Insiders on Legislative Pay and Financial Disclosure
Insiders split down the middle this week when asked whether lawmakers ought to be paid full-time salaries instead of the $600 per month they make now. The piece divided carefully: 48 percent favor paying lawmakers a full salary, while 51 percent would leave things as they are (the other 1 percent was undecided).
Two-thirds believe officeholders should be required to disclose more details about their personal income and assets than they do now. That's been in the news, with state Rep. Kino Flores, D-Palmview, set for sentencing next week on convictions related to his financial disclosures. Only 30 percent ...
Comments (6)
Michael Cosper via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Pay them more and quit making them millionaires with their retirement package.
Little Mexico Dallas via Texas Tribune on Facebook
It may help make them more accountable.
Lori G. Mizzell via Texas Tribune on Facebook
have to think about this one.....quick answers lead to quick problems
Jamie Lewis via Texas Tribune on Facebook
i think the low pay makes them more vulnerable to campaign donors. period. i haven't looked at the retirement pkgs in a while.
Arthur Valdez
If this would pass, let's see how greedy they get at finding the money for themselves. After all, they have left state employees hanging the past 3 sessions, saying there is no money when it comes to pay raises. Salaries for state employees are the means of survival for paying rent, mortgage, utilities, feeding themselves and their children, medications, car payments etc....the $600 a month is gas money to these people who the majority serve themselves, the lobbyist who hang around their offices like flies at a picnic. Remember, they have jobs to go back to. State employees have to find part time jobs to make ends meet. The state employees I refer to are the hard working front line workers who wonder if they will be laid off to balance the budget. I believe their retirement package if sufficient, they chose to run for office, most get elected and serve no purpose in their job as a legislator. Will the campaign money seize, yeah right! Will it make them more accountable, unlikely. If Texans have the right to fire them, for poor performance prior to elections, then maybe.
Dave MacDonald via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Actually they actually receive much more than that. But I would support $100,000.00 if they will pass term limits.