Once again, liberals want to raise the salaries for state senators, from $12,000 to $21,000 annually, a 75% pay increase. How many of us have received 75% pay hikes lately?? Proponents now make the same argument they made for their case during the last pay hike campaign, that an increased salary would bring us better qualified and more dedicated candidates. Yet, taxes and spending both have exploded since that time. We must fight this pay grab until state senators rein in spiraling taxes and spending. From 2004 to 2005, Nebraska rose from 14th to 8th highest taxed state in the nation. Nebraska in 2004 ranked next to highest among all adjacent states in appropriations per $1,000 of personal income and per capita. Career politicians have not served taxpayers well. Senators purposely placed the pay raise proposal on the 2006 primary ballot, knowing that fewer citizens vote in primary elections.
Citizen legislators should offer public service, even at a financial sacrifice, for only a few years and then return to live under the same laws they themselves have passed for others.
