Harman accepts pay raise, brings salary to $116,208

Dismissing critics, Sen. Tom Harman said he has decided to accept a 2.75% raise offered to state lawmakers.

Along with Assemblymen Van Tran and Chuck DeVore, Harman is the third Newport-Mesa elected official to accept the raise at a time when a $10 billion state budget deficit is projected. While Van Tran has elected to donate the raise to charity, 16 other representatives of the Assembly and Senate have declined to accept the raise, citing the state’s fiscal woes.

“Yes, I have elected to accept [the raise],” Harman said, adding that he had no comment in regard to the criticisms. “I don’t even think this is particularly newsworthy.”

The raise will bring most lawmakers’ salaries to $116,208, in addition to the $34,000 a year they receive to cover living expenses.

— Chris Caesar