On the first day of the special budget session, a group of 11 delegates introduced a bill to limit legislator’s pay during special sessions.
Lead sponsor Stephen Baldwin (D, Greenbrier) argued on May 4 that special session costs are an ineffective and inefficient use of taxpayer dollars, saying, “I don’t think legislators should get paid twice when they failed to do the job right the first time.”
The special session, which cost over $650,000, concluded this week with no action taken on the bill to limit pay. It was referred to the Finance Committee but never placed on an agenda. Wanting to turn this negative into a positive, the sponsors therefore plan to donate their special session pay to local non-profits.
“While it didn’t surprise me that leadership wouldn’t let us vote on the bill, it did disappoint me,” Baldwin explained. “Passing a balanced budget everyone can agree to is our most important job. We ought to make that priority number one. That was the purpose of the bill.
“But, there’s more than one way to get something good done. We decided we would donate our pay and make something positive come out of this budget mess,” Baldwin said.
Delegate Rodney Miller (D, Boone) said he could not accept his pay in good conscience when he felt like the special session was a waste of money, so he donated it back to the community. “I’m happy to join my colleagues in doing the responsible thing in order to do good things in our communities.”
Sponsors of the bill include Baldwin, Miller, Mick Bates, Scott Brewer, Shirley Love, Andrew Robinson, Shawn Fluharty, Tim Miley, Barbara Fleischauer, Justin Marcum, and Bill Hartman.
Baldwin sent checks this week to Greenbrier County Special Olympics, Snacks in Packs White Sulphur, Talcott Fire Department, Western Greenbrier Ministerial Association, Northern Greenbrier Food Pantry, Monroe County Educational Fund, Greater Greenbrier Long-Term Recovery, Alderson Library, Ronceverte River Festival, Humane Society, Rupert Area Improvement Council, the Committee on Aging, the Rupert Library and the Rainelle Library. Each will receive one day’s special pay, which is $125.
“This is a common sense issue,” Baldwin said. “We thank all those from both parties who are donating their salaries as a sign of goodwill and would appreciate their support of the bill next year.”
