Most of us complain about our salaries and lack of raises, but New Hampshire legislators might have a legitimate gripe. They have been paid $200 for a two-year term since 1889.

The presiding officers of both houses of the legislature — called the General Court — receive a salary of $250, while all other members get $200 plus mileage for 45 legislative days, according to the state Constitution.

Members really clean up for a special session, during which all legislators receive an additional compensation of $3 per day “for a period not exceeding 15 days and the usual mileage.”

Before the Constitution was modified, Snopes.com reports, legislators were paid a whopping $3 a day.

Back in the day, though, the N.H. legislature only met once every other year and then for about 45 to 60 days. So a legislator could have another full-time job to earn a living. The General Court meets annually now.

As far as a straight salary for legislators, New Hampshire isn’t even the lowest-paying state. New Mexico legislators receive no salary at all, but they do get about a $153-a-day per diem, according to the Empire Center for Public Policy, which compiles a list of all state legislative salaries.

Each member of the Florida House and Senate makes $29,697 a year plus a daily per diem, while Georgia General Assembly members make about $17,000 annually plus a daily per diem.

Not surprisingly, California legislators make the most money, according to the Empire Center list — $95,000 a year plus a daily per diem.

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