Democratic California Governor, Gavin Newsom, and state lawmakers are receiving a 4.2% raise in their salaries via a unanimous vote by the California Citizens Compensation Commission (CCCC).
The decision was 4-0 and went into effect on June 8.
Chairman Tom Dalzell said, “With every other state employee getting money I don’t know what the rationale is for not giving them. By any measure, California is doing very well in terms of vaccination and infection containment. The economy is moving back.”
As of now, California lawmakers are the highest paid in the country. They will now make $119,700 annually, and Newsom’s salary raised to $218,500.
According to the Los Angeles Times “the raises go to 132 elected state officials, including the lieutenant governor, attorney general, treasurer and members of the Board of Equalization.”
Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, said, “The compensation just ratchets up and ratchets up.”
“I think a lot of people would question whether or not we are getting value for our dollar,” he continued.
Republican Gubernatorial Candidate and former San Diego Mayor, Kevin Faulconer, posted a video on Twitter with his thoughts on the subject.
Faulconer said, “This is not the time for a salary increase for Governor Newsom.”