Hawaii State Salary Commission Vote to Increase Legislators’ Pay
by State Senator Sam Slom, Senate Minority Blog, March 29, 2013
Originally published in the Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board Report 3-25-13.
This article has been updated.
The Hawaii State Salary Commission on Monday (March 25) recommended large raises for legislators, judges and the Governor (GM 254). Pay for state legislators will rise from $46,272 to $55,896 starting on July 1.
The pay raises cannot be justified in this economy but there are no hearings and no votes. (Former State Senator Bob Hogue & I were the last lawmakers to vote “no” to salary increases years ago when we could still vote.) I warned against, and voted against, establishing a Salary Commission.
The Salary Commission issued the 250+ page report this past weekend. It can be downloaded from this link: . Upon the submission of the report, the commission shall be dissolved. (Hawaii State Constitution Article 16, Section 3.5)
Members on the salary commission included:
| Name |
Nominated by |
| Michael P. Irish, Chairperson |
Chief Justice – Judiciary |
| Mark R. Fox, Vice Chairperson |
House Speaker |
| Chad R. Buck |
House Speaker |
| Lyn Flanigan |
Governor |
| Lynn Heirakuji |
Governor |
| Stephanie N. Iona |
Senate President |
| Robert T. Wu |
Senate President |
2013 Salary Commission Report (PDF)
|