"On the pay increase for legislators, I would have to say that it's much needed and warranted. As Andy said, the low pay really limits who is able to serve as a legislator. There are several people that are unintentionally excluded from serving as a state senator based on finances. You shouldn't have to be retired or independently wealthy to run for and serve in the legislature. That also limits the institutional knowledge, culture, diversity, etc"
Folks say this about paying our legislators, but there are several that pay less or some notheing at all and seem to be able to succeed i.e. UT, NM and WY as examples. Look at the Great State of Texas and my native State. Folks are flooding to the good life there.
http://www.empirecenter.org/html/legislative_salaries.cfm And by the by....how many of you can support your family on $20,000 some odd thousand per year?