March 16, 2009

Ericksen asks salary commission to freeze his salary, consider reducing it
Group to hold public hearing on salaries for elected officials in Bellingham tomorrow  

Rep. Doug Ericksen is asking the state's salary commission to freeze pay increases for state lawmakers. In a letter to the group today, the 42nd District lawmaker also asked that it consider reducing state lawmakers' salaries.

The Washington Citizens' Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials has constitutional authority to set the pay for state lawmakers. The commission will hold a public hearing on this issue in Bellingham tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. at the Best Western Lakeway Inn.

"In tough economic and budget times, everyone must sacrifice. As I work on ways to restructure state government and balance the budget without raising taxes, I think all state lawmakers should lead by example. Not only should the salary commission reject salary increases for state lawmakers, it should also consider reducing their salaries," said Ericksen, R-Ferndale. "This is one of many solutions House Republicans will be unveiling to balance the budget without raising taxes."

Additional public hearings will be held April 23, in Richland, and May 19, in Tacoma. The state's salary commission is expected to render a decision on elected officials' salaries in late May.

Note: Please see attached letter from Rep. Ericksen to the Washington Citizens' Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials.

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For more information, contact: John Handy, Assistant Director: (360) 786-5758