This election, voters should approve Constitutional Amendment 4 to make legislators eligible to receive compensation at the level of New Mexico’s median household income.

Our Legislature is a coequal branch of state government, yet legislators receive no salary. By 2029, the first year this amendment will take effect, the job responsibilities — already daunting — will be far more complicated.

While per diem covers certain expenses associated with lawmakers’ duties when in session and when they serve in interim committees outside of sessions, it does not compensate them for the many hours they spend on important legislation throughout the year. By 2029, many of our current legislators will have retired. A median salary will allow us to attract talented and committed individuals who don’t otherwise have the means to spend the majority of their time focused on governing.

By 2029, our state will be dealing with the fallout from massive federal funding cuts, affordability issues, growing infrastructure needs, healthcare provider shortages and increasing medical costs for our aging population, environmental issues, impending social security insolvency and other known and emerging problems. As these issues become more complex, much, if not most, of this work will have to take place outside of the bounds of 30- or 60-day sessions; they will require the attention of legislators throughout the year. And how can we broaden participation in our Legislature to include those who can’t afford to volunteer?

Legislative work includes preparing for hearings and study sessions, meeting with and responding to constituents, reviewing budgets, considering capital-outlay needs, consulting with experts and working with colleagues and government officials here and elsewhere.

Compensation would also change the way legislators spend their time. Campaign fundraising consumes time that could otherwise be devoted to constituent service, policy research and legislative preparation. Fundraising opens legislative aspirants to the subtle and not-so-subtle pressures from special interests and corporate donors to do their bidding. A salary would not eliminate the role of money in politics and would not automatically guarantee legislators would spend their time differently, but it removes an important barrier to year-round legislative service.

It is unfair, impracticable and unfeasible for most legislators to work throughout the year without compensation. A median salary would provide qualified individuals with fresh perspectives but fewer economic resources with the financial means to devote the time necessary to address New Mexico’s most intractable problems. Our lawmakers need to ensure New Mexicans can access affordable healthcare, groceries, utilities, housing and other basic needs in a difficult labor market with stagnant wages and soaring inflation.

It’s time to stop thinking like a poor state. According to the State Investment Council, we have over $70 billion in sovereign wealth and trust funds. These funds need to be put to work. As things stand, it is impossible for us to expect the kind of time, energy and focus using them appropriately and effectively will require. It’s time to invest in a professional Legislature and elect committed individuals of the highest caliber to address our formidable challenges.

Compensation will provide lawmakers an incentive to spend the necessary time to drill down into these complex issues. Further, it will give citizens the moral authority to demand longer legislative sessions and to hold lawmakers to account for increasing the length, effectiveness and productivity of these sessions. A professional Legislature must work collaboratively and make pragmatic, level-headed decisions on policy and funding priorities.

Meredith Machen, a retired professor and college administrator, has been an active nonpartisan advocate promoting good government and sound policies at the Legislature for two decades. She wrote this on behalf of AAUW-NM