Legislative salary proposal

A Legislative Compensation Commission appointed by the Kansas Legislature reported recently that a pay raise for Kansas legislators would be appropriate. Legislators currently receive c. $29,000 a year, depending on how compensation is calculated. The proposed raise could give them c. $43,000 a year, maybe more, maybe less. Reportedly, Kansas legislators make significantly less than legislators in peer states. Legislators in surrounding states (Nebraska, Missouri, Colorado, Oklahoma) average c. $41,200. Kansas legislators could get the raise without a recorded vote, meaning they would not have to tell constituents whether or not they voted to give themselves a pay raise. Right now, the raise appears to have a good chance of passing in the coming legislative session and take effect in 2025.

While the argument in favor of a raise for Kansas legislators relies heavily on comparison with the legislative salaries in peer states, some other comparisons need to be considered as well.

First, Kansas has 165 legislators while the number of legislators in the four states surrounding Kansas averages 149. Take Missouri out of the equation and the remaining three average 100. Providing Kansas legislators with the raise recommended will cost taxpayers c. $2,000,000. If Kansas would reduce the number of legislators to 100, the raise would cost taxpayers very little in additional money for legislative salaries. Legislators could have a raise and Kansans could have a more efficient legislature.

Such a reduction could be accomplished in a number of ways — a unicameral/one-house legislature for example. However, as much as legislators like to talk of reducing constituents’ tax burden, there is no chance they will vote to cut their numbers in order to benefit taxpayers. That would mean members voting themselves out of a job.

A second point of contrast concerns legislative redundancy. Two legislators represent every Kansan when only one is necessary. Kansas has a two-house legislature — the House of Representatives with 125 members and the Senate with 40 members, for a total of 165 legislators, or one legislator for c. 18,000 constituents. The average constituency for legislators in the surrounding four states is c. 39,000. If peer state comparison serves to justify a raise for legislators, one might fairly conclude that it also serves to justify a significant reduction in the number of legislators, especially in light of the size of the raise legislators believe they deserve.

Readers should reach one firm conclusion from the above. If legislators vote to give themselves a raise, their vote should be a matter of public record.

I should note that some people argue that a raise would attract younger, less wealthy legislators to the job, men and women less beholden to special interests and legislative bullies like Senate President Masterson and House Speaker Hawkins. Some people also believe that there is a Santa Claus and a Tooth Fairy. There is only one real check on legislative malfeasance — voters.

Jerry Marsh Elllsworth

County attorney inaccessable Dear Editor, Last week, I delivered a paper copy of my most recent letter to the editor as noted below, to the Ellsworth County Attorney’s Office of Paul J. Kasper, in person.

The secretary informed me that “he was in court,” and I asked her to give an envelope containing my last letter to the editor to him when he was back in the office. I asked for my letter to be read, the video to be fully watched and an appointment to speak to him in person. The response was given back to me in a normal tone of voice, and I believe she was fully honest with me in my request as the scenario follows.

The secretary said to me, “I’ll ask him, but he rarely sees people because he doesn’t like giving out free advice.” Furthermore, I was informed, “I can’t guarantee that he will read the letter or watch the video, let alone take action, but I will give it to him.” I was perplexed and finally said “thank you” and left the office.

This is a problem. Kasper has not called, emailed or contacted me in any way whatsoever. Who is responsible when the county attorney refuses to reply back in his official elected capacity? Why is he even in the office? This is NOT how the person elected is to function. Kasper is unreachable!

What do the Ellsworth County Commissioners think of this? How about our mayor, Dan Finnegan? This can’t continue and someone in town must help in this situation.

Thank you, Mary L. Schmidt Ellsworth