After demonizing teachers, firefighters, police officers, and state employees, Ohioans have learned that Gov. John Kasich continues to prove that he just doesn't care. While Kasich cuts public schools to reward charters, eliminates pay raises, moves to shut public schools, and completely destroy Medicaid, he has now offered an opinion that will cause many people to check if it is April Fool's Day.
Dispatch:
Gov. John Kasich said last week that he has developed a "beautiful relationship" with Republican legislative leaders, and he even suggested that lawmakers might deserve a pay raise.
....Lawmakers get a base salary of $60,584, though most earn more through stipends for caucus and committee leadership positions. A bill by Rep. Terry Boose, R-Norwalk, that would cut lawmaker salaries by 5 percent has not yet had a hearing.
State workers took 10 unpaid furlough days this year. Lawmakers did not participate in that pay reduction. And the "raise" is mostly a lump-sum payment already provided for in the current state contract.
State workers are not getting raises. This is another example of Kasich misleading the public on state workers.
State legislators do not deserve a pay raise because they are hardly working. At best, being a state legislator in Ohio is a part time job. With the recent cuts for schools, the poor, the elderly, college students, and cities, the last thing legislators should do is give themselves pay raises. It would be morally wrong for them to take more money.