New York State’s budget delay has reached its longest period since 2010, impacting legislators’ salaries and creating financial difficulties familiar to many residents. Despite earning $142,000 annually, making them the highest-paid state lawmakers, these New York Senate and Assembly members have not received any pay since April 1, due to the budget holdup.
Assemblywoman Emily Gallagher, representing Greenpoint and South Williamsburg in Brooklyn, has been personally affected. She has had to borrow money from family to handle her $2,750 monthly rent during the legislative pay freeze. Other lawmakers have deferred student loans and considered borrowing against pensions.
The usual camaraderie among lawmakers has shifted from karaoke nights to sharing tips on stretching their $200 travel per diem. If the budget passes soon, as expected, it will mark the latest approval in nearly 20 years, resulting in missed pay over four pay periods.
“It’s bizarre,” Gallagher said, “to go to places and have people treating you with deference and respect — but then to know that you actually have to ask them to buy your coffee.”
Leave a Reply