Ceretto: New Yorkers, not lawmakers deserve pay raise

Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-I-Lewiston, released the following statement Tuesday regarding his stance on legislative pay increases. Ceretto's statement is in response to claims, which began circulating this week, that lawmakers will be coming back to Albany after the November elections to vote on pay increases for lawmakers.

"I was sent to Albany to create jobs and lower taxes for struggling families in Western New York, not to vote on pay increases for lawmakers," Ceretto said. "While the Legislature has done much to improve the state over the past two years, there are still far too many important issues out there, which take precedence over legislative pay raises. Now is the time to focus on rebuilding our economy, putting New Yorkers back to work, and improving the quality of life for our residents. If pay raises for lawmakers come up in November, I will most assuredly vote 'no!' "