Virginia Democratic lawmakers vote themselves a 278% pay raise

RICHMOND, Va. (7News) — Legislators in Virginia could see a nearly 300% pay increase if an amendment added to the budget by Democrats in the state Senate makes it to Gov. Abigail Spanberger‘s desk.

The Democrat controlled Virginia Senate and House of Delegates have both passed their versions of the commonwealth’s budget, largely along party lines.

The Senate version of the budget, which passed Thursday, now includes an amendment to increase the salaries of state senators and delegates to $50,000 annually. The House version also includes this pay increase.

Read all of the amendments below:

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Currently, senators make $18,000 a year and delegates make $17,640.

Additionally, while in session, legislators receive a $237 per diem. When not in session, they receive a mileage reimbursement of 67 cents per mile to attend meetings, $300 if they attend a meeting (increasing to $400 if they attend two meetings in a day) and $1,250 per month to help maintain an office in their district, according to the Joint Legislative Audit & Review Commission.

The two legislative houses will have to reconcile their dueling budgets before a final spending bill can head to the governor’s desk.

As that process gets underway, Virginia Senate Republicans – who voted against the amendment – are blasting the proposed pay increase.

“Teachers got a 3% raise. But Democrats give themselves 300%,” the VA Senate GOP account posted to X.

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The Republicans have been critical of the Democrats, who ran on a platform of increasing affordability, as the majority party has proposed more than 50 new or increased taxes this legislative session.

Republican Sen. Mark Obenshain spoke about the proposed pay increase on Tuesday.

“It is, I think, the wrong time to do that, when we’re focusing on affordability,” said Obenshain. “It’s supposed to be affordability for working families across Virginia, not members of the General Assembly.”

In addition to the pay increase for legislators, the Senate version of the budget includes:

• Roll back the data center sales tax exemption
• The budget proposal delivers a $499 million tax rebate ($100 single/$200 joint filers)
• Raises the standard deduction
• Funds Medicaid
• Funds 3% teacher salary increases
• Invests $50 million in affordable housing
• Provides $205.7 million for Metro over the biennium

Read the full Senate version of the budget prior to the amendments:

The House version includes:

• Lower housing costs and expand supply by allocating $187.5 million for the Virginia Housing Trust Fund, $25 million to create a revolving loan fund for mixed-income housing, $17.6 million to support rapid rehousing efforts amid federal cuts, and $17 million for eviction prevention assistance
• Expand access to affordable childcare with a $137.6 million increase in childcare subsidy funding — bringing total support to $577 million over the biennium
• Fully fund Medicaid and CHIP forecasts with a net $2.4 billion GF investment
• Support an increase in the minimum wage to $13.75/hour in 2027 and $15/hour in 2028
• $20 million to implement collective bargaining for state employees and home healthcare workers
• 2% raises in each fiscal year for teachers and staff ($382.9 million)

It remains to be seen whether the pay raise will survive in the final version of the budget.