Gov. Paul LePage’s proposal to significantly increase the salary of future Maine governors was before a legislative committee Wednesday. Advocates of the increase say a boost is long overdue.
No members of the public testified on the governor’s proposal, which would also increase the limits on expenses that lawmakers could claim. The Legislature’s State and Local Government Committee heard testimony only from lawmakers and from Aaron Chadbourne, one of the governor’s policy advisors. Chadbourne argued that the current salary of $70,000 per year should be increased significantly, citing the fact that many public officials in Maine are already making far more than the governor.
“The Portland city manager is compensated north of $170,000 as base salary,” says Chadbourne. “The Chief Justice of the Maine Law Court is compensated $157,000. The chancellor of the University System is compensated nearly double that.”
Chadbourne also pointed out that members of Congress get $174,000 a year. He says LePage chose $150,000 for the bill he put forth because it is about in the middle for what governors are paid across the country.
Chadbourne was questioned by Democratic Rep. Danny Martin of Sinclair about whether the bill should change LePage’s pension. Chadbourne responded that “to affect his retirement I think would be unconstitutional.”
The bill’s sponsor, Rep. John Martin, a Democrat from Eagle Lake, also testified for the bill. Rep. Chris Babbidge, a Democrat from Kennebunk, told the panel that he was neither for or against the bill but appeared to support an increase.
“I do agree that the Governor’s salary is much too low, you know even with the official residence and travel expenses,” says Babbidge.
Like most of those testifying, Babbidge wanted to raise questions about the second section of the bill that would increase the expenses that lawmakers would be able to claim. It would boost the meals allowance from just over $30 to $50 per day, and it would increase the housing allowance from $38 to $75 per day.
Sen. Tom Saviello, a Republican from Wilton who is term limited, told the panel that when he first ran for office, he didn’t pay much attention to the expense limits.
“I didn’t know what it is about, I did not come here to make the money,” he says. “So, I’m fine with where we are. I know for other people it is a hardship, perhaps.”
The committee will now consider the proposal before it goes to the full Legislature. If approved it will go to the Appropriations Committee where its nearly $600,000 a year price tag will compete with other funding requests.
