The Voice - Student Newspaper

Prop 300; raising the salary of legislators when the economy is hurting

By David Riddle
Freelance Reporter, The VOICE

Proposition 300 will raise the salaries of the Arizona legislature from $24,000 to $30,000. It would take effect at the start of the next legislative session.

The proposition is a salary commission recommendation. The five-member, bi-partisan commission is appointed by the state governor. Commission members are private citizens and receive no compensation for service. They make recommendations regarding the salaries of elected state officials; including legislators.

The arguments for passing were paid for by the Arizona Advocacy Network and by Sal Rivera. The arguments against it were paid for by Powell Gammill, Candidate, U.S. Representative, and District 2.

The salary commission analyzes the salaries of other legislatures in other states. Arizona is lower then some others, the proposition suggests the salaries of the legislators reflect the salaries of other states.

Compared to other states compensation, Arizona ranks in the bottom third, according to the Manhattan Institute for Policy Institute.

In addition, the salaries have not been raised in ten years for the Arizona legislature. By increasing the salary of the state legislature, it could attract additional skilled people.

The Arizona Advocacy Network recommends passing the proposition so legislators will not have to take money from special interest groups.

The arguments include that the legislators have other jobs so they can get money in other ways. Also the legislators have a full time job the first half of the year. On average, they work one hundred days a session.

Some critics say they need to do a better job first before they are paid more. Powell Gammill, Candidate, U.S. Representative, District 2, says, "They can't seem to pass a budget."

With the state of the economy as it is, the legislature may go another session without a raise.