The Finances of State Lawmakers

State lawmakers say it’s a financial hardship to serve in the state legislature, especially for rural lawmakers. This comes as lawmakers are defending an increase in their daily cost of living expenses, at a time when many have opposed similar pay-increases for state employees amid the economic downturn.But as KUNC's Bente Birkeland reports, it’s not easy to track how much money lawmakers actually earn in and outside the capitol.