A week ago today, I blogged about the 5.3% raise state legislators were due to receive this week, and I noted State Rep. Bob Ziegelbauer (D-Manitowoc) had already indicated he planned on giving his raise back. Now sure, Ziegelbauer’s gesture is wholly symbolic, given the fact that he makes over $78,000 a year as the Manitowoc County Executive, but smybolic or not, at least he offered to give his pay raise back.
I also noted State Senator Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) was not among those who announced they were giving back their 5.3% pay raise. Coincidentally, Sen. Lazich was one of only a few lawmakers who voted against approving labor contracts for thousands of state employees, citing the costs of the raises in those contracts, raises which in many cases totaled 5% over three years.
While there’s still been no word from Sen. Lazich or her office on whether or not she’s going to return her hefty raise, two more state legislators have announced they won’t be accepting their raises:
Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-Waunakee) and Sen. Dan Kapanke (R-La Crosse) have said they won’t take the pay raise because the state faces a two-year deficit of $5.4 billion. Others could join them in coming weeks.
It remains to be seen if Sen. Lazich will be among those who refuses to take her pay raise, but given her previous opposition to a 5% pay raise for state employees over three years, logic would dictate she’d refuse her own 5.3% raise for this year alone, lest she be labeled a hypocrite.
I’m gonna guess no. Do I get a raise if I’m right?:)
She also failed to answer any of the JS’s questions submitted to legislators re: their positions on drunk driving laws.
Did she? I thought she answered their questions.