PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Their pay went up automatically on July 1, but some state lawmakers are turning down the extra money.
A total of nine -- Sens. Dennis Algiere, R-Westerly, David Bates, R-Barrington, Dawson Hodgson, R-North Kingstown, Nicholas Kettle, R-Coventry, Edward O'Neill, I-Lincoln, Christopher Ottiano, R-Portsmouth, Adam Satchell, D-West Warwick and James Sheehan, D-North Kingstown; and Rep. Michael Chippendale, R-Foster -- have declined the 2.1 percent raise, a Senate spokesman said.
Lawmakers' pay went up, without a vote, under a provision in the state Constitution that calls for their pay to be adjusted annually "based on changes in the cost of living, as determined by the United States government during a 12-month period ending in the immediately preceding year."
The increase brings the annual pay to $14,947, though the House speaker and Senate president earn double that amount.