Lawmakers to vote on raising their pay

A Montana legislative committee voted today to pass a bill that would give legislators a stipend of $3,000 and the ability to be reimbursed for travel while the Legislature is not in session.

Starting in 2017, Senate BIll 283 would give legislators a biennial $3,000 for expenses related to the job, such as fax machines, mailings, and phone calls. Beyond that, legislators could be reimbursed for travel on a sliding scale, with the biggest possible reimbursement going to those in districts of over 10,000 square miles. They could receive up to $200 a month in travel expenses if they choose to ask.

Sen. John Brenden's district in Northeast Montana is the third largest in the state with about 12,500 square miles. He's carrying the bill and says it's personally cost him hundreds of thousands of dollars, but that it's been worse for others.

"I've seen people over the last 50 years go broke by serving in the legislature. And that's wrong. They should not have to suffer those consequences."

Brenden will not be able to benefit from the bill because he's termed out.

Montana legislators make $10.33 an hour over the 90-day session. Overtime on their part is not counted, and many leave better-paying jobs for the entire period in order to serve.

Montana pays legislators less than nearby states Wyoming and Oregon, which pay $18.75 and hour and $10.70 an hour respectively.

However, it pays more than South Dakota, at $2.88 an hour and far more than New Mexico, which does not pay a salary.

Freshman legislator Republican Forrest Mandeville was one to argue against this legislation, saying the issue should be put to a voters on the November ballot.

"I think if we're going to be getting more benefits, we should be asking for that movement to come from the public. If the public wants us to have more benefits, they should come up here and tell us."

Others in the committee like Democratic Sen. Diane Sands and Republican Sen. Scott Sales called Mandeville naive, and said once he's invested more time and money into the system, he will understand the difficulties of staying informed across such vast distances.

Sands says the extra money would allow legislators to better serve others.

Sales says with legislative staff making more than the legislators, it's more about fairness.

"And if we continue to think that we're afraid of the constituents or we're afraid to stand up for what's fair then, you know, grow some stones."

Earlier in the session, legislators voted to not increase their salaries, which have stayed the same for the past six years.