Montgomery, AL – A proposed constitutional amendment that is aimed at lowering compensation for legislators has been approved by the Alabama House.
The House voted 91-2 Thursday for a constitutional amendment that would change the way lawmakers are paid beginning when new legislators take office in 2014.
The sponsor, Republican Rep. Mike Ball of Huntsville, said the system of legislative compensation approved by the House would save the state about half a million dollars a year.
The bill goes to the Senate for debate. It ties legislative pay to Alabama's median household income. Pay for legislator's would go up or down if the median household income changes.
In 2007, legislators increased their compensation 61 percent from $36,660 to $49,500 and provided for automatic annual increases tied to the Consumer Price Index.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)