As budget negotiations continue, pay raise for state lawmakers approved

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The state's citizens' salary commission has approved an 11 percent raise over two years for state legislators at a time when lawmakers are negotiating much smaller raises for state workers.

The Seattle Times reports that The Washington Citizens' Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials approved the pay raise for legislators Wednesday on a 10-5 vote. The pay raise will be the first since 2008 and comes after two proposals for smaller increases for state lawmakers failed.

Legislators are halfway through a special session to negotiate a two-year state operating budget that is expected to include raises for state workers and teachers. Those raises would most likely increase by about 5 percent over two years.

The pay increases for lawmakers are expected to go into effect Sept. 1.