Albany, N.Y. (AP) - A quiet campaign in Albany is trying to break down resistance to a possible pay raise for legislators this year.
State senators and members of the Assembly are now paid $79,500 a year in base pay. Most make tens of thousands of dollars more in leadership stipends such as for heading a committee or helping manage the majority or minority conferences.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos insist no talks are under way to raise salaries after the November elections.
But Assemblyman Dan Burling's farewell address to the chamber on the last day of session included a promise to return in December to vote on his colleagues' pay raise.
It was met with powerful applause.
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