LINCOLN — Members of a Nebraska legislative committee pondered Tuesday whether voters really want to raise lawmakers' pay and extend term limits in the same year.
No one testified against two proposals that would raise the $12,000 annual pay for state senators during Tuesday's public hearing before the Legislature's Executive Board. Nor did anyone raise opposition to a resolution last week that would allow lawmakers to serve a third consecutive term instead of the current two-term limit.
The proposals involve amending the Nebraska Constitution, so lawmakers could only put them on the ballot for consideration by voters.
The Executive Board has yet to take action on either issue.
During Tuesday's hearing, Sen. Steve Lathrop of Omaha questioned how voters would react to senators asking for more pay and more time in office in the same year.
When it comes to pay, Nebraska voters last approved a raise for state senators 24 years ago.
Nebraska lawmaker pay, which includes expense reimbursements, ranks seventh-lowest in the country, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Omaha Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh, who introduced a resolution seeking to raise legislative pay to $32,000 per year, declined to comment about term limits. But he argued that the current pay level prevents qualified candidates from serving in the Legislature because they can't afford it.
His proposed raise would cost the state just under $1 million.
“There's never been a good time” to raise pay, Lautenbaugh said. “It's long overdue.”
Ron Sedlacek, representing the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Nebraska Bankers Association, testified in support of Lautenbaugh's resolution.
A proposal sponsored by Sen. Bill Avery of Lincoln would create a governor-appointed commission to set pay for lawmakers and constitutional officers. He said, for example, the state pays 71 employees more than the $105,000 earned by the governor.
Most lawmakers in Nebraska are retired, self-employed or independently wealthy, Avery said. Young senators with children at home must find it most difficult to juggle work, public service and family responsibilities.
He also cited studies showing how low pay is tied to political corruption. While he said he doesn't think that's a problem in Nebraska, low pay could have a “corrosive effect.”
“We can always find excuses not to address the topic,” Avery said. “But if not today, when?”
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