Thanks, I knew there had to be more to this.
Meanwhile, in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, both houses of the Legislature approved a bill authorizing a four-year freeze on automatic pay increases for legislators. At least the Governor, who is under indictment on federal corruption charges, has promised to sign the bill.
This is from a local newspaper:
“At present, the basic salary for legislators is $73,775; around $85,000 for [the Senate Vice-President, House Vice-Speaker, and party leaders]; and $110,000 for the [Senate President and House Speaker].
“Legislators receive a stipend for the purchase and maintenance of their vehicles out of public funds. The cost of transportation for the [present] four-year period totals $2.3 million, which does not include official vehicles.
“If the [originally scheduled] 41% salary increase, which is calculated according to the consumer price index, would have gone through, the [Senate President and the House Speaker] would have earned around $136,000; [the Senate Vice-President, House Vice-Speaker, and party leaders] $104,354; and the legislators $90,743.”
The above figures do not include a per diem legislators in the island are granted. Supposedly, the Governor and his party have made a election-campaign promise to eliminate the per diem.