Tone deafness continues to emanate from the Gold Dome with the pay raise Colorado’s state-level legislators gave themselves — automatically — last week.

Elected officials celebrated Cinco de Mayo with Gov. Jared Polis’ signing of House Bill 1333, the Legislative Appropriation Bill for Fiscal Year 2026-27. Deep in the bill, not referenced directly nor mentioned in either of the bill’s fiscal analyses, is the pay hike effective with the coming New Year. For House members, the 2.8% bump will make them $48,893 per year. For Senate members, the 4.5% increase brings them to about $49,701.

All while the state stares down a $1.5 billion budget deficit forcing cuts in services affecting everyday law-abiding, taxpaying citizens. 

Sure, the approximate $470,000 the pay hikes are expected to cost taxpayers is a drop in the bucket of the state’s $47 billion, 2026-2027 budget. But legislators giving themselves a pay increase while howling about having to dig out of a deficit seems beyond out of touch.

The pay bump being part of the appropriation bill is thanks to a 2024 alteration to state law that made salary adjustments for lawmakers automatic. It’s awfully convenient for legislators. They no longer must explain how they voted on a pay raise — or that there was a pay raise at all. No check or balance from us taxpayers. Money out of taxpayers’ pockets, with a sly wink, to pay politicians. 

Until two years ago, salary increases required a public vote and lawmakers debated each proposal. The only time our elected reps didn’t give themselves a raise? A postponement in 2020 amid the height of the societal shutdown in response to COVID-19.

Wouldn’t now, amid the state’s fiscal straits, be at least as appropriate a time for another pause in pay raises?

To compound the cowardice further, it’s worth remembering Colorado is supposed to have a “citizen legislature,” meaning part time. Members — who, on top of the pay they receive, bill taxpayers to reimburse their mileage and per diem allowances — serve four months each year. The are, or at least should be, present, proactive and reactive to citizen concerns in their communities the rest of the year. Taxpayers are not supposed to provide a full-time living for Gold Dome members.

In other words, Colorado’s lawmakers are supposed to represent the people — not become an insulated, anointed class.

To give credit where it’s due, to state Rep. Bob Marshall, a Democrat who represents Highlands Ranch, summed up what should seem obvious to all his fellow reps: “If we cannot share the pain with our constituents, we really shouldn’t be here.”

Republicans and Democrats alike who get it, from Republican Reps. Ken DeGraaf of Colorado Springs and Matt Soper of Delta, to Democratic Reps. Marshall as well as Lorena Garcia of Adams County, should be praised.

Some lawmakers cite a December 2025 independent report, commissioned by the Colorado General Assembly, that found lawmakers are paid 6.38% below the national median for their peers in all states. Recently resigned Sen. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Aurora, even cited the low pay as her reason for departing the Gold Dome.

Problem is, struggling Coloradans roll their eyes at the hypocrisy when they read a commission report stating: “there is a need to ensure that working people can hold these positions without undue economic hardship.”

Economic hardship? Welcome to the club — and it’s not a charity. Lawmakers cut the state budget $1.5 billion — but want a raise?