by Logan Finney, Idaho Reports

The two chambers of the Idaho Legislature often butt heads over how to handle certain topics at the statehouse. This year, that extends to whether lawmakers need a pay raise.

Legislators have no authority under the Idaho Constitution to set their own pay. Instead, a Citizens’ Committee appointed by the governor and supreme court determines legislative compensation. This year, they voted to increase lawmakers’ salaries to $25,000, up from $19,913.

The Legislature does have the ability to reject or reduce a pay increase from the committee.

A group of conservative lawmakers has been calling for several months to reject the raise, and the Senate passed a resolution last week to do just that.

Senate President Pro Tempore Kelly Anthon, R-Declo, told Idaho Reports he sided with the majority of Senate Republicans in wanting to reject the pay raise after it became a political issue among legislators.

“Nobody wants their constituents to think they came here for money,” Anthon said.

On Tuesday, however, House Speaker Mike Moyle routed the resolution to the House Ways and Means Committee, which often functions as a de facto dead end for legislation. The committee voted to hold the Senate resolution indefinitely Wednesday, all but cementing its fate.

Moyle, R-Star, and House Majority Leader Jason Monks, R-Meridian, introduced an alternative resolution on Tuesday that would accept the pay increase.

“It’s expensive to be here,” Moyle told Idaho Reports.

The House resolution would allow legislators to donate all or part of their compensation to the Tax Relief Fund, which currently funds property tax relief by helping school districts pay off their bond and levy balances.

Monks and Moyle each told Idaho Reports they want to maintain the pay increase but give individual lawmakers an option to return it.

“We heard from a lot of legislators,” Monks said. “We wanted to provide them an option.”

Sen. Christy Zito, R-Hammett, is lead sponsor of the resolution to reject the raise. She pointed out to Idaho Reports that lawmakers can donate their salaries at any time.

“We don’t need permission from the House,” she said.

An analysis from the Mountain States Policy Center found the cost of the proposed pay hike amounts to less than a dollar per Idaho resident.

“In total, it represents just $534,135 in state spending,” MSPC President Chris Cargill wrote. “If you used that money on tax relief, instead, you’d have enough to give every citizen in the state about 26 cents.”

Anthon told Idaho Reports the legislative pay raise has not become a bargaining chip between the two chambers, but there are differences of opinion on whether it is needed.

“No legislator is overcompensated,” Anthon said.

The pay increase will take effect automatically if there is no action by lawmakers before the 25th day of the legislative session, which this year falls on January 30th.

Lawmakers are also considering raises for judges and other state employees this year.

Editor’s note: Idaho Public Television is an agency of the State of Idaho. Idaho Reports employees are state employees and would be subject to any adopted change in pay.

---