Governor, statewide officials in Kansas to see significant pay raise under new law

The governor, attorney general and top judicial officials are among those in line for a significant pay raise under legislation signed Friday by Gov. Laura Kelly.

The bill would also tie their future compensation to the rate of pay for a U.S. congressman and also give Kansas legislators a path to a raise, creating a commission to evaluate compensation for members of the legislative branch.

Currently, the governor makes $110,707 a year, while the lieutenant governor makes $31,313. The attorney general is paid $98,901 and other statewide officials make a little over $86,000.

Under the bill, the governor would make 100% of what a Congressman earns, which currently is $174,000. The attorney general would make $169,650, and the secretary of state, state treasurer and commissioner of insurance would make $160,950.

Judges would also see a raise and their pay would be tied into what federal judges make moving forward. Changes won't take effect until 2025.

"I think it (the proposal) is a little more generous than it ought to be and I hope as they are having discussions they are taking a good look at what a fair salary would be for statewide officials," Kelly told The Capital-Journal in March.

Kelly had previously indicated she was supportive of the legislative commission, a nine-member independent panel that would give lawmakers ideas about how to address pay, per diem and retirement benefits.

The recommendations would be made by the end of the calendar year and would take effect in 2025 unless the Legislature opts to reject them.

Kansas legislators believe low pay rate has limited candidates

Many — but not all — legislators have worried that the traditional pay rate of $88.66 per day, plus an additional $157 per day for meals and lodging, blocked younger individuals, the middle class and people of color from serving in Topeka.

Lawmakers have told stories of working a range of part-time jobs to make ends meet, while others who have left the body said they did so because it couldn't pay enough to make for a sustainable lifestyle.

"We’ve been able to stitch it together OK," Rep. Rui Xu, D-Westwood, said during House floor debate. "I’ve been able to freelance a couple of different jobs, but it’s not easy. It’s not stable.”

The idea was not without critics, as it would let legislators receive a pay raise without ever voting on it directly. This has been touted as a way to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest and to banish potential political blowback.

But it also engendered criticism, particularly when the Kansas House passed the final version of the bill in the middle of the night earlier this month.

"Have the guts to stand for what you believe in," said Rep. Henry Helgerson, D-Wichita. "Be transparent and say: 'I'll vote for it. I won't vote for it.' Don't say we're going to give it to somebody else to take care of. It is your responsibility. That's why you're here. And if you have to give it to somebody else, it is time to leave those seats."

Others said the pay raises for statewide officials were too rich and came at a time when legislators were delaying consideration of whether to give state workers a pay increase.

"This to me looks like we're giving all the CEOs of the state big raises," said Rep. Kenny Titus, R-Manhattan.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Governor, attorney general in Kansas to see significant pay raise