State senator switched parties because he needed a pay raise
Queens state Sen. Jose Peralta bolted from the Democratic Party because he needed a raise, sources told The Post.
The Corona lawmaker announced Wednesday he would join the Independent Democratic Conference, which is aligned with the GOP to control the Senate.
He didn’t publicize that he’s been making child support and college tuition payments for his children, and had between $30,000 and $90,000 in credit-card and loan debt, according to sources and public disclosures.
“That’s a double whammy,” said one source close to Peralta. “He’s going through a lot and the lack of a raise was devastating.” Gov. Cuomo nixed a $30,500 raise for state lawmakers in December.
Peralta’s debt has risen in the past three years, according to his 2015 state ethics filings. He owes between $20,000 and $50,000 on Citibank and AT&T cards, between $5,000 and $20,000 on a car loan for a Mercedes, and his wife owes another $5,000 to $20,000 on a Discover card, records show.
By switching his political loyalties to the IDC, he is now in line to get a new leadership position — and a stipend of up to $27,500 that comes with it. A state senator’s base pay is $79,500 per year.
Peralta posted on Facebook that he made the move in order to “deliver a progressive agenda for the city … This coalition makes Republicans more receptive to measures that are traditionally Democratic, and it allows us to move forward our values and initiatives.”
IDC spokeswoman Candice Giove said Democrats are “fleeing the Senate Democratic Conference because of its failed leadership, not finances.”
She added Peralta has not received a new committee assignment and would give up his $14,500 stipend as Minority Whip on Monday.
Senate Democrats are privately stewing over what they see as a betrayal and are already recruiting candidates to run against Peralta in a 2018 primary, sources said.
Several other Democrats joined the eight-member IDC in recent months, including Brooklyn Sen. Jesse Hamilton, who added $7,500 to his pay with the switch by chairing the Senate banking committee.
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