A conservative good government group is suing to block a pay hike that would place Gov. Andrew Cuomo among the nation’s highest paid governors.
The Government Justice Center is seeking an injunction blocking the pay hike in a lawsuit filed in state court this month against Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. The nonprofit claims the state’s constitution prohibits changing a governor or lieutenant governor’s compensation during their term.
Cuomo’s salary is set to jump from $200,000 this year to $225,000 in January and $250,000 in 2021. That’s compared to the $179,000 salary the Democratic governor had when he took office in January following his 2018 re-election.
“Section 7 of Article XIII of the New York Constitution in plain language prohibits increasing or diminishing the compensation of the governor or lieutenant governor during the term for which they are elected,” Government Justice Center Executive Director Cameron Macdonald said. “Regardless of any arguments that might be made for raising these salaries for the first time in 20 years, ignoring the state constitution sets a dangerous precedent and threatens the rule of law in New York.”
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