Would a majority of state legislators approve pay raises for themselves while the rest of us struggle to make ends meet thanks to years of costly policies, and even more costly inaction on other important matters?

We’re afraid they would.

To make matters worse, we’re afraid a majority of state legislators would approve pay raises for themselves in exchange for policies that most state residents dislike. We remember full well 1999, the last time state legislators received a raise, when legislators received more money in exchange for allowing then-Gov. George Pataki more leeway on charter schools. What would legislators give up in order to make more money in 2014? Would they cave in on a higher minimum wage statewide? Perhaps they would trade a pay raise for the DREAM Act or paid college tuition for inmates?

The fact pay raises have to be part of such political horse-trading should be strong enough evidence raises aren’t needed. State legislators are part-time employees who earn a base salary of $79,500 a year and can earn more if they are named chair of a committee or earn party leadership positions. They also receive per diem payments for travel and time they spend in Albany. It doesn’t seem like too bad a gig, especially since legislators can still hold down other jobs.

We agree with Assemblyman Andrew Goodell, R-C-I, Jamestown, that a Salary Review Commission should make recommendations on legislative salaries on a regular basis to prevent both large increases at any one time and to prevent the sort of dirty dealmaking that has become a specialty in New York.

Earning a pay raise would be a good idea, too, but we won’t get our hopes up.