Legislative pay: Should not be politically hot

The Clarion-Ledger Editorial, 6/20/8

The required annual report on legislative pay is out, which usually brings on criticism of how much public officials are paid.

For the record, state taxpayers were paid about $19 million to operate the Legislature last year, which includes pay and travel for the 174 members of the Legislature, legislative staff, pages and operating expenses.

While lawmakers pay individually ranges from $19,000 to $92,000, the average is more than $50,000 given expenses and per diem and benefits.

While there is vast disagreement over how much lawmakers should be paid, even among lawmakers themselves, Mississippi is probably in line with the regional averages.

Whatever the amount, it always is politically sensitive.