Maryland legislative officers reject pay raise recommendation for lawmakers

Md. legislative officers reject pay raise proposal

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The presiding officers of the Maryland General Assembly are rejecting pay raises for lawmakers recommended by a panel.

House Speaker Michael Busch and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller released a statement on Tuesday in response to recommendations made by the General Assembly Compensation Commission.

The commission had recommended a $2,000 pay raise for members of the Senate and House of Delegates in either 2013 or 2014, if the unemployment rate drops to 5 percent or lower.

In a joint statement, Miller and Busch say the state’s difficult financial problems mean now is not the time to consider a pay raise.

The general assembly will vote on whether to approve the pay raises sometime during the session that begins next week. The decision will apply to all four years of the next term.