Hawaii State Legislators will get a 36% pay raise as well as an increase to their annual expense account (separate from their salary) effective January 1, 2009. Current pay levels for most legislators are at the $35,900 level. The pay increase will boost their salary up to $48,708 per year.

Legislators also get an annual allowance which was increased from $5,000 to $7,500 couple years ago. Next year the new amount for the allowance will be $10,200. Legislators can use this allowance for things such as travel, food, office furniture, computers, etc.

The legislative pay and office allowance increases is set by the State Salary Commission which was not voted upon by the legislature. That commission followed changes implemented by the voters through a constitutional amendment made in 2004. I opposed that amendment.

Needless to say in this dire time when the state is looking at a $900+ million budget shortfall, a salary and allowance increase for the legislature is unwarranted. I will support legislation that will curb this and future increases next session. Since my election to office in 1996, I have never used the annual allowance and oppose the increase to it as well as the salary increase, especially when taken in light of the dire budget situation impacting schools, social services and other sectors of the state and economy.