The pay increase appeared to have bipartisan support, though lawmakers never voted directly on it. Supporters of the pay increase say it is likely to make the Legislature more diverse when it's in danger of becoming mostly retirees and wealthy people. Senate President Ty Masterson, a Wichita-area Republican, saw opposition to the pay raise as political grandstanding. Olson said he doubts lawmakers' constituents support such a big pay raise and said they should have the courage to debate it and vote on it. And his boss — the taxpayers — haven't told him a pay raise is OK with them, he said.

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Persons: Sen, Cindy Holscher, ”, Dan Hawkins, “, Rob Olson, Ty Masterson, Nicholas Reinecker, it's, Olson, Ken Corbet, —, — haven't, Becky Bohrer Organizations: Legislative, Wednesday, Alaska, New, National Conference of, Legislatures, Wichita Republican, Kansas City, Republican, ” Legislature, Topeka Republican, Associated Press Locations: TOPEKA, Kan, Kansas, Georgia, Texas, Kansas City, New Jersey, New York, New Mexico, Wichita, Topeka, Juneau , Alaska