State workers are not the only ones who are going without pay because of the shutdown: According to a report by City Pages, Gov. Mark Dayton and 48 legislators in the Minnesota House have declined pay for the duration of the budget crisis, which is now into its second week.
Burnsville’s own representatives — Republicans Pam Myhra and Diane Anderson — are not among them. However, the two freshmen are hardly in the minority. Just 35.8 percent of house members opted for a pay cut, ostensibly out of solidarity with the 20,000 state workers who have been laid off because of the budget impasse between the two parties.
Myhra said she will continue to collect pay on principle.
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“My job is to be here for regular session, which I faithfully did, and work through and appropriate funds to pass a budget that is balanced and complete — and we did that,” Myhra said. “We passed out budget bills six weeks early. The governor vetoed our bills the day after regular session was completed.”
Myhra said she had worked hard to fulfill her obligations during session and therefore should be compensated as usual.
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“To not take my pay, would that be saying that I did not do the work? No, I did my work and I’m continuing to work for the people of my area,” Myhra said. “I have my annual salary and it is not a per hour thing. If it were it would be mighty small because I put in the hours here for people back home. That (the budget) was not accepted by the governor does not negate the fact that it was a complete and balanced budget.”
Anderson declined to answer questions about the issue. However, she did point out that all legislators have continued to work even though they are not going to be reimbursed for expenses, as they would during a normal session.
“We’re not getting any extra money for all the extra hours we’re putting in now. We’re a part-time legislature and our salary is not very high,” Anderson said, adding that house members often work 16-hour days.
Quick Facts
• There are 201 total members in the Legislature.
• Of that total, 134 are members of the house: 72 are GOP and 62 belong to the DFL.
• A large number of GOP house reps are brand new. Prior to the election in November 2010 the GOP was in the minority with 47 members in the conservative caucus versus 87 DFLers.
• Of all the members in the house, 48 have declined a salary during the shutdown — about 35.8 percent of total house membership.
• Of those who will forego pay 41.6 percent are GOPers and 58.3 percent are Democrats.
• The 20 Republicans who will not be taking pay amount to 27.7 percent of the GOP’s tally in the house. The 28 Dems represent 45.1 percent of their caucus.
• There are 36 freshman house representatives, all of whom were elected in 2010. Only seven of the newcomers will forego pay— about 5 percent of the total house membership and 19.4 percent of freshmen reps.
• By contrast, of the 98 house members with more than one term, 41.8 percent declined pay for the duration of the shutdown.
• A legislator's annual salary is $31,140 per year, not including money they receive from the state for living and travel expenses seven days a week during the regular legislative session.
Here is the complete list of house reps who have declined pay, courtesy of City Pages:
- Paul Anderson (R), 2nd term
- Tom Anzelc (DFL), 3rd term
- Joe Atkins (DFL), 5th term
- John Benson (DFL), 3rd term
- Kurt Bills (R) , 1st term
- Kathy Brynaert (DFL), 3 term
- Lyndon Carlson (DFL), 20th
- Tony Cornish (R), 5th term
- Roger Crawford (R), 1st term
10. Denise Dittrich (DFL), 4th term
11. Connie Doepke (R), 2nd term
12. Keith Downey (R), 2nd term
13. Steve Drazkowski (R), 3rd term
14. Sondra Erickson (R), 7th term, nonconsecutive
15. Andrew Falk (DFL), 2nd term
16. Pat Garofalo (R), 4th term
17. Mindy Greiling (DFL), 10th term
18. David Hancock (R), 1st term
19. Melissa Hortman (DFL), 4th term
20. Sheldon Johnson (DFL), 6th term
21. Phyllis Kahn (DFL), 20th term
22. Debra Kiel (R), 1st term
23. Kate Knuth (DFL), 3rd term
24. Carolyn Laine (DFL), 3rd term
25. Ann Lenczewski (DFL), 7th term
26. Diane Loeffler (DFL), 4th term
27. Kathy Lohmer (R), 1st term
28. Jennifer Loon (R), 2nd term
29. Tim Mahoney (DFL), 7th term
30. Pat Mazorol (R), 1st term
31. Carolyn McElfatrick (R), 1st term
32. Carol McFarlane (R), 3rd term
33. Terry Morrow (DFL), 3rd term
34. Joe Mullery (DFL), 8th term
35. Erin Murphy (DFL), 3rd term
36. Mary Murphy (DFL), 18th term
37. Rich Murray (R), 1st term
38. Kim Norton (DFL), 3rd term
39. Michael Paymar (DFL), 8th term
40. Bev Scalze (DFL), 4th term
41. Steve Simon (DFL), 4th term
42. Linda Slocum (DFL), 3rd term
43. Peggy Scott (R), 2nd term
44. Chris Swedzinski (R), 1st term
45. Paul Thissen (DFL), 5th term
46. John Ward (DFL), 3rd term
47. Doug Wardlow (R), 1st term
48. Ryan Winkler (DFL), 3rd term
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