Governor Defends Pay Hike For Rural Lawmakers

Governor John Hickenlooper is defending a pay hike for rural lawmakers.

The raise is 33 dollars daily per diem for those lawmakers who have to travel to get to the capitol.

The governor says it’s the right thing to do since the lawmakers have to often pay extra out of pocket money to travel to legislative sessions.

Lawmakers passed the bill without debate. It authorizes over 189-thousand dollars in per diem increases.

Some say it comes at a bad time though, when lawmakers are considering serious budget cuts.