LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska state Senator Jeremy Nordquist introduced a constitutional amendment today that would put Nebraska voters in control of top government officials’ salaries.

“Nebraska voters and taxpayers have full control of state Senators’ salaries, and putting them in control of other constitutional officers’ salaries is a natural step forward,” said Senator Nordquist. “All of us work for the people of Nebraska, and they should have final say in our compensation.”

The proposed amendment, LR278CA, also rolls back the salary increases given to constitutional officers in 2006. LB 817 (2006) significantly raised the salaries of Governor Dave Heineman, Lt. Governor Rick Sheehy, Secretary of State John Gale, and Attorney General Jon Bruning. The bill also gave Treasurer Shane Osborn and Auditor Mike Foley much higher salaries than their predecessors. All told, the raises accepted by these state executives totaled $125,000 yearly. LR278CA would restore the salaries to pre-2007 levels.

The Nebraska Constitution requires that a proposed constitutional amendment garner a three-fifths vote of the Legislature (30 members) to place it on the general election ballot.