The holiday season was a little merrier for California lawmakers, thanks to the citizens compensation commission's decision to raise salaries.

• Position: People & Politics - Brief article

THE HOLIDAY SEASON WAS A LITTLE MERRIER FOR CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS, THANKS TO THE CITIZENS COMPENSATION COMMISSION'S DECISION TO RAISE SALARIES by some $5,000 effective Dec. 1, 2013. The commission voted in June to restore lawmakers' pay to 2011 levels and require the state to increase its share of elected officials' health care coverage. It did not, however, restore all the cuts to health care benefits. The commission had previously cut wages for legislators by 18 percent, stopped providing them state-owned vehicles and...