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Top California officials get big pay hike

SACRAMENTO, June 24 (UPI) -- California's top elected officials were given a pay raise by a public commission selected to set the wages amid complaints of a state budget crisis.

The California Citizens Compensation Commission was created in 1990 by the voters and intended to sidestep politics to determine how much an elected official is paid.

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On Friday, the panel determined an 18 percent raise was in store for offices like the governor, secretary of state, attorney general and state superintendent of education, among others.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger doesn't take his salary.

The raise was sparked by complaints from California Attorney General Bill Lockyer and State Superintendent of Education Jack O'Connell, who say they are underpaid, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Lockyer will now be the highest paid attorney general in the country although he makes less than many California district attorneys.

O'Connell's pay is still surpassed by other state education heads as well as 72 school superintendents in California.

State legislators got a two percent pay hike. They received a 12 percent raise last year.

Assemblyman Keith Richman said the raises were unjustified during expected budget deficits over the coming years.

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