(Neb.)-Lawmakers Get Opinion They Want: No Pay Raise

By: Chad Franzen Posted at: 02/04/2010 02:46 PM

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska lawmakers don't want a pay raise because of budget problems, and Attorney General Jon Bruning's office agrees they shouldn't get a chance at one this year.

A legal opinion issued by his office on Thursday says the Legislature overstepped the Nebraska Constitution when, in 2007, it voted to wait until this year to ask voters for a $10,000 pay raise.

Bruning's office says the proposed constitutional amendment for the raise could have been given to voters for consideration before or at the next general election, in 2008.

But Bruning's office says the Legislature can't postpone the public votes on such measures after the next general election, which would have been in 2008.

So, no public vote this year, no pay raise for the senators.