Wednesday in Pierre, a South Dakota House committee passed three proposals that could give our state legislators a pay raise.

According to Rep. Jim Bolin (R) Canton: "The last thing I'd like to say again on this bill that would establish a floor for the legislature is Sioux Dakota has one of the lowest paid legislatures in the country."

Rep. Julie Bartling (D) Gregory states: "There are a number of individuals we really encourage to run for the state legislature all across the state because I think they'll really have valuable input into the process.  But when they're steered away from their regular jobs of employment it's really difficult for them to leave and take that big of a decrease."

I agree with Rep. Bartling that with better pay you are more likely to attract a more qualified individual for the job.

Why don't they apply this same logic to South Dakota teachers?  South Dakota teachers are the lowest paid in the United States.

If South Dakota politicians can find money in the budget to give themselves a raise, how come they can't find money to properly compensate the people who are educating our children?

How about this: Outcome Based Merit Pay for our South Dakota politicians?

At the end of their term we as citizens take a look at what they have accomplished.  If we feel that they have done a good job we give them a bonus.  If we don't feel they performed up to our expectations and standards, we take some of their pay away?

This is what some politicians suggest we do for our teachers.  If it's good enough for the people that foster our greatest resource, our kids, it should be good enough for our politicians.  Shouldn't it?

 

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