EDITORIAL: A sensible pay plan for lawmakers  on April 12, 2012
at 7:15 AM  Members of the Alabama Senate should give swift
approval to a measure that would set lawmakers' pay at the level
of the state's median household income and provide realistic
reimbursement for travel expenses to and from Montgomery.  The
House has approved the measure 91-2. Sponsored by Rep. Mike
Ball, R-Madison, it would do away with the infamous 61 percent
raise lawmakers gave themselves five years ago on a voice vote.
Sen. Bryan Taylor, R-Prattville, is sponsoring the bill in the
Senate.  If the Senate approves Ball's bill, voters would have
the final say on this proposed constitutional amendment, which
would appear on the general election ballot in November. If it
wins this final OK, the measure would prevent lawmakers from
raising their pay or travel expenses without voter approval.
The U.S. Census estimated Alabama's median household income for
2010 at $40,474. Today, a lawmaker earns at least $53,388 but
must pay expenses for t