Thread: New speaker Perez grants CA. Assembly pay hikes

New speaker grants Assembly pay hikes

Posted at 01:29 PM on Monday, Mar. 15, 2010
By Jim Sanders - jasnders@sacbee.com

New Assembly Speaker John A. Perez gave his top aide an annual pay increase of nearly $65,000 - about $5,400 per month - upon becoming leader of the lower house, records show.

Sara Ramirez, Perez's chief of staff, was one of eight Capitol aides receiving pay hikes or promotions from the Los Angeles Democrat on March 1, the day he was sworn into office, according to documents obtained under open-records law.

Ramirez's annual salary is now $190,008 -- $80,424 higher than that of Perez or Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, whose pay was dropped from $133,639 to $109,584 last year by the state's independent salary-setting commission. Legislators not in leadership positions are paid $95,291 a year.

Ramirez, whose duties will expand now that Perez is Assembly speaker, was one of eight Capitol staffers who received pay hikes or promotions from Perez on March 1, the day he took the oath of office to succeed Karen Bass as speaker.

In years past, it has not been unusual for a new Assembly leader to give pay increases to key or underpaid aides in recognition that their duties are likely to expand as their boss goes from one of 80 officeholders to leader of the house.

Pérez takes California Assembly reins Bass gives staff raises on last day as speaker But this year's increase comes as the state is reeling from recession, with thrice-monthly furloughs imposed on most state workers and the state facing a projected budget deficit of up to $20 billion through June.

Shannon Murphy, Perez's spokeswoman, said in a prepared statement that the Assembly will cut its overall budget by 15 percent - an increase over the 10 percent reduction ordered by Bass - to reflect the belt-tightening necessitated by the state's rocky economy.

"Despite the fact that his former Assembly staff is taking on a tremendous amount of additional new work - which has been the case for every legislative leader - he remains steadfast that the Assembly do its part by cutting its operating budget 15 percent," Murphy said.

Ramirez's salary was raised to that of Bass' chief of staff, Nolice Edwards, who retained her $190,008 annual pay when Bass stepped down as leader, records show.

Dan Eaton, chief of staff to Bass' predecessor, Fabian Nunez, left the Assembly several years ago with a salary exceeding $212,000 per year.

Perez and Bass each rewarded some of their aides as the Assembly braced for new leadership this month.

Bass quietly promoted 20 members of her Democratic caucus and gave them 10 percent salary increases on Feb. 26, her final working day as speaker.

Perez granted pay hikes on March 1, his first day in office, to seven of his own aides and one other Capitol staff member who will be working for his Democratic Caucus.

Besides Ramirez, aides given pay hikes by Perez were:

• Nicole Curran, promoted from legislative assistant to associate consultant, with a salary hike from $54,996 to $74,758.

• John Vigna, who was promoted from legislative assistant to press aide, with a salary increase from $40,800 to $60,000 per year.

• Veronica Lynne Ortiz-Torres, an executive secretary, whose salary jumped from $65,004 to $74,748. An aide to former Assemblyman Paul Krekorian, D-Burbank, she now will work for Perez's Democratic Caucus.

• Suzanne Ordaz, promoted from secretary to executive secretary, with a pay hike from $33,000 to $40,008.

• Miguel Martinez, a field representative, whose salary rose from $45,000 to $50,004.

• Lizette Henderson, secretary, whose pay jumped from $32,004 to $36,000.

• Krista Chanell Bridgeford, legislative assistant, whose pay increased from $45,000 to $47,256.

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Must be good to be the cronie of a scoundrel.

California better wake up soon to this crap, as taxpayers across the US do not want to bail them out, especially when they have these sorts of fools running the legislature.

Bass quietly promoted 20 members of her Democratic caucus and gave them 10 percent salary increases on Feb. 26, her final working day as speaker.

Perez granted pay hikes on March 1, his first day in office, to seven of his own aides and one other Capitol staff member who will be working for his Democratic Caucus.

Where in the private sector does an entire staff get a 10% salary increase, and why did Bass wait until her last day to give it! And what does the general public get in return for this money. More attitude when they call their elected represenatives!!!!

This is our tax dollars they are being so generous with!