Politics & Government
Hopkins Legislators: We Won't Judge Peers For Taking Salaries During Shutdown
Latz is keeping his, while Simon refuses his paychecks.
Legislators' pay is becoming a political football at the state capitol. Some state senators and representatives are voluntarily forgoing pay during the state government shutdown.
St. Louis Park Rep. Steve Simon (DFL-District 44A) is among the 48 representatives out of 134 who have declined a July paycheck, according to a City Pages report.
“I just thought, frankly, when the shutdown puts so many hardships on so many people, it didn’t feel right to take a paycheck,” Simon said. “It’s in part in solidarity (with laid off state workers).”
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Hopkins Sen. Ron Latz (DFL-District 44) says he has no qualms about continuing to accept his paycheck. Latz is one of 53 senators doing so, although 14 of his colleagues have declined theirs while the shutdown goes on.
Legislators earn $31,000 annually.
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Simon said he isn’t judging anyone for taking—or not taking—their pay.
“It’s a personal decision,” the representative said. “I certainly don’t look down on anyone who does differently.”
Latz similarly declined to make these decisions an issue, although he pointed out that many senators from both parties are continuing to take their pay. He said his decision rested on when legislators do most of their work.
"Most of the work that we do is between January and May when the legislature's in session," he said. "Even though our paychecks are spread out over the course of a whole year, the work that we perform is mostly done between January and May."
Latz suggested that some of his GOP colleagues might be feeling "guilty" about their role in the shutdown.
"My view is that since the Republicans control the legislature, they have the duty to ultimately pass a budget bill that the governor will sign," he said. "Just passing a bill they know the governor is going to veto does not meet their responsability to enact a budget for the coming biennium.
"I don’t think I’ve failed in my responsibility as a legislator," he added. "I've been willing to negotiate over my preferences and compromise."
