Editorial: "Compensation Amendment" - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Editorial: "Compensation Amendment"

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By Collin R. Gaston - bio | email

  • Editorials

  • Thursday, May 16 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-16 23:20:04 GMT
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;

  • Tuesday, May 14 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-14 23:20:07 GMT
    Kudos, or perhaps, cheers to the Alabama Legislature for passing HB9, the home brewing bill. Legalized home brewing may not be up there with education reform or prison funding, but it was overdue. 
    Kudos, or perhaps, cheers to the Alabama Legislature for passing HB9, the home brewing bill. Legalized home brewing may not be up there with education reform or prison funding, but it was overdue. 

  • Thursday, May 9 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-09 23:20:06 GMT
    What was the old Pan-Am gas station at the corner of Bibb and Coosa is now no longer.  Last weekend that landmark was demolished with nothing remaining where it once stood other than the outline of a foundation. What
    What was the old Pan-Am gas station at the corner of Bibb and Coosa is now no longer.  Last weekend that landmark was demolished with nothing remaining where it once stood other than the outline of a foundation. What
    •   
MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) -

This November we Alabamians will be casting votes on 10 amendments in addition to the state and federal races on the ballot. One amendment sure to get a lot of attention focuses on legislative pay and expenses.  It reads as follows:

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to repeal the existing provisions for legislative compensation and expenses and establish the basic compensation of the Legislature at the median household income in Alabama; to require legislators to submit signed vouchers for reimbursement for expenses; and to prohibit the Legislature from increasing the compensation or expenses payable to its members.

The median household income in Alabama according to the U.S. Census is $42,000; according to the legislative fiscal office the current average pay for Alabama House and Senate members is $53,000 thus concluding if this amendment passes our legislators will see a decrease in their compensation. 

Is this wrong? We don't think so. Why shouldn't our representative's compensation be directly tied to the compensation of the people they were voted in to serve?  More jobs, better pay for Alabamians - House and Senate members pay goes up.  Fewer jobs, less pay – legislators pay goes down.  This way we are all in the same boat and will either enjoy more income together or make do with less and feel the same pain.

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