The new year is here! 2022 is finally over and everyone welcomed 2023 with family, friends, or the confines of their home in peace away from the crowd. After a disastrous year of economic instability, many Americans are optimistic, but doubtful, that 2023 will be better. But New York legislators took matters into their own hands to make their personal financial status more comfortable in the new year.
New York lawmakers are now the highest-paid in the country after they voted to give themselves a 29% pay raise.
The passing of this bill, which has not received enough attention, was executed in the late hours of the night at the end of December. The pay increase gives New York taxpayers the burden of paying lawmakers an extra $32,000, taking their annual income from $110,000 to a whopping $142,000.
To make things even more disrespectful for New Yorkers, a CBS author tried to justify the pay raise by saying this:
“Some Democrats in the legislature supported the pay raise, and said it was necessary in order to keep up with the cost of living.“
CBS News
Cost of living?! It’s funny how the elites always find a way to squeeze more from the poor people they are supposed to represent and advocate for. These politicians are receiving a pay raise at a time when Americans on average are facing net-wage loss. Median household income in New York state is $75,000, significantly lower than what these politicians are earning.
Public servants are direct representatives of the people. Like any employee in an organization, they should only receive a pay raise if their job performance shows they deserve it. Why would these politicians deserve pay raises at a time when their representatives are economically suffering? Using “cost of living increases” as an excuse is a perfect example of “rules for thee but not for me.” What about the cost of living increases the average New Yorker is fighting to keep up with?
