Republican and Democrat Pair up to Sue for $14K Raise

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) _ Two Minnesota lawmakers are suing the state House and
Speaker Kurt Daudt over the decision not to pay legislators a $14,000 raise.

Minnesota voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2016 that handed the
power over lawmaker pay to an independent council. That body raised pay from
$31,000 to $45,000 annually

State senators started receiving the higher pay earlier this month, but Daudt
said he wouldn't pay to cover those higher salaries for 134 House members and
blocked them.

A Republican and Democratic representative joined to challenge that decision Thursday. Republican Rep. Marion O'Neill says it's difficult to make ends meet on their
current salary.

A Minnesota judge dismissed a previous lawsuit surrounding the pay issue,
saying a lawmaker would need to sue.