Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie issued a letter to the New York State Commission on Legislative, Judicial, and Executive Compensation outlining the economic justification for an increase in salaries for New York State Legislators.

"The evidence is overwhelming that a raise in compensation is warranted; indeed, it is long overdue," said Heastie. "Economic variables and public policy fully support a salary increase for statewide elected officials, executive officers, and legislators, just as these same considerations yielded an increase for the judiciary earlier this year. In order to maintain our constitutional framework of government and the appropriate balance among the branches and offices of government, it is important that the compensation of the offices under consideration be increased proportionally."

The letter was sent in reply to the Commission's request for comment on the question of legislative salaries.

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