By The Numbers — Legislator Self-Dealing
Paying Legislators More Doesn't Clean Up Statehouses — 76% Already Earn Elsewhere
Treat insider trading in Congress as old news; the real, larger, unexamined version is happening in state capitols where disclosure rules are weaker and press coverage is thinner.
Higher legislative salaries produce no measurable drop in corruption convictions. Outside jobs, rental income and industry contributions before key votes shape state law instead — and two states require lawmakers to vote even when they hold a financial stake. The problem isn't compensation, it's visibility.
ENTRIES010
SOURCES010
POLLS004
State Legislator Pay
001
Number of States with annual compensation for state legislators at $25,000 or less
Source: Ballotpedia
22
002
Annual pay for a New Hampshire state legislator, unchanged since 1889
$100
003
Size of the two-year state budget those legislators approved
15.9billion dollars
004
Effect of raising legislator pay on later corruption convictions, in a study of state legislatures
0
Second Jobs, First Votes
005
Percentage of state lawmakers nationwide reporting outside jobs or income
76%
006
Minimum number of Pennsylvania legislators who collect rental income while voting on housing law
Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer
40
Money Before The Vote
007
Insurance industry campaign contributions to the 13 California senators on insurance committee before a vote on homeowner rate increases
Source: Consumer Watchdog
1.1million dollars
008
Lobbyist spending on food and drink for Maryland state lawmakers in one reporting year
Source: Capital News Service Maryland
2.3million dollars
009
Percentage of Americans who could not name their state representative in 2018
81%
010
Number of states requiring lawmakers to vote even when they have a financial conflict
Source: Center for Public Integrity
2
Readers & Markets
What happens next, in numbers.
4 polls measuring where opinion sits. Prices and vote shares update in real time.
Reader Polls
04 surveys
State Legislators' Interests: General Public Vs. Own Financial Interests
Source: Emerson College Polling
Own Financial Interests
71%
General Public
29%
Strip Pension Payments From New York State Legislators Convicted of Crimes Related to Their Public Service
Source: Siena College
Support
84%
Oppose
14%
Should Lawmakers Be Banned From Trading Stocks?
Source: Trafalgar Group
Support
76%
Oppose
5%
Make State Legislature Full Time and Ban Outside Income
Source: Siena College
Support
60%
Oppose
34%
Originating headlines: NBER; Data for Progress.