Reader comments
Being a Utah legislator involves sacrifices, perks

Why should legislators make as much or more than some of our state employees who work full time?
I admit they do alot of outside work but what happened to it being for the benefit of their community? They know what they get into when they run for office. Our teachers do the same and they do not get fair compensation either -what makes the legislators more priveledged?

Legislative pay should be tied to education spending. The more they spend on education, the more they get paid.

Not to mention the hours in the evenings, throughout the entire year, spent on the phone or at dinner with or at meetings with constituents. I have learned that it takes a sacrifice of family time and personal time to fulfill this duty. This job is a daily event, not a 45-day session for our family. So, if the writer took into consideration the hours spent serving constituents, I'm sure the $400/day would become a whole lot less. It is a sacrifice that not many are willing to make.

I think that for what they do, they are compensated very well without raising their pay. What happened to service with Honor? When they can get the issues right and please everybody, then give them a raise.. For right now it appears they are doing the double standard. They want to pay a lousy teacher less because they dont perform, yet a good teacher gets no more? Show me a "good" legislator before you give yourself a pay hike. Otherwise, sign me up for the bandwagon of demoted pay for the legislators.

Please everybody? Are you in dream land? You see a lousy teacher is just that---a lousy teacher. But, a "good" or "bad" legislator is all in the eye of the beholder. Maybe you should run and see if you could "please everybody."

Given the way they tried to force vouchers down our throats, they aren't worth beans. I think they're overpaid as it is.

And you're telling me that a lousy teacher isn't in the eye of the beholder? Since both my "representative" (in quotes since he doesn't really represent me) and my senator don't agree with my opinions and don't respond to my emails and calls, this beholder doesnt' think they are worth even what they get now, whether it's really $400 or just $140.

To you cynics, if you are so much smarter than our elected officials, why don't you run? I would guess it's because you have no clue what is really involved.
As far as comparing teachers to legislators, you can't fire a teacher without the blessings of the Superpowered UEA who protect to the worst level. You can however, vote out a bad legislator.
I am grateful for what our legislators do, regardless of whether I agree with them or not. We are a "Republic," not a pure Democracy. For you who don't understand, it means we are a Representative Democracy. That is why we have elections! Or would you rather become an Iran, North Korea, Venezuela or China? If you don't like our form of government, then go where they have the kind you like.
For the amount of time legislators really spend, and based on Bernick's $400 per day and mileage, their compensation is actually around 60 cents per hour. I don't know anyone willing to work for that.