Kansas state legislators are due for a tangible pay raise, and they should not fear bringing it to a vote.

Legislators have been careful to distance themselves from the issue because they typically get heat from taxpayers over it.

But having gone so long without a serious review of legislative pay, they now are in a position to be able to make a strong case for an increase.

A legislative committee discussing the issue last week learned that Kansas’ lawmakers ranked 43rd in the country in 2005.

Comparisons with other states come with the caveat that some states have full-time legislatures; the Kansas Legislature basically has a three-month session. …

Legislators earn $86.50 a day. That is the equivalent of $22,490 a year if it were a full-time job. That isn’t much.

They get reimbursed handsomely for expenses, but it does cost money to move to Topeka for the session.

Taxpayers ought to be understanding about how far out of line Kansas has gotten, and they ought to value the importance of sending quality representatives to Topeka, which means paying a decent salary. …

Much as members of Congress are criticized for establishing built-in pay raises and for having removed themselves from having to vote on their pay, members of the Kansas Legislature should avoid this approach.

They would be better to deal with this openly. The political recoil could be worse if they tried to hide behind an appointed panel.

Besides, it is not necessary.

It is time to raise legislative pay.

Legislators don’t need to be made rich by serving, but we do need to pay them enough so that pay becomes less of a disincentive for people who need to take leave from a well-paid private sector job in order to serve.

We can’t complain too much about the quality of our legislators as long as we pay them so little.