State lawmakers on the Senate Local Government committee say they don’t want to set up automatic pay raises for the legislature. Supporters of House Bill 1150 say the measure treats state lawmakers like all other state employees. That means they would receive a pay increase at whatever rate applies to South Dakota workers – whether that’s a large increase or none at all.
State Senator Craig Tieszen says he criticizes Congress for getting automatic raises and doesn’t support it at the state level. Tieszen says lawmakers should have to garner a two-thirds vote if they think they should make more money.
"No offense to the proponent, but I consider this a backdoor attempt to accomplish something that the legislature’s going to have to step up and do in a straightforward manner at a time when it feels that it’s ready," Tieszen says.
Other lawmakers on the committee agree. A majority of Senate Local Government members voted to send House Bill 1150 to the 41st day.
