Steinberg sees governor’s hand behind possible legislative pay cuts

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Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) said he believed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has been encouraging the commission that controls lawmakers’ salaries to threaten lawmakers with reduced pay ‘ to try to influence public policy.’

Since 1990, pay for state lawmakers has been set by the Citizens Compensation Commission, a supposedly independent board whose members are appointed by the governor. Earlier this month, the commission heard testimony about a plan to cut lawmakers’ pay after docking lawmakers’ salaries by 18% last year.

‘I have no doubt that the administration’s imprint is all over that decision,’ Steinberg said. ‘It is wrong and unethical to even suggest using the salaries of elected officials to try to influence public policy and it really speaks in some ways how little [the Schwarzenegger administration has] in their armor here to try to push their point of view across if they need to rely on whacking the Legislature another 10%.’

Schwarzenegger spokesman Aaron McLear maintained the commission’s independence, but said the governor has called for everyone in state government to cut costs.

‘The governor believes everyone in state government needs to cut back while we’re in the middle of this economic crisis,’ he said.

--Anthony York