Amendment to pay lawmakers for days worked clears Assembly

A proposed constitutional amendment to pay lawmakers for each day they work cleared the Assembly on a 32-10 vote Friday.

SJR10 would remove the limit in the Nevada constitution which cuts off legislative paychecks after 60 days. Sen. Bill Raggio, R-Reno, said in committee that limit was put in in the 1860s when no one thought a Legislature would last that long. Now, he said, the session is scheduled for 120 days each session.

SJR10 doesn't increase the $135 a day lawmakers receive during session. It allows them to get that pay for each day of the session and for any special session they might be called to serve in.

The proposed amendment would also eliminate the limit of $60 each lawmaker gets for postage, office supplies and operations every two years. Raggio said that too makes no sense in the year 2003, when costs of keeping in touch with constituents and providing them requested information run much higher. The change would allow the Legislature to set a reasonable amount for reimbursing those expenses.

Before the amendment can become part of the constitution, it must again be approved by both houses of the 2005 Legislature and then win a majority of votes at the following general statewide election.