Video: Majority of Legislators Accept Automatic Raise

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A narrow majority of Alabama legislators have accepted an automatic pay increase that they were eligible to receive this spring.

Sixty-six of the state’s 104 sitting representatives accepted the raise, while 38 declined it, according to numbers provided by the clerk of the House of Representatives. Twenty-one of the 35 senators also declined the raise, according to Alabama Senate data. The other 14 senators will receive the pay increase.

Legislators get an annual raise in their monthly expense allowance to reflect any increase in the federal consumer price index. They automatically receive the raise unless they sent written notice saying they do not want to receive it.

Lawmakers’ total compensation now equals about $56,868 if they have taken the automatic pay increases.