State of pay

By R.W., J.M.F. and L.P.

The wide diversity in the size and salary of America’s state legislatures

POOR Kansas lawmakers. They earn $4,000 apiece—almost ten times less than their peers in neighbouring Oklahoma and Missouri. Californians earn the most, but represent the most populous state, and face tricky issues. So what explains Pennsylvania, whose legislature is almost twice the size, and paid three times as much, as the national average? The issue is controversial in austere times, as we explain in this week’s edition. See full article.