Should Lawmakers Work More than 40 Days?

Georgia’s lawmakers are officially done for the year.

Thursday was the General Assembly’s 40th day—the last day of the 2013 session. So unless a special session is called, legislators won’t reconvene until January.

For their three months of work, lawmakers will each take home an annual salary of about $24,262—that includes a base salary of $17,342 plus a $173 per diem for each day of the session (Sources: National Conference of State Legislatures; Website of State Rep. Sharon Cooper, R-Marietta).

Though this year’s session is now over, most voters are bound to see their state lawmakers before next year’s session begins, as legislators typically spend part of the year’s remaining nine months in their districts and may hold town hall meetings or other events.

Would you want to see state lawmakers convene for more than 40 days each year? Do you think legislators’ salaries are fair?

Share what’s on your mind with us, and then return here to see what your neighbors in Cobb, Douglas and Paulding counties have said.