Torres, Ind.-Saipan, said he does not mind getting less in fiscal year 2012, which starts on Oct. 1.
He said he no longer has too many dependents.
“I don’t have anybody supporting in school anymore. All my kids are on their own,” he added.
Although his farm in As Teo does not make much, it’s only him and his wife at home so he will be just fine even with a reduced salary, he said.
But he said other House members may have more challenging “financial situations.”
Senators, however, should also get a salary cut since they have been getting about $5,000 in subsistence allowance on top of their paychecks.
Each lawmaker gets $39,300 in annual salary and over $51,000 in discretionary fund in FY 2012.
“Paycuts should start with us,” Torres said.
In a separate interview, Rep. Ralph S. Demapan said his Judiciary and Governmental Operations Committee will act on Senate Legislative Initiatives 17-5, 17-6 and 17-7 which will reduce the salaries of the top officials of the executive, legislative and judicial branches.
Introduced by Senate President Paul A. Manglona, Ind.-Rota, last year, these proposed constitutional amendments will cut the salaries of the governor, lt. governor, lawmakers, justices and judges in times of austerity, shutdown, furlough and other measures that results in cuts for everybody.
“We believe it is unjust to ask our people to forego a portion of their salaries while we remain exempt. Leaders must lead by example. We are not better than our constituents and should only ask them to sacrifice when we do so in kind,” Manglona’s initiatives stated.
