A day after it passed the House, a bill to give $5,000 annual pay raises to legislators is on the fast track to passage in the Senate.

Senate Finance Committee members advanced the bill (HB4076) to the full Senate during a short meeting Wednesday. There was no discussion, and the bill advanced on a voice vote.

"It had overwhelming approval here and I would assume that feeling will carry on downstairs [in the Senate chamber]," Finance Chairman Walt Helmick, D-Pocahontas, said afterward.

Helmick said he supports the bill, which would mark the first pay increase lawmakers have voted themselves in 14 years.

"In all honesty, 1994 was the last time there was a compensation issue here," he said. "The Legislature has basically turned into a full-time operation."

Without an increase, it will become increasingly difficult for anybody but retirees and the wealthy to serve, he said.

"This is supposed to be a citizen Legislature, but without additional compensation, we're not going to have ordinary citizens," Helmick said. "They just can't compete."

Sen. Billy Wayne Bailey, D-Wyoming, who as Senate majority whip counts votes among Senate Democrats, said his preliminary counts show majority support for the bill.

He said critics of the pay raise believe the work of legislators is limited to the 60-day regular sessions. However, he said legislators deal with constituent issues, complaints, and problems year-round.

House members passed the bill 62-36 on Tuesday, with all but four supporters being Democrats. Delegations from both Kanawha and Putnam counties also split along party lines.

Delegate Sharon Spencer, D-Kanawha, said she voted for it "because there were a lot of things in the bill I thought was important."

Both she and Delegate Danny Wells, D-Kanawha, said an impassioned speech by retiring Delegate Locke Wysong, D-Jefferson, moved them toward a vote for the bill. Wysong, who shares office space with Wells, noted the high costs of being a lawmaker kept him from running for re-election.

"I think it's a fair thing to do and a fair amount," Wells said.

Not everyone agreed. "I think it sends the wrong message for legislators to vote for a 33 percent increase when we've done nothing for it," said Delegate Troy Andes, R-Putnam.

A day after it passed the House, a bill to give $5,000 annual pay raises to legislators is on the fast track to passage in the Senate.

Senate Finance Committee members advanced the bill (HB4076) to the full Senate during a short meeting Wednesday. There was no discussion, and the bill advanced on a voice vote.

"It had overwhelming approval here and I would assume that feeling will carry on downstairs [in the Senate chamber]," Finance Chairman Walt Helmick, D-Pocahontas, said afterward.

Helmick said he supports the bill, which would mark the first pay increase lawmakers have voted themselves in 14 years.

"In all honesty, 1994 was the last time there was a compensation issue here," he said. "The Legislature has basically turned into a full-time operation."

Without an increase, it will become increasingly difficult for anybody but retirees and the wealthy to serve, he said.

"This is supposed to be a citizen Legislature, but without additional compensation, we're not going to have ordinary citizens," Helmick said. "They just can't compete."

Sen. Billy Wayne Bailey, D-Wyoming, who as Senate majority whip counts votes among Senate Democrats, said his preliminary counts show majority support for the bill.

He said critics of the pay raise believe the work of legislators is limited to the 60-day regular sessions. However, he said legislators deal with constituent issues, complaints, and problems year-round.

House members passed the bill 62-36 on Tuesday, with all but four supporters being Democrats. Delegations from both Kanawha and Putnam counties also split along party lines.

Delegate Sharon Spencer, D-Kanawha, said she voted for it "because there were a lot of things in the bill I thought was important."

Both she and Delegate Danny Wells, D-Kanawha, said an impassioned speech by retiring Delegate Locke Wysong, D-Jefferson, moved them toward a vote for the bill. Wysong, who shares office space with Wells, noted the high costs of being a lawmaker kept him from running for re-election.

"I think it's a fair thing to do and a fair amount," Wells said.

Not everyone agreed. "I think it sends the wrong message for legislators to vote for a 33 percent increase when we've done nothing for it," said Delegate Troy Andes, R-Putnam.

He said he saw no shortage of legislative candidates.

That's because area lawmakers stay in their own homes and some work on the side, said Delegate Bonnie Brown, D-Kanawha.

Kanawha County delegates traditionally do not accept the per diem pay, given to lawmakers for daily living expenses. The proposal calls for that money to raise from $115 daily to $131.

However, Delegate Patrick Lane, R-Kanawha, does take some of that funding for food and transportation. He is the only one of the 11 Kanawha County delegates to file for the money.

Brown noted she was highly criticized several years ago when she took some of the per diem pay.

"I can't eat lunch here without getting hit by the newspapers," she said.

All lawmakers noted the increases will only go to those who win re-election, starting next year.

To contact staff writers Phil Kabler and Tom Searls, use e-mail or call 348-1220.

How they voted

How the members of the House of Delegates voted Tuesday on a proposed pay raise. The measure passed, 62-36.

Members voting in favor were: Delegates Argento, Ellis, Martin, Shook, Barker, Ennis, Michael, Spencer, Beach, Evans, Miley, Staggers, Boggs, Fleischauer, Moore, Stemple, Brown, Fragale, Morgan, Stephens, Browning, Guthrie, Palumbo, Swartzmiller, Burdiss, Hartman, Paxton, Tabb, Campbell, Hatfield, Perdue, Talbott, Cann, Higgins, Perry, Webster, Caputo, Hrutkay, Pethtel, Wells, Cowles, Iaquinta, M. Poling, White, Craig, Kominar, Proudfoot, Williams, Crosier, Long, Reynolds, Wysong, DeLong, Longstreth, Rodighiero, Thompson, Doyle, Manchin, Romine, Eldridge, Marshall and Schadler.

Those voting against were: Delegates Anderson, Duke, Mahan, Schoen, Andes, Ellem, C. Miller, Shaver, Armstead, Gall, J. Miller, Sobonya, Ashley, Hamilton, Moye, Sumner, Azinger, Hutchins, Overington, Tansill, Blair, Ireland, Pino, Tucker, Border, Kessler, D. Poling, Varner, Canterbury, Klempa, Porter, Walters, Carmichael, Lane, Rowan and Yost.

Not voting were: Frederick and Stalnaker.