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Commission says governor, legislators should get 2 percent pay bump

Courtesy Michigan.gov

A commission has recommended salary increases of 2 percent a year for the governor, legislators and other state elected officials.

The State Officers Compensation Commission adopted the proposal Friday. The increases would take effect in 2023 and 2024, after next year’s elections.

But it’s not a done deal. An amendment to the Michigan Constitution requires the Legislature to ratify the recommendation. And that hasn’t happened in a while.

Commissioner Robert Emerson is a former legislator and state budget director. He said it’s the commission’s job to come up with an appropriate compensation recommendation and leave the rest to the political process.

“Seems to me that it’s not my job to figure out what the political reality (is) of what the Legislature is going to approve or disapprove,” he said.

The offices covered include the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and secretary of state, as well as legislators, and judges.