Members Defend Possible Raise

Panel Accused of Trying to Pass Pay Plan Without Public Input

D.C. Council members fought off criticism yesterday that they do not deserve a pay raise as well as a charge that they had tried to slip approval of the legislation through without public scrutiny.

Debate took place during a sparsely attended public hearing over proposals that would give council members salary increases of between 24 and 32 percent.

The council had considered the raises last week but postponed action until next week.

During the hearing, outgoing council member Vincent B. Orange Sr. (D-Ward 5) said he has struggled to support his family, with three children, on his $92,530 annual salary.

But Faith, an 82-year-old former actress and political gadfly, expressed little sympathy and said a friend stood in a food line for two hours Monday.

"You know what they gave them? Matzohs and apples, and it's not even Passover," said Faith, who uses only one name.

Community activist Dorothy Brizill said the city's median household income is a little more than $40,000. She also said council members Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) and David A. Catania (I-At Large) make thousands of dollars in outside income. The positions of D.C. mayor and chairman are full-time jobs. Council members can treat their jobs as part-time positions and receive outside income.

Brizill said she resented the argument that elected officials should be compensated as much as they would be paid in the private sector.

"I grew up when elected officers thought of it as a public service," she said. "This is a public trust."

She also chided the council for initially considering the pay raises as emergency legislation that did not require a public hearing. "Oftentimes, it's not so much what you do but how it's done," Brizill said.

Based on D.C. law, if council members do not pass salary legislation by the end of this month, they will not have another chance to obtain raises until 2011. The current levels were set in 1999.

Orange, who is leaving office in January, had proposed a 51 percent raise for council members, to $140,000 a year. He withdrew that bill last month and proposed one that would increase pay to $122,530.

Council member Phil Mendelson (D-At Large) proposed legislation that calls for a $115,000 salary and the creation of a commission that would review wages independently of the council. Chairman-elect Vincent C. Gray (D-Ward 7) offered a similar bill without a salary increase.

Mendelson said in an interview that he has combined the bills, including the $115,000 salary provision.

Under separate legislation, the council is considering raises for the D.C. mayor, from $152,000 to $200,000, and the council chairman, from $142,000 to $190,000 annually. If enacted, the increases would take effect next year for Mayor-elect Adrian M. Fenty (D) and Gray.

The council will consider the bills Tuesday.

Orange, Council Chairman Linda W. Cropp (D), council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) and council member Kwame R. Brown (D-At Large) were the only members at the hearing.

In an interview, Brown said he opposes the salary proposals but would support an annual cost-of-living raise. He also said he was reluctant to make any decision with so few witnesses at the hearing and without hearing from more residents.