Sen. Hopper to Return Pay

[Madison, Wisc…] State Senator Randy Hopper (R-Fond du Lac) has announced that he will return a portion of his pay to the state to help address the state budget deficit. Last week, Gov. Jim Doyle announced that the state budget deficit had worsened by as much as $1.5 billion after reduced revenue collections this year. He also announced plans to furlough state workers to help makeup the shortfall.

“As a public official, I think it’s important to lead by example,” Hopper said. “Under Wisconsin’s constitution, public officials cannot be furloughed, but I pledge to voluntarily return an amount of my state salary equal to the number of furlough days imposed on state employees.”

The full extent of the additional budget deficit is not yet known and it is too early to know how many days state employees will be required to be furloughed. Last week, Gov. Doyle indicated that it could be as many as sixteen days over the next two years. Sen. Hopper still plans to work on state business during those days, despite returning his pay.

Sen. Hopper’s return of pay is in addition to his donation of the biennial salary increase given to all legislators at the beginning of the year. Sen. Hopper donated the $2,500 raise to the Strong Kids Scholarship Funds at the Oshkosh, Fond du Lac, and Dodge County YMCA’s.