Texas legislators want us to believe they are acting out of goodness in their heart by considering a nice raise for state district court judges.

Oh, but wait. There’s a kicker. If the Legislature approves the raise, there’s something in it for legislators. Their retirement pension gets a boost. Good-heartedness has its limits, yes?

http://www.texastribune.org/2013/05/10/pay-raise-little-something-extra/

At issue is a $26,000-plus annual raise for the judges. For every $1,000 added to the increase, the state legislators’ retirement pension fund kicks in $23 additional annually for every of service in the Legislature.

It’s a nice way to pad your retirement account without ever having to vote openly and overtly for it. They’re doing it for those hard-working judges all across Texas, you see.

We amend the Texas Constitution for almost everything under the sun. Not so with the U.S. Constitution, which has been amended all of 27 times. The most recent amendment comes to mind here. It’s the one that says no congressional or executive branch pay increase can take effect until after the next congressional or presidential election. I’m unaware of any such provision in the Texas Constitution that stipulates that kind of provision.

Maybe it’s time to consider something like it, even if it applies to legislators’ retirement funds. Either that or make these fine legislators vote on their own retirement income in the open. Up or down. Stand tall, legislators!