MONROE - While a pay increase won't put them in the same tax bracket as a pitcher for the New York Yankees, neither Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, nor Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, plans to accept their pay raise for the next Legislative session.
Rep. Steve Hilgenberg, D-Dodgeville, said Saturday he won't accept the additional pay either.
State lawmakers will see their annual salaries increase $2,530, a 5.3 percent increase, over their salaries of $47,413 when the Legislature begins its 2009-10 session next month.
Erpenbach, who has been in the Senate since 1998 and was re-elected in 2006, said he's never taken a pay increase in the middle of a term.
"Whatever the job pays when my term begins is what I take," he said Friday.
Erpenbach plans to send the money from the pay increase back to the state. The money will be deducted from his salary and given back to the state, he added.
Constituents have voiced complaints about the pay increase, he said, but his mind already had been made up to give it back before anyone from his Senate district talked to him about it.
"This is the way I've always done it," he said.
Erpenbach said people have negative views of the pay raise because so many people have lost jobs, while others worry about the economy and their futures.
"I think it's the wrong time to be taking a pay increase," Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, said.
Davis plans to use the extra money from the pay increase to help out local charities in the district.
"A lot of people work hard, and with the economy the way it is people need extra help," he said.
Davis hasn't heard much about the raise from his constituents, but expects to once the holidays are over. Davis said the pay increase can have more of an impact if he gives it to local groups than if he gave the money back to the state.
Erpenbach, however, said legislators who are opposed to the pay increase shouldn't accept it at all.
Some lawmakers have said they don't have a choice but to accept the pay increase, he added.
The Associated Press reported lawmakers can't write a law next year rejecting the raises. The state Constitution bars changes in elected officials' pay during their terms.
"They can give the money back," Erpenbach said. "They don't have to accept it."
The raises will cost $334,000. Critics acknowledge that amount wouldn't go far to address the shortfall, but say it would be symbolic to return the raises when so many others are struggling.
The state is facing a projected $5.4 billion state budget shortfall.
Hilgenberg said he won't accept the raise, and added that he's been researching to find a way to nullify the increase for all lawmakers.
Sen. Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center, was not available for comment Friday.
Rep. Steve Hilgenberg, D-Dodgeville, said Saturday he won't accept the additional pay either.
State lawmakers will see their annual salaries increase $2,530, a 5.3 percent increase, over their salaries of $47,413 when the Legislature begins its 2009-10 session next month.
Erpenbach, who has been in the Senate since 1998 and was re-elected in 2006, said he's never taken a pay increase in the middle of a term.
"Whatever the job pays when my term begins is what I take," he said Friday.
Erpenbach plans to send the money from the pay increase back to the state. The money will be deducted from his salary and given back to the state, he added.
Constituents have voiced complaints about the pay increase, he said, but his mind already had been made up to give it back before anyone from his Senate district talked to him about it.
"This is the way I've always done it," he said.
Erpenbach said people have negative views of the pay raise because so many people have lost jobs, while others worry about the economy and their futures.
"I think it's the wrong time to be taking a pay increase," Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, said.
Davis plans to use the extra money from the pay increase to help out local charities in the district.
"A lot of people work hard, and with the economy the way it is people need extra help," he said.
Davis hasn't heard much about the raise from his constituents, but expects to once the holidays are over. Davis said the pay increase can have more of an impact if he gives it to local groups than if he gave the money back to the state.
Erpenbach, however, said legislators who are opposed to the pay increase shouldn't accept it at all.
Some lawmakers have said they don't have a choice but to accept the pay increase, he added.
The Associated Press reported lawmakers can't write a law next year rejecting the raises. The state Constitution bars changes in elected officials' pay during their terms.
"They can give the money back," Erpenbach said. "They don't have to accept it."
The raises will cost $334,000. Critics acknowledge that amount wouldn't go far to address the shortfall, but say it would be symbolic to return the raises when so many others are struggling.
The state is facing a projected $5.4 billion state budget shortfall.
Hilgenberg said he won't accept the raise, and added that he's been researching to find a way to nullify the increase for all lawmakers.
Sen. Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center, was not available for comment Friday.