This is probably the wrong time to be talking about paying legislators, a probable cost of approximately $500K per year. Would the public vote for it, would either party villianize the other for supporting pay in these economic times, and would it even pass in both chambers of the legislature. Even if pay was suggested, would it be enough to even recruit the highly qualified legislators that we think we should have. Additionally, if a constitutional amendement were passed, would an accompanying piece of legislation reforming campaign and ethics laws pass. The transistion would be painful for the state and we don’t like a lot of pain, look at the discussion surrounding the Affordable Health Care Act.