Christmas came early for lawmakers' legislative aides.

At least those with so-called exceptional qualifications.

The Legislative Council, a bipartisan group of lawmakers, signed off Friday on a proposal that paves the way for their legislative aides to be paid a higher salary if they have more experience, education and skills than their counterparts.

In a separate vote, the council also removed a blanket prohibition on all legislative employees, including legislative aides, from running or holding any elective office.

Under the revision, legislative employees will be prohibited from serving only in federal, state, county or municipal office, allowing them to serve on, for example, school and soil conservation boards or acequia associations, though they would still be required to resign

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