Amendment 4: Legislative cash grab, not reform

Paul Gessing: Amendment 4: Legislative cash grab, not reform

New Mexico’s Legislature is said to be the only “unpaid” legislative body in the nation, but that’s not quite true. Our legislators receive a “per diem” (daily pay when they are in Santa Fe or at committee hearings of $247) which does not include mileage reimbursement.

Amendment 4: Legislative cash grab, not reform

If Amendment 4 passes legislators will be paid nearly $68,000 annually on top of other benefits, putting some over $100,000 annually before the pension.

Amendment 4 is cash grab not reform

This November, New Mexico voters will be vote on a constitutional amendment to pay each of the state’s 112 legislators an annual salary of just under $68,000 annually, with that rate to rise with inflation in the future.