New Mexico Legislature Considers Salary for Lawmakers

A Democratic-sponsored initiative to provide legislators with regular salaries gains first committee endorsement, despite Republican objections.

New Mexico's Legislature is the only one in the U.S. where lawmakers aren't paid a salary.
A Democratic-sponsored initiative to provide New Mexico legislators with regular salaries earned its first committee endorsement, despite objections from Republicans.
The proposed constitutional amendment would scrap a ban on legislative salaries and create an independent commission to set and adjust future pay for the state's 112 legislators.
Salary figures aren't specified and would be determined later by a nine-member 'citizens commission on legislative salaries.'
Currently, New Mexico legislators receive mileage reimbursements for travel and a daily stipend toward expenses like room and board during legislative sessions.