State Legislators Compensation - Citizens get what they pay for!

[solus]

Well CA legislators make $107K + ; NH $200 [two hundred - period w/nothing else]; NM $0.00 [zero]; with the other state’s legislators in between!
http://www.ncsl.org/research/about-state-legislatures/legislator-compensation-2018.aspx

It is noteworthy then, as citizens expect viable representation from their State level legislators, being paid $0.00 or $200 per session/term/whatever, does not lend itself to attacting the brightest crayons from the box to colour on any State’s legislative governance activities.

Now before you think CA legislators are overpaid, CA cabinet members make $200K+ http://www.calhr.ca.gov/Documents/exempt-salary-schedule.pdf page 14

Perhaps, just perhaps, the practice espoused around the known as Bakschisch should be institutionalized back in America, oh wait it never left now did it!

 

[KBCraig]

NM legislators don't get a salary, but they do draw per diem.

NH legislators (both representatives and senators) get the $200 per biennium, plus mileage at either the IRS rate, or an arcane plan that doesn't make sense for anyone living more than 30 miles from the State House. Almost everyone chooses the IRS rate.

It's public information, so I'll say that my 196 mile round trip at the 2019 rate of $0.58/mile gets me $113.68 per trip. I pay all my expenses out of that -- fuel, wear and tear, and meals.

A short session day means 10 hours away from home, but can easily be 12-16 hours. Even on days when I'm not in Concord, I spend at least 1-2 hours reading correspondence and researching bills. NH doesn't have a minimum wage, but when expenses are subtracted, being a state rep pays well below the federal minimum wage.

There is no "office", other than your own briefcase. Reps can get a locker just like the one you had in high school, but there's a waiting list. Committee rooms in the Legislative Office Building have a file drawer for each rep on the committee, so that's a place to stash some emergency protein bars. We do have a parking garage, but there are only 196 spaces for 400 reps. If it's full, reps are directed to alternative sites, and a shuttle bus is provided.

Reps get free admission to state parks for themselves and one guest.

Other than that, we hang our coats on the same racks available to the general public, and walk the same streets to get to either the State House or LOB.

 

[solus]

KB thanks for delineating the NH legislative compensation as well as the current legislative working environment.