Bill Taming Cal State Pay Hikes Rejected

Senate Republican Leader Bob Huff (R-Diamond Bar), who is Arcadia's representative in the State Assembly, spoke in favor today of Senate Bill (SB) 967, a measure that would have curbed pay hikes for college administrators in the California State University system.

The bill comes just one day after CSU trustees approved a 10-percent pay raise to the presidents of CSU East Bay and CSU Fullerton, a decision that was met with student outrage and disapproval from Governor Jerry Brown.

SB 967 was introduced by Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco). It prevents CSU administrators from getting pay raises for two years after tuition is raised and during unbalanced budget years. It also limits the salary increases of new employees to no more than five percent above what their predecessors made in the same position.

The bill was shot down by the Senate Education Committee 4-3. Democrats hold the majority vote on the committee.

From the L.A. Times Blog:

"It is another sad day for our students," Yee said after the committee's 4-3 vote. "Unfortunately, the Education Committee has sent the completely wrong message. Rather than stand up for students and faculty, they protected the 1% and condoned CSU’s bad behavior."

A spokesperson from Senator Huff's office said he believed the measure was needed to send a message to CSU trustees that handing out raises to top administrators at the same time student fees are going up is wrong.

According to the L.A. Times, Yee has a chance to bring the bill back before the committee at a future date.

Does your child attend a CSU school? Did you?