $100-a-month telephone and travel allowance for each lawmaker during the off-session.

The commission is composed of six senators and six assemblymen evenly split between Democrats and Republicans. Its job is to take care of state business between sessions of the Legislature, which convenes every other year.

Carole Vilardo, executive director of the Nevada Taxpayers Association, and Daryl Capurro, director of the Nevada Motor Transport Association, were prime advocates of the bill. Vilardo said a diverse group is supporting the proposal to show that it comes from the public and not from the legislators.

They said it would help retain good lawmakers and encourage new people who want to serve.

Assembly Speaker Joe Dini, D-Yerington, said lawmakers have received only three pay increases in 30 years. The salary went from $30 a day to $80 a day and then to its present $130 a day in 1985. The pay ends at the conclusion of the 60th day.

"This is not a great deal," said Dini, who added it would help the younger lawmakers get through the session. "Nobody has to have any fears in supporting this."

Dini said if there is a "budget crunch" the bill will not advance in the session. And he said it would not be approved if state workers did not receive a pay raise.

The increase would add an extra $440,000 to the cost of the session. It means that legislators would receive $15,000 instead of $7,800 for each regular session. A current legislator, to receive the pay, would have to be re-elected one more time before qualifying for the raise.

In addition to their pay, lawmakers receive $66 a day for living expenses for the entire session.

Voting against drafting the pay raise bill were three senators from Las Vegas, Mark James, a Republican, and Democrats Dina Titus and Ray Shaffer.