Lally Donates Pay Raise to Johnnycake Center

Release courtesy the Legislative Press and Public Information Bureau.

Rep. Donald J. Lally Jr. has donated the cost-of-living raise this year from his legislative salary to the Johnnycake Center.

“During a time when so many people are struggling, I don’t want this raise. I’d much rather see it go where it can help people in my own community. The Johnnycake Center provides much-needed services to a lot of people in my district, and the demand for those services rises with the cost of living, too. They’ll put it to good use,” Lally said.

Lally is a Democrat representing District 33, which now includes Narragansett, North Kingstown and South Kingstown.

Under the mid-1990s state constitutional change that downsized the General Assembly, Rhode Island legislators were to be compensated at an annual rate of $10,000 beginning in 1995, with annual salary increases at the beginning of each subsequent fiscal year, tied to the Consumer Price Index for the previous year.

That meant for the fiscal year that began July 1, legislators’ pay was bumped up 3.2 percent. While some legislators with similar concerns declined the raise, Representative Lally said he preferred to pass it on to a worthy local organization, rather than have it revert to the state’s general fund.

He calculated the difference in take-home pay for the year, and dropped off a check for $255 to the organization this week. The Johnnycake Center, headquartered in Peace Dale, serves the needy of South Kingstown and Narragansett with food, clothing and household items.

For an electronic version of this and all press releases published by the Legislative Press and Public Information Bureau, please visit their Web site at http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/News.