Friday, June 13, 2008
The lege pay raise: the bloggers chime in
Posted by Kevin Allman @NOLAKevin on Fri, Jun 13, 2008 at 5:08 PM
The House has broken for lunch without discussing the pay raise issue. It's on the schedule for sometime after 1 p.m. Meanwhile, a sample of what Louisiana bloggers are saying:
C.B. Forgotston, in an open letter to Gov. Bobby Jindal:
[T]he people of the state are more upset about this pay raise than anything I’ve ever witnessed in my lifetime of living in Louisiana. Frankly, if you don’t side with us on this issue, all the other reforms that you are pushing (and have passed) will be meaningless.
This is the same legislature who is cutting 240 million from health care and education in Louisiana? That includes ensuring stagnant salaries and hiring freezes and other cutbacks that compel state employees to do more than one person's work in exchange for one person's salary!FYI, Louisiana Legislature: You want your pay to meet national standards? As a state employee, I have yet to reach the same income that I received in Florida, that mecca of high pay, ten years ago for doing the same job. When you can manage to fix that problem, rather than deliberately making it worse, I'll get behind you on a pay raise.
I say drop the percentage to 20% of Congressional pay, which would still be a raise for Louisiana legislators, who have not seen a raise in pay since 1993. That would bring their base pay to $33,860, and with the expense account and per diem, which regularly adds an additional $18,000 to $21,000 to their base pay, legislators will still be sitting pretty.Oh, and one more thing ... these pay raises should not go into effect until after the next round of elections, which would be 2012. That's only fair, as legislators wouldn't know if they were voting to raise their own pay or not. The voters can make that determination.
I guess I’m in a very small minority with this opinion, but I actually support our Louisiana state legislature’s efforts to give themselves a huge salary increase. It’s not because I think they deserve a reward them for a job well done. It’s not because I like big government or higher taxes. It’s because when I looked into the prospect of running for the legislature myself (yes, I know, ha ha ha) I have to admit the salary was a nonstarter. I understand public service entails some sacrifices, but the pay really is paltry — a joke. What is it, like $23K? Oh, it’s supposed to be a part-time job, but that’s a joke too.I certainly understand the kneejerk reaction against the pay raise. But I find myself, surprisingly, in the camp that says we get what we pay for, and maybe if the job paid a decent wage we’d getter a better quality of applicant.
And Red Stick Republican is channeling The Weather Girls:
Hi! Hi! We’re your legislators! Ah-huh!And have we got news for YOU! You better listen!
Get ready all your poor voters
and leave your ethics at home! Alright!
Gas prices are rising! Disposable income’s low!
According to all sources - politics is the way to go!
Cause on Friday for the first time
Just about in a flash
For the first time in history
It’s gonna start raising cash!
It’s raining cash, Hallelujah! It’s raining cash, Amen!
At the expense of taxpayers I’m gonna go out and let myself get
Absolutely soaking wet!
It’s raining Cash, Hallelujah! It’s raining Cash, Amen!
More when the House gets back from lunch...
Recent Comments
-
Re: Sunday: Divine Ladies Second Line
The point? Wasteful as well as very bad use of tax payer money for truly…
- on May 19, 2013
-
Re: Sunday: Divine Ladies Second Line
So, what's your point?
-
on May 19, 2013
-
Re: Essence Festival 2013 daily schedule announced
Yesssssssss
-
on May 18, 2013
-
Re: Benefit for Mother's Day shooting victims May 23 at Tip’s
HumidCity will do everything it can to assist. If there is something we can do…
- on May 17, 2013
-
Re: Sunday: Divine Ladies Second Line
Wow, great!
Throw another party in the city with the highest poverty rate in…- on May 17, 2013
-
Re: Big Tymers will release a new album... without Mannie Fresh
Can you say it's The Beatles without John?
Or can it be Miami Vice…- on May 16, 2013
- More »
