S.C. files legal challenge to lawmakers’ self-approved pay raise
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - A South Carolina lawmaker is now suing the state over a nearly $20,00 pay raise legislators voted to give themselves.
Lawmakers are set to start receiving this extra money in a few weeks – but this lawsuit asks the South Carolina Supreme Court to put a stop to it.
In the next state budget, the General Assembly included a measure that raises a type of pay lawmakers receive – called in-district compensation.
But Sen. Wes Climer, R-York, says the raise is illegal.
“It violates the Madisonian principle that the legislature cannot take the people’s money and appropriate it to themselves in real time,” he said. “If there is to be a pay raise, the people can only take effect after the people, by way of election, have had an opportunity to decide who gets that pay raise and who does not.”
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The state constitution prohibits of the General Assembly from raising their own “per diem” pay before an intervening election – which is what Climer argues they’re doing with their in-district compensation.
That’s a monthly direct deposit payment – that’s flexible on what it can be used for – but is meant for legislative work.
Right now – state lawmakers receive about $30,000 a year – between their current in-district compensation … per diem compensation to pay for food and hotels when they’re in session in Columbia for about half the year … and their annual salary of about $10,000.
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The General Assembly voted this year to increase that in-district compensation from $12,000 a year – to $30,000 starting July 1.
Some lawmakers note this pay hasn’t gone up in about three decades – and say this increase is both constitutional – and long overdue.
“It’s a hurdle, particularly those who are younger and trying to pay off student loans and quite frankly those who have children. The expenses pile on, and it’s really not feasible or realistic to be in Columbia, just for the average person,” said Sen. Deon Tedder, D-Charleston.
Some lawmakers have opted out of this raise.
Climer says he’s one of them – while 34 House have informed the clerk they don’t want the additional money.
The defendant in this lawsuit Treasurer Curtis Loftis – because he’s responsible for paying out the money.
The state has until next Monday to respond.
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