Bill to pay lawmakers more for expenses wins approval in House

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PIERRE — The current expense payment rate for legislators is $110 per official working day of legislative session. The $13 increase sought by Rep. David Novstrup, R-Pierre, would be the first in 13 years.

“I think it’s a reasonable change,” he told House members Wednesday.

They voted 36-33 — no yes votes to spare — to approve HB 1212 and send it on to the Senate.

“Maybe we should consider taking the $65,000 and giving it to the teachers as a pay increase,” said Rep. Dennis Feickert, D-Aberdeen, an opponent.

Perhaps the biggest double-edged comment came from another opponent, Rep. Tim Rounds, R-Pierre: “There’s an old phrase out there: You get what you pay for.”

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