New bill lets lawmakers give away their pay

Everett Herald

By Jerry Cornfield

Four Republican state senators on Friday introduced a bill giving Washington’s elected officials a chance to give up or give away their salary.

Under Senate Bill 6127, lawmakers and statewide executives, including the governor, could voluntarily reduce their salary or donate part or all of their earnings to a charity.

Sen. Joe Fain, R-Auburn, who is a member of the Senate Republican Caucus leadership, is the prime sponsor of the bill. Other sponsors are Sens. Andy Hill of Redmond, Bruce Dammeier of Puyallup and Steve Litzow of Mercer Island.

The bill has been referred to the Senate Ways and Means Committee where Hill is the chairman. No date for a hearing had been publicized as of Friday.

The new bill comes days after the Washington Citizens’ Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials approved 11 percent pay raises for state lawmakers. The commission also adopted pay hikes ranging from 4 percent to 12 percent for statewide office-holders.

Gov. Jay Inslee said this week he will give his 4 percent raise to charity.