Almost every year, one or another legislator attempts to raise his or her paltry pay. This year it's Rep. Ray Short's turn.
Short, R-Salt Lake, has introduced two bills. One would raise the part-time pay from $65 a day to $85 a day. The other would raise legislators' automatic daily expenses from $25 to $35.Lawmakers haven't raised their own pay or expenses for years. They draw their pay and expenses for each of the 45 days of the general session (whether they meet on Saturday or Sunday or not) and for their monthly interim study day (April through December) and for any other meetings assigned to them by leadership - like a task force.
Lawmakers who live outside the Salt Lake area also get mileage. On average, each of Utah's 104 lawmakers makes about $4,500 a year - one of the lowest paychecks in the West.