Ohio Legislators Push To Cut Elected Officials’ Pay

COLUMBUS, Ohio —Facing a significant budget deficit in the midst of a souring economy, Republican State Representative Seth Morgan of Huber Heights is asking elected officials to take a 5 percent pay cut until the economy improves.

Morgan has introduced House Bill 210 to require the governor, state treasurer, state auditor, attorney general, and state assembly members take the pay cut at the beginning of their next term—meaning the earliest the bill would take effect is 2011.

He’s been in office less than six months and says he thinks he and his colleagues are overpaid in the current economy.

“I make about, I think, $65,000 as a legislator,“ Morgan said.

The pay cuts would be restored if Ohio’s gross domestic product increases by 2.5 percent in two out of three consecutive years.

Looking to send a message to Ohioans who are struggling to make ends meet, Morgan says he wants legislators to have a personal stake in the state’s economic progress.

Without an official estimate from the state, Morgan said he believes the pay cut would save approximately $500,000 a year if enacted. But that’s a big if, as Morgan says he is not expecting his proposal to be voted upon.

“Rep. Morgan’s proposal would have no fiscal impact whatsoever on the immediate crisis since the effective date, or the realization of any savings would not occur until January 2011,“ said House Speaker Pro Tempore Matthew Szollosi.

Szollosi, of Lucas County, said the idea would be considered, but because it does not impact the current fiscal year, the passage of an operating budget would be a higher priority.

But there’s at least one problem: the state constitution doesn’t allow lawmakers to raise or lower their salaries during their term in office.

“I see it as sort of a gesture rather than any actual sort of actual progress that they’re making,“ said Eddie Abdalla, an area resident.

Morgan said he knows the cut wouldn’t fix the state’s economic woes, but he says the message itself is important - that Ohio lawmakers understand the plight so many are facing.

“When the people of Ohio recover, we can recover. Until then, we ought to take a little bit of the personal pain as well,“ Morgan said.

Morgan said that at some point, he’d like to see similar pay reductions for state employees as well during economic downturns.

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