Politics on the Hudson

  Will state legisaltors vote to raise their own pay when they return to the Capitol for a special one-day session next week?

  That’s up in the air, but no matter what, they will not call it a raise.

  “We do have that cost-of-living adjustment idea floating around,’’ said  Assembly Minority Leader James Tedicsco, R-Schenectady, when asked what was on the agenda.

    That has a nicer ring to it, of course, than a raise. A COLA would boost lawmakers’ base pay from $79,500 to more than $96,000 a year. Lawmakers haven’t had a raise since 1999.

   The state constitution forbids lawmakers to raise their own pay. But they can for subsequently elected legislatures. So if they approve a hike next week, it will take effect in January. The catch: virtually all of the legislators now in office will be there in January as well.