Title: Reevaluating Legislator Compensation: A Call for Fairness in South Carolina
By Diane Hardy
The conversation surrounding legislator compensation in South Carolina has become increasingly critical as the needs of small businesses often remain unaddressed in the state legislature. As the Executive Director of the Mom and Pop Alliance of SC, I observe that diversifying our legislature with small business owners can amplify their voices in governance.
Currently, serving in the S.C. General Assembly tends to be economically unfeasible for most working-age individuals, often limiting participation to those who are retired or independently wealthy. This raises questions about the health of our representative government.
To remedy this, I propose three key reforms: adjusting compensation to reflect inflation, modifying legislative schedules, and strengthening ethics rules. Legislators frequently commit more time than the three days spent in Columbia, managing constituent services, attending meetings, and researching numerous bills. However, their base salary of $10,400—a figure unchanged since the 1990s—does not appropriately reflect these demands.
Compensation currently totals approximately $34,373 annually, much of which is taxable. Furthermore, serving can lead to career setbacks for small business owners, reinforcing the notion that compensation should not come at a personal cost. The consequence of under-compensation risks burnout among dedicated representatives and invites individuals seeking personal gain into office.
More efficient scheduling, such as extended days at the beginning of the week, could significantly ease demands on legislators. Additionally, stringent ethics rules are necessary to avoid conflicts of interest, fostering greater transparency in governance.
Ultimately, fair compensation, a reformed schedule, and clearer ethics could enable a true representation of South Carolina’s populace. As costs have surged since the 1990s, it is time to question whether those dedicated to serving the public should continue to do so under outdated remuneration and conditions.
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