Ran Coble says legislative pay affects who serves.
The director of the N.C. Center for Public Policy Research said that the number of retirees in the state legislature has increased in recent years because of the relatively low pay.
In 2000, the nonprofit group studied pay in states with comparable populations, legislative workloads and days in session. That study found that only Texas and Georgia paid as little as North Carolina.
"The legislature's stuck in a pattern right now where they are virtually full-time legislators with part-time pay," he said.
Legislative sessions last from January to August during long sessions and from May to August in short sessions, and often go longer, Coble noted. Study commissions and oversight committees meet at other times, and calls from constituents never stop.
The center did not make any recommendations, but Coble said the question is up to voters.
"The basic question for citizens is what kind of legislature do you want and what do you want to pay for that?" he said.
Previously: Bill would automatically raise legislative pay; other states pay less.
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Re: Coble: Pay affects who serves
N&O, please start listing campaign expeditures for these people. The idea that salary effects whos elected seems intresting, but a set of digits should quickly determine what's real and what's just interesting. If it's a mouthpeice for public policy, just give us the average, or the mode.