More lawmakers are expressing support for a pay raise for state legislators. The current salary for a lawmaker is $24,000 a year.
"We lose people left and right because they're not making enough money to put food on their own table for their children," Democrat Sen. Mitzi Epstein said.
Epstein voted with the state Senate for a pay raise for state legislators, claiming the current pay is not suited for a full-time occupation and requires lawmakers to pursue careers outside of politics.
"We are not able to recruit enough people from enough walks of life," Epstein said.
State lawmakers are arguing for a pay raise after nearly 30 years since voters approved the current salary of $24,000.
Tucson Democrat Priya Sundareshan mentioned Sen. Eva Burch, who is resigning due to the current wage.
"We are losing good members who cannot afford to keep being the excellent and engaged legislators that they are because the pay is so low," Sundareshan said.
If approved by the Legislature, the proposal will go to voters in the 2026 general election.
