…And They Sure Do Deserve It.
I’m talking about the automatic payraise that State Legislators will receive on Dec. 1. My question is for what? I know it’s hard work resisting change and reform, but does this work warrant a pay raise? Or maybe the pay raise if for all the hard work of keeping government closed - as in hiding consultant fees, keeping e-mails privates, allowing nespotism, etc.
If you are into jealously over pay, feel free to read the article. Otherwise, just know that we pay these people too much. The job isn’t worth the amount we pay them and they don’t bring anywhere close to the value of what we pay them.
I’ll still hold onto my version what the ideal legislature would look like - they would be in session 3 months every other year, get paid a minimal amount - like $5,000 for their time, have no district offices, and hence no staff (they can rely on committee staff for legislative advice, and wouldn’t need distric staff since they would no longer be the ones offering government services - just legislating) Be fined $100 for every day they go over without a passed budget, limited benefits - only health insurance while they are in session and pay for them to get to and from the state capitol.