THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: House members vote to reduce their own pay
Apr 17, 2009
The Florida House gave preliminary approval Thursday to taking a mandatory 5 percent pay cut to their $31,300 salary for the 2009-2010 fiscal year.
The debate started when Rep. Ron Saunders, D-Key West, proposed allowing members to choose to reduce their salaries by 10 percent. Saunders said lawmakers should be able to choose to reduce their salaries.
“A mandatory pay cut I think would create some problems for members of this Legislature,” Saunders said.
Rep. Mike Horner, R-Kissimmee, said in response that House members were delivering a 4 percent to 5 percent pay cut to state employees.
“We’re asking state employees to accept a mandatory pay cut. I think we should do no less,” Horner said.
Horner’s proposal to add a mandatory cut to lawmaker pay to the House budget bill was approved by a voice vote. The budget is expected to win passage in the House Friday before going to a conference with the Senate.