Perks no argument for limiting pay to Nebraska legislators

Opponents won't find genuine ammunition to shoot down a pay raise for Nebraska legislators in a look at the numbers.

According to an Omaha World-Herald story Sunday, lawmakers received an average of about $10,000 in expenses for this year's 90-day session for a total of $490,202 in expenses, or a little more than twice the amount they received in salary.

We don't have exact figures for our local legislator, but it's somewhat less than expenses of $17,446 paid to Phil Erdman of Bayard, who is paid 48.5 cents per mile for one round trip to Lincoln each week while the Unicameral is in session. And, it's certainly more than the $3,510 paid to Bill Avery of Lincoln, who lives about a half-mile from from the Capitol.

Besides the salary of $12,000 a year and the mileage, those who live 50 miles or more from the Capitol are paid $99 a day, and those closer get $39. There are no health insurance or retirement benefits, because they're not allowed by the state constitution.

The Legislature voted 42-0 at its last session to rais its pay from $12,000 to $22,000, but it won't go to the voters until 2010 when all of the current lawmakers will have left office or at least have faced the voters again.

Proponents of the raise have until then to convince Nebraskans they're worth more than they're currently being paid -- or at least that more money will attract a better crop of candidates.

Anyone from Southwest Nebraska who has to make occasional trips to Lincoln knows how expensive it is, once gasoline, food and lodging is tallied up.

Now imagine trying to keep a business running by long-distance, not to mention staying in touch with constituents and maintaining connections with your immediate family.

If Nebraska insists on limiting the time lawmakers can serve in the Unicameral, it needs to do everything it can to encourage the best possible lawmakers to seek the job.