Senator Ottiano Declines Legislative Pay Raise

Senator Christopher S. Ottiano, (R-Dist. 11, Portsmouth, Bristol), announced today that he has declined the 3.2 percent legislative pay increase. 

Legislative pay is governed by the state Constitution, and increases are tied to changes in the cost of living as determined by the U.S. government.

“I cannot in good conscience accept additional pay when so many Rhode Islanders are out of work,” said Ottiano. “Even though this is a relatively small increase, I feel it is a simple matter of respect.”

Senator Ottiano said weighing so many difficult spending decisions during the legislative session underscored the significance of declining the raise. The taxpayers’ money would be better spent, he said, funding things like education, transportation and human services.

Senator Ottiano is a freshman senator from Portsmouth. He . He is running unopposed.