MADISON - State Sen. Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center, said in a news release Thursday that he will accept his pay raise in 2009 but will donate it local charities.
Lawmakers are receiving a pay increase this year, part of a 5.3 percent increase over two years. A handful of legislators - including Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, and Rep. Steve Hilgenberg, D-Dodgeville, have said they will reject the raise and return the money to the state. Others, like Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, said they will donate their increases to charity.
"I will donate my scheduled pay increase to worthy causes that benefit our local communities," Schultz said. He also said unspent money from his state Senate office account will be returned to the state treasury.
Schultz, in the release, said he's "optimistic" about working with Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle on addressing budget shortfalls in the Legislature. Schultz said that, with a national economic downturn and a state budget deficit projected to be as much as $5.4 billion, the challenge to all legislators is setting priorities with limited taxpayer resources.
"Most families I represent are very concerned about their basic needs and see education, health care and safe roads as priorities for the state," Schultz said. "People are clear that they simply cannot afford to give state government more of their money through higher taxes."
Lawmakers are receiving a pay increase this year, part of a 5.3 percent increase over two years. A handful of legislators - including Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, and Rep. Steve Hilgenberg, D-Dodgeville, have said they will reject the raise and return the money to the state. Others, like Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, said they will donate their increases to charity.
"I will donate my scheduled pay increase to worthy causes that benefit our local communities," Schultz said. He also said unspent money from his state Senate office account will be returned to the state treasury.
Schultz, in the release, said he's "optimistic" about working with Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle on addressing budget shortfalls in the Legislature. Schultz said that, with a national economic downturn and a state budget deficit projected to be as much as $5.4 billion, the challenge to all legislators is setting priorities with limited taxpayer resources.
"Most families I represent are very concerned about their basic needs and see education, health care and safe roads as priorities for the state," Schultz said. "People are clear that they simply cannot afford to give state government more of their money through higher taxes."