Former Speaker Bass Handed Out Staff Pay Raises on Last Day
Former Assembly Speaker Karen Bass quietly promoted 20 members of her Democratic caucus staff and gave them 10 percent salary increases that took effect her final days as Assembly leader.
Along with higher pay, staff members received different job titles, reflecting perhaps a change in duties, Assembly records show.
The pay hikes come at a thorny time, however, with the state facing massive debt and most state employees seeing their pay cut through furloughs.
Only two of the promotions went to employees currently earning more than $75,000 per year – 17 of the 20 promotions targeted aides whose annual salaries are below $50,000.
The largest single increase was $729 per month to Pamela Haynes, whose job title changed from senior assistant to principal assistant. Her pay rose from $87,456 per year to $96,204.
Michael C. Wagaman, who was earning $77,832 per year, saw his salary rise to $85,620 as his title changed from associate consultant to senior consultant.
The Los Angeles Democrat approved the raises on Friday, her last week day as speaker. John A. Pérez was sworn in on Monday.
Bass, in a written statement, said the Assembly has succeeded in raising the level of services to constituents while cutting $42 million from its own budget the past two years.
“We definitely succeeded in tightening our belt,” she said. “This year I also very frugally tried to measure out moderate pay increases for some Assembly employees who were taking on new responsibilities, and I specifically eliminated other positions that more than covered the cost of those modest increases.
“This allows the Assembly to retain staff and, at the same time, it reflects and respects the tough times we are in,” Bass said.
Read the rest: SacBee
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