Question of the Week: With local stores locking up merchandise to fight shoplifting, how do you feel about having to ask a clerk to open a cabinet for you?

Top of Mind is a weekly question about an issue affecting New Mexicans.

LAST WEEK’S QUESTION

Would you like to see N.M.’s legislators receive a salary?

“An unpaid volunteer Legislature is undemocratic and oligarchical. We cannot ensure the best representation in the N.M. Legislature if only those with the most money and very flexible schedules can serve. They should make at least $56,000 a year plus per diem, which is the current median household income for New Mexicans.”

— Joseph Arvizu Albuquerque

“Lawmakers do more than make laws. They serve thousands of constituents, do policy research, attend local and interim meetings — all without staff. N.M. is the only state where legislators are volunteers. For better service, pay them, just like we do city councilors and county commissioners — $30,000 to 40,000 a year.”

— Dede Feldman Albuquerque

“It is critical that N.M. start paying its legislators a salary. 1) It’s fair for the hard work they do. 2) It would enable many to give up other jobs and focus more on serving their constituents. 3) It would encourage diverse representation.”

— Alissa Keny-Guyer Santa Fe

“As the only state without a paid Legislature, it’s a joke that they remain unpaid. It’s not about who is in the office right now, but allowing everyone the same opportunity to challenge for public service. If we want this done right, we need full-time legislators compensated full time.”

— Austin Weahkee Albuquerque

“N.M. should pay its legislators a salary, not only per diem expenses. The work goes on year-round. It also opens the Legislature to more people than retirees with healthy pensions or professionals who can delegate work or step back for extended periods.”

— Angela Merkert Albuquerque

“Yes, it is outdated and unreasonable to expect our legislators to work without receiving a salary. Their salary should be a livable wage.”

— Abraham Sanchez Las Cruces

“Legislators should be paid so that they can give their full attention to the vigorous demands of governing positions. They deserve a livable wage. This change will create equity in the ability to have elected representation from every walk of life in N.M. Some folks couldn’t afford to run before.”

— Renée Beltran Mesilla

“No. ‘Salary’ comes from ‘working.’ Creating a state ‘smell,’ watching dancers and driving our doctors away is not ‘working’ for us. Once they get serious and address topics such as crime, failing/embarrassing infrastructure and excessive taxes while sitting on a massive budget surplus, then we can talk about salary.”

— Scott Rowland Albuquerque

“Yes, we should start paying our legislators. There is a cost of running a government and the cost should be borne by the taxpayers. It might curb special interest influence.”

— Judith Williams Santa Fe

“Paying our legislators will increase their ability to serve and respond to their constituents as well as be the leaders New Mexico needs to confront our myriad challenges.”

— Perry Radford Albuquerque

“Absolutely not. Why would we pay anyone for a failing educational system, high childhood poverty rate, crime that is out of control, homeless panhandling on every corner? This isn’t something that just happened. New Mexico has been eroding away for quite some time.”

— Michael Davis Albuquerque

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION:

With local stores locking up merchandise to fight shoplifting, how do you feel about having to ask a clerk to open a cabinet for you? Annoying or a sacrifice you're willing to make?

Want to participate in Top of Mind? Submit your response at: https://www.abqjournal.com/opinion/ - go to Other Forms, then Top of Mind

Responses must include your name and city to be published.