Pay raise is risky business for lawmakers

Indiana voters think their lawmakers get overly generous perks. Lawmakers hope to get their first base pay raise in 22 years.

[chessplayer2007]

they make to much money already, and
don't deserve any pay raise.

[bullhockey]

Don't take the job if you don't like the pay. No one forced you to run for office.

[JAW Nob]

I think that $40,000 is enough salary for a part time job.

[Freddy]

They most certainly don't make a $40,000 salary. They make a salary of $11,600. They haven't had a raise in their pay in 22 years.

The Star cleverly counts in expense money as part of their compensation. How would you like to have expense money counted as part of your compensation? The Star's approach on this issue is so disingenous.

With a salary of $11,600, which again hasn't been raised in 22 years, you have the wrong type of people attracted to public office. If you want to complain about the quality of people running for office, then you should solidly be behind an increase in the legislators' salaries.

[David]

Why are we (tax payers) contributing more to their pensions than they contribute themselves? This is absurd! Every position I have ever held, you could contribute a small percentage of your wages (up to 5%) and the employer would match your contribution. We ar paying 20% into their pensions??? What's wrong with this picture. Why are lawmakers given a health insurance plan providing lifetime coverage for themselves and their children, spouses, ex-spouses and staff. This sounds to me like an additional $25,000 per year per lawmaker. They have run wild with our money much too long. Let Mitch Daniels Privatize these issues because I am tired of paying for nothing! If only a few of our lawmakers are retired, this must indicate they have a job in the private sector where they have insurance coverage through their employer. If not provided in a compensation package, they need to buy it just like we regular citizens must.

[David]

What planet are you on?$157.00 per day when in session and $54.80 for every other day of the year while they are at home watching a ball game. Yes they make $40k a year plus the other perks we regular citizens will never see unless we pay for them. An average pay of $40,359.29 for a part time job is absurd. this would be considered a decent wage for most hoosier families who work full time. We do not elect our lawmakers to make them wealthy, we elect them to serve the people. They know the pay when they choose to run for office. If they don't like it, don't run... Don't get elected and then try to line your pockets. LIFETIME WEDICAL FOR FAMILY ......PRICELESS
[QUOTEwho="Freddy"]T hey most certainly don't make a $40,000 salary. They make a salary of $11,600. They haven't had a raise in their pay in 22 years.
The Star cleverly counts in expense money as part of their compensation. How would you like to have expense money counted as part of your compensation? The Star's approach on this issue is so disingenous.
With a salary of $11,600, which again hasn't been raised in 22 years, you have the wrong type of people attracted to public office. If you want to complain about the quality of people running for office, then you should solidly be behind an increase in the legislators' salaries.[/QUOTE]

[bruce]

with voters suddenly becoming aware of the legislative process in the state....it has forced the legislature to be above board.....years of (sneaking in)things ,such as the health insurance bill....have made lots of voters reluctant to even believe a problem exists...times are tough for all of us...at least you have paid health insurance.......

[had enough]

Freddy wrote:

They most certainly don't make a $40,000 salary. They make a salary of $11,600. They haven't had a raise in their pay in 22 years.
The Star cleverly counts in expense money as part of their compensation. How would you like to have expense money counted as part of your compensation? The Star's approach on this issue is so disingenous.
With a salary of $11,600, which again hasn't been raised in 22 years, you have the wrong type of people attracted to public office. If you want to complain about the quality of people running for office, then you should solidly be behind an increase in the legislators' salaries.

Freddy, what you have to understand is the STAR only prints half the truth...they don't count the "under the table" perks.......do you really live in Indy or some other planet.?

[had enough]

You only get raises if your job performance indicates so.....I think not. This city and state has not one politician that deserves one penny. They put us citizens in jeopardy daily, deals behind closed doors, a police merge that is a joke, crooked CCC members and their family that get elected to the CCC. Come on. spend some money Indy and lets really investigate our politicians.....PERKS...please ....how disgusting can you get....Is being an elected official not a "public servant".? mmmmm they do not serve the public well..only after they serve themselves.

[reality check]

Freddy wrote:

They most certainly don't make a $40,000 salary. They make a salary of $11,600. They haven't had a raise in their pay in 22 years.
The Star cleverly counts in expense money as part of their compensation. How would you like to have expense money counted as part of your compensation? The Star's approach on this issue is so disingenous.
With a salary of $11,600, which again hasn't been raised in 22 years, you have the wrong type of people attracted to public office. If you want to complain about the quality of people running for office, then you should solidly be behind an increase in the legislators' salaries.

That's ridiculous. There's never a time when you hear that these people don't want to run. The perks are fantastic, and the base pay is supplemental to the money they already get from their busiensses. If you do the research you will find about 70% of the legislature owns their own business. The rest are retired. Why would I WANT working families in there who need to leave every time the kids are sick? If it's so gawd-awful earning what they earn why do the same people run over and over again? The real compensation for these people is power, not money, so they will never be satisfied. As far as the per diem goes, You can more than live on their daily per diem, as long as you aren't trying to live high on the hog. That's the other problem. People in politics think they're too good to put their heads down at night where the rest of us do. A house rented at the corner of Michigan street and Rural would run about $600 a month. Let them live like the rest of us do and see how quickly some of these problems get fixed.

[state employee]

I work for the state and i do not get life time health care plan if i retire i loose my insurance why don't you give the same to the rest of us cause we don't share the same benifits you do is that becaue you think your better than the rest of use state employees try liveing on our pay with out the second job. I know most of you have a another job on the side and probley make more money there. Maybe the star should print how much you make on the other job you have so we csn see how hard you really have it.

[Changes Need to be made]

Some changes are needed in this system. But I certainly do not think our lawmakers make too much money. A base pay increase is a reasonable request. It must be handled in a reasonable manner. Unlike the Cadillac Health Plan they passed. They want a base pay raise......fix the joke of a health plan. And the pension certainly needs adjusted. I would love a plan that would put 20% in for me. Mine at work, a teacher, puts in 1% for me. All us voters want is for the lawmakers to work hard and be compensated fairly. If they do that I have no problem with a reasonable raise.

[Changes Need to be made]

And just one more thought. If we don't fairly compensate lawmakers, only the rich can afford to serve. I think the Roman Empire had the same problem. Don't pay your law makers (very much) then only the rich can afford it.........class problems arise from this situation.

[Outside the Box]

Wow! A politician upset about the lack of pay, just breaks my little heart. Most people don't get a pension unless the have worked a job for 20 plus years and are 62 to 65 years of age. Why should these people be any different? Also most people's medical insurance is almost out of reach for them with high deductables, why should these law makers be different and better. Also, in truth why would anyone in their right mind want one of these people to be in office long enough to collect a pension as most shouldn't be there more then one or two terms at best. Oh! I forgot they keep getting re-elected even though they usually suck at the job, and after a bit, DO NOT have the best interest of those whom placed them in office in the first place.
Further, when some people retired, or forced to retire, the only medical insurance they get, if they have any at all comes totally out of their pension checks, which is why a lot of these fine folks DO NOT HAVE MEDICAL INSURANCE.

[Foster]

I say we keep the salary exactly where it is! Most local officials have a primary job as well... If there is no financial incentive, people who want the job for what it is will run for it rather than someone who would take the job for the money! By the way, why don't they let the people vote on it rather than voting themselves a raise?

[MIchael]

How many legislators also work for the state in their other life? Also, how many really pay for a meal when they are in session or are their meals paid for by those who wnat something from them?
With their wonderful benefits and out-of-session per diem, they make too much now.

[Mark]

Politicians set their own pay scales and raises? I wish that was how it was for me , as well. I think their job is the only one where there are placed in a position to determine their well being. HMMMMMMM sounds rather nice. Clean house next election...Yes, I'm a democrat.

[robert]

We should not have career type, elected officles in the first place..When they leave office (one or two terms only)they leave with nothing.. NO BENEFITS !!! NO Health ins. NO Pension ONLY what they saved LIKE everyone else has too do.They are sevants of the people ,this was not intended to be a career job!!! SO if they vote to have all of these perks, WE need too VOTE them OUT..

[Oust Gray]

Let the lawmakers buy up the houses here in Indy that won't sell because crime is out of hand! Or let them rent a room in the Peterson Penthouse that will be going up at the Pan Am Plaza that the taxpayers are already paying for.

Can anyone in office spell the words; morals, ethics, and honesty? Aren't lawmakers elected to serve the people and not be served by the people from a silver platter?

State lawmakers already have what other state and city workers do not have, lifetime health insurance. Try living on their pay.

[robert]

Better yet make it a LAW that if you hold elected office you cannot run or hold elected office for 5 years.Than maybe we can git rid of these career type politicians once and for all.....