Voters May Make Change to State's 'Citizen Legislature'

Members of the nation's only unsalaried legislature are asking voters to reconsider their volunteer status, which has endured since New Mexico achieved statehood. The state Senate on Tuesday night narrowly endorsed a constitutional amendment that would do away with the state's prohibition on legislative direct compensation. That allows voters to decide in November whether to tie legislative salaries to the media income level in New Mexico, the AP reports. After it was stalled for years, the initiative was promoted successfully this time by a group of young female legislators who have talked about the challenges of balancing work, family, and legislative duties.

New Mexico taxpayers do foot the bill for travel expenses and an allowance for meals and lodging when the Legislature is in session. And many lawmakers have access to public pension benefits. New Mexico's "citizen legislature" of volunteer politicians has long been a source of pride in the state. In New York and California, legislative salaries exceed $100,000, while New Hampshire opts for a nominal $100 annually per lawmaker. Advocates for professionalizing the New Mexico Legislature say the current system discourages young, working-class candidates from serving and can inhibit progress on complex policy issues as legislators juggle separate paid and political careers.