Are State Legislators Underpaid?
by Robert Morgan - The Town Talk (excerpt)

A perennial issue facing the Legislature is a bill to raise lawmakers' pay.

For an 85-day session, per diem can amount to $12,155. Critics would say that makes the total base salary $28,955 (less for 60-day sessions) every other year.

It could be more if a legislator attends a large number of committee meetings between sessions, for which they are also paid $143 per diem.

With Senate Bill 672, Sen. Ann Duplessis, D-New Orleans, wants to tie legislative pay hikes to congressional pay hikes, with legislators starting at $50,700 plus $12,000 for expenses annually.

That certainly could be enough for full-time work.

On the other side of the issue, Sen. Joe McPherson, D-Woodworth, says public service should be just that, service without particular regard to payment.

"It should be a sacrifice from people who seek the office and do it and want to do it," McPherson said.