Study: South Carolina lawmakers deserve big pay raises

By Rick Brundrett | The Nerve

South Carolina lawmakers would see salary hikes of up to 192 percent, while certain legislative leaders, including House Speaker Bobby Harrell, would receive additional pay increases, based on recommendations of a salary study quietly authorized two years ago by the General Assembly.

The study by the international consulting firm Hay Group, based in Philadelphia, first came to light Wednesday during a Senate floor debate on a budget amendment by Sen. Ray Cleary, R-Georgetown, to allow lawmakers to claim an additional $12,000 yearly in “in-district” payments – doubling the amount they currently are eligible to receive. The Senate approved the budget proviso (Proviso 91.29) by a 25-20 vote.

“I want to give you real information,” said Sen. John Scott, D-Richland, to Sen. Paul Thurmond, R-Charleston, during the floor debate, citing findings by the Hay Group study, which compared lawmaker pay in South Carolina to other states.

at The Nerve.