NEWBURGH – The Democratic candidate challenging Republican State Senator William Larkin (R, Cornwall-on-Hudson) for the 39th District seat in November, Friday, said if a 47 percent pay raise is implemented, Larkin’s salary would reach nearly $116,900.
While Eachus blasted Larkin for “exploiting a loophole” to receive a pension, the incumbent fired back at his challenger that if the pay raise issue comes up, he will vote against it. “At a time when so many hardworking families are struggling to make ends meet, I stand together with New York taxpayers in opposition to a legislative pay hike,” he said.
Eachus, the Orange County Legislature minority caucus leader, said he has voted many times to freeze his own salary.
He said that Larkin voted last year in favor of creating a commission to explore if state executive, legislative and judicial officials should receive additional compensation. “Despite the ongoing corruption crisis in Albany, a shaky economy recovery, onerous mandates and taxes on local residents and businesses and inadequate school aid, that commission proposed giving legislators a 47 percent pay increase.”
This will be Eachus’ second run against Larkin, who defeated him in the 2014 election.
Meanwhile, State Senator Susan Serino (R, Hyde Park) Friday also came out against the proposed salary hike for state lawmakers.
“At a time when too many families are struggling to make ends meet and their confidence in their government seems to only be dwindling, it is absolutely appalling to me that anyone would consider a 47 percent pay raise for politicians,” Serino said. “The proposal put forth by the commission is not only excessive, it is a slap in the face to the hard-working men and women of New York who are painstakingly trying to get ahead.”
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