NC House Speaker Tillis Gives 27% Pay Raises to His Staff: Cuts Education Severely

An article today on the News & Observer's web site, states that North Carolina Speaker of the House Thom Tillis gave his staff fat raises. He tries to justify it by saying overall he's spending less, but I'm not sure that argument flies with all the North Carolina state employees who have seen their own pay frozen for the past three years. Also. tell that to the thousands of teacher assistant and other school employees who will receive pink slips this week or next.

According to the News & Observer article, here's who got raises in his office.

• Tillis' General Counsel Jason Kay-27% raise from $110,000 to $140,00
• Tillis' Chief of Staff Charles Thomas-25% raise from $120,000 to $150,000
• Policy Advisers Christoper Hayes & Any Hobbs received $12,000 raises, $70,000 to $82,000

According to article, Tillis gave raises to seven members of his 14 member staff, and this was after pledging to have smaller payrolls for legislative staff than their predecessors. What is really disgusting about this whole affair, is that the North Carolina General Assembly refused to be courageous and make all  the cuts in teacher assistants, and instead, passed on that bit of dirty work back to school districts in the form of "discretionary cuts." Apparently Thom Tillis likes employee cuts, salary freezes, and educations cuts, but does believe in rewarding his friends. Hypocrisy abounds in Raleigh, North Carolina. You can't tell the rest of the state government they must sacrifice when those around you are not.