"Fact is we don’t compensate good legislators well enough."

I spat out my breakfast when I read that. The incompetence of our legislature has bankrupted the state. These jokers get elected, mooch off maximum per diem then move on to lucrative consulting, lobbying and oil industry jobs obtained through networking in the legislature. See McGuire, L. et al.
Do you seriously believe they are underpaid at $50k for a 90 day session? Or that if they aren't fairly compensated Alaska will lose their "talents" such as claiming per diem, passing ALEC boilerplate and doing the bidding of the oil companies?