Yes, it would make matters simpler if legislator's compensation was tied to a state minimum wage.  But that's based on the faulty notion that lawmakers should be treated like everyone else.

Brian A.
I'd rather be cycling.

As a libertarian and an avid reader of von Mises, Mayberry, and other proponents of Austrian economics, I applaud the decision.  

I so no plausible reason for taxpayers to fund a lifetime retirement plan to a two-term or one-term governor. A small monthly stipend, limited to the amount they earned while in office, maybe. Maybe.

A retirement program for state employees who serve many years is far more reasonable. I was always (perhaps mistakenly) under the belief that serving in public office was never meant to be a lifetime job, but voters often seem to abdicate decision-making to a single individual until death and often beyond, offering the same job to their relatives.

Given that so many businesses are abandoning pension plans, perhaps the same approach should apply to government. How many of us, as employees, would prefer to set our raises and retirements?? 

Did you know that the Knox County Mayor (Mike Ragsdale) and six to seven of his staffers make over $100,000 a year?

Did you know that Knox County buys a new vehicle (mostly SUVs) every two years for roughly 15 staffers.  Another 20 or so get vehicle allowances/stipends.

Did you know that these staffers get a yearly raise - usually about 3-5%?

Did you know that some staffers gain monetarily from County programs (i.e., Todd Cook, Director of Probation, gets a payment monthly from the company that operates the court mandated driver's education program)?

Did you know that other staffers who are supposed to be working full-time with Knox County have other "full-time" jobs (i.e., Tyler Harber works at National Strategies as a consultant, and Mike Arms works at SAIC in Oak Ridge as a Vice-President)? 

Don't believe me? Open-records law. Enough said.