What does "No Reform/No Raise" mean? It's simple, really.

The New York state Legislature has the third highest pay in the nation - base pay of $79,500 for what is at best a part time job - and yet they are regarded by many as the most dysfunctional state legislature in the nation. It's true that state lawmakers haven't had a raise in 8 years, but then again, what exactly have they done to earn one? In our opinion, not all that much.

This hasn't stopped newly minted state Senate Minority Leader Smith from floating the idea of raising pay for legislators in the upcoming special session. To his credit, Smith has spoken of such a raise while at the same time speaking about passing badly needed reforms.

Reform first, we say. Now, we all know why Smith and others are interested in seeking a raise now in the special session. A sitting legislature can not raise its own pay. If they don't get it now, they'll have to wait another two years to see those paychecks get a little fatter.

Too bad. We are demanding that the legislature earn any new pay raise by passing reform measures FIRST.