Legislature(1993 - 1994)
02/09/1993 08:00 AM House STA
| Audio | Topic |
|---|
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SSHB 48: DELAYED PAYMENT OF LEGISLATORS' SALARIES Number 200 REPRESENTATIVE FRAN ULMER, PRIME SPONSOR of SSHB 48, stated the purpose of the bill was to create an incentive for the legislature to complete the operating budget in a more timely manner. Until the budget passed no legislators would be paid. She shared her frustration with the bottleneck in the finance committee toward the end of session which interfered with the process of getting a bill to pass each year. She believed SSHB 48 would help the operating budget bill to pass more quickly. Number 257 CHAIRMAN VEZEY asked if SSHB 48 would confiscate or just delay the payment to each legislator. REPRESENTATIVE ULMER responded it would be a legal problem if the legislator's income was confiscated, so SSHB 48 would be to delay payment only. Number 269 CHAIRMAN VEZEY asked if delaying a check of $400.00 per week would really be an incentive. Number 274 REPRESENTATIVE ULMER said any incentive would be helpful because rules and guidelines were being ignored. Maybe the public would give more attention if, by the 90th day, the capital budget was not done, she added. (Chairman Vezey stated Representative Bettye Davis joined the committee at 8:15 a.m.) Number 292 REPRESENTATIVE ULMER discussed the changes in SSHB 48 on line 12 page 2. The Governor must submit the budget to the legislature by the 45th day instead of the 60th day, she noted. Number 306 REPRESENTATIVE KOTT did not believe the $400 would be a strong enough incentive, but felt the limitation might pressure the budget to be done in an untimely manner. This incentive affected the $400 salary only and no other funds, he pointed out. Number 324 REPRESENTATIVE HARLEY OLBERG asked why withholding the salary was not limited to members of the Finance Committee only. Number 329 REPRESENTATIVE ULMER said the influence on members of the committee from peer pressure would also be an incentive. Number 340 CHAIRMAN VEZEY asked about the intent of 30 days being set aside for non-budget attention. Number 344 REPRESENTATIVE ULMER said bills with fiscal notes and the operating budget would get crunched together. There would be better decision making if the operating budget was completed first, and less leverage against legislators and their bills would streamline the process, she added. Number 364 REPRESENTATIVE KOTT asked if the change to a 90 day session from a 120 day session would automatically change this problem. Number 370 REPRESENTATIVE ULMER said there would still be a crunch in the Finance Committee. By pacing legislators to break up the duties early in the session, things would be better organized, she believed. Number 381 REPRESENTATIVE GARY DAVIS applauded any effort to improve the system. To delay salary payment might not be effective but the message was good and might help the legislative image, he believed. He had thought of ways to improve the legislative process but wanted to wait a while to introduce his ideas. He wanted to see the response of other legislators to SSHB 48. Number 412 REPRESENTATIVE OLBERG said the money was symbolic, but the media could hold the legislature's "feet to the fire." He shared his frustration with the system and hoped to see SSHB 48 move out of committee. Number 424 CHAIRMAN VEZEY discussed the interest paid for withholding legislative salaries for 30 days would total less than $600 for all legislators as compared to $8 million spent annually on lobbying. Number 431 REPRESENTATIVE KOTT asked the committee to MOVE SSHB 48. Roll call was taken with a unanimous yes vote.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|