Dan M Clark is reporting for the New York Law Journal a state judge August 29, struck down the cap on outside income for state lawmakers that was implemented by a committee last year as a compromise for a $50,000 raise over a three-year period for those same officials. In his decision, Albany County Supreme Court Justice Richard Platkin upheld the pay increase. Platkin's ruling does conflict with a different decision on the matter from June. With two differing opinions, the stage is now set for the issue to be examined by the Appellate Division, Third Department sometime soon. The New York State Compensation Committee capped the amount of outside income at 15 percent of a lawmaker’s salary and eliminated stipends for most members of the Legislature serving in leadership positions. In his decision, Platkin ruled that while the committee was free to make recommendations to the Legislature, it did not have the power to make the cap on outside income part of state law. Platkin heard arguments on the matter earlier this month, which resulted in the decision handed down this week. The Attorney General’s Office said it was reviewing the decision. Read the full story in the New York Law Journal.