On Wall Street, it is appropriate for characters like Gordon Gekko to pursue a greedy thirst for more money. In the private sector, greed can be a very good thing because that is what builds financial empires. However, for a Louisiana legislator, greed is not only wrong; it is obscene, especially when legislators are lusting over taxpayer dollars to pad their own wallets.
Yesterday, the Louisiana State Senate approved a pay plan that will triple legislative salaries and give legislators about $70,000 per year, about double the income of the average Louisiana family. This plan was approved without any debate or discussion. Today, it passed the House and Governmental Affairs Committee by a vote of 13-4. Now, it moves to the house floor, Sadly, Governor Bobby Jindal has told legislators that he will not veto this disgusting pay grab proposal.
If this plan is approved, Louisiana legislators will be the ninth highest paid group in the nation. Is it justified for our legislators to be paid so well when conditions in this state are so poor? Ideally, we should tag legislative pay to economic performance in Louisiana. As conditions improve, legislators should be paid more. After just four months on the job, it is hard to gauge what legislators have done, so a pay raise is premature to say the least.
Even worse, this pay grab will go into effect July 1, a year before tax relief is implemented and well before all of the Road Home grants are settled. So, legislators are putting themselves before their constituents. Legislators, please remember that your job is about serving the public, not your wallets.
A letter is circulating in the legislature written by anonymous legislators complaining that financial conditions are very difficult, but, legislators knew exactly what they were getting into before running for this office. I am sorry for legislators who have to work hard and are in Baton Rouge all of the time. However, they were well aware of the job duties and the salary. No one ran for office last fall on a platform of tripling of salaries. Why? It’s simple; no one would have been elected with such a platform. In fact, voters are not in favor of any salary increases. If this measure were placed a statewide ballot, it would get less than 15% support.
Now, the measure moves to the State House. I implore everyone to contact their legislator and let them hear from you on this issue. You can reach the State House of Representatives at #225-342-6945.
I applaud the 16 courageous members of the Louisiana State Senate who voted against this measure yesterday and the members of the Louisiana Republican State Central Committee who took a stand against this obscene pay grab at their meeting on Saturday.
At this point, we need courageous leaders in the State House who will oppose this outrageous salary increase. It is downright disappointing that some Senate Republicans supported this measure and Governor Bobby Jindal will not veto this measure.
Last fall, Jindal and legislative Republicans were elected to pursue conservative reform in Baton Rouge. Supporting this pay increase is not conservative by any measure. It is more big government, typical good old boy Louisiana politics. I thought it was a new day in Louisiana politics? What happened?
Jeff Crouere is a native of New Orleans, LA and he is the host of a Louisiana based program, “Ringside Politics,” which airs at 7:30 p.m. Fri. and 10:00 p.m. Sun. on WLAE-TV 32, a PBS station, and 7 till 11 a.m. weekdays on WGSO 990 AM in New Orleans and the Northshore. For more information, visit his web site at www.ringsidepolitics.com. E-mail him at jeff@ringsidepolitics.com
Run,- - -run,- - - run,------- run.... Run,- - -run,- - - run,------- run.... Run,- - -run,- - - run,------- run.... Run,- - -run,- - - run,------- run....
You better make your face up in your favourite disguise........ With your button down lips and your roller blind eyes....... With your empty smile and your hungry heart....... Feel the bile rising from your guilty past-- With your nerves in tatters when the cockleshell shatters -- - And the hammers batter down the door - - - - - You better runnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn........... (end0) (beginning) When you're one of the few to land on your feet -- -- What do you do to make ends meet? - - - - - Teach - - - - - Make them mad,..... make them sad,.... make them add two and two........ Make them me,- - - make them you, - - - make them do what you want them to........ Make them laugh,- - - make them cry, -- - - make them lie down and die.................... end0) (beginning) Jesus, Jesus what's it all about????????? - - - - - Trying to clout these little ingrates into shape??????///// ---- When I was their age all the lights went out -- -------
there was no time to whine and mope about..........................
Written by ..........On the turning away................
on 6/14/2008
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Oh you silly rabbits!!!!!!!!!! Run - run - run - run ............... Written by And it's a lineshot up the middle!!!!!......
on 6/14/2008
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If you WORK for the State, "full-time", it may take 30 years to double or triple your base salary (and our Legislators want to do that in 6 months - they were supposed to know the job duties and pay, before they ran for it). IT IS CALLED PUBLIC SERVICE - if they want to serve themselves, quit, and stop dragging Louisiana down, to the nation (yea, we need Katrina help, when we have high-paid, fat cat Legislators - they are paid so much more than our Texas neighbors, because Louisiana is so much better)! Oh, they also need this raise as a reward for the pathetic job they do (sending millions of Federal matching funds back to the Fed's, because they are too stupid to budget for the State matching funds). Written by Mike
on 6/13/2008
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If you WORK for the State, "full-time", it may take 30 years to double or triple your base salary (and our Legislators want to do that in 6 months - they were supposed to know the job duties and pay, before they ran for it). IT IS CALLED PUBLIC SERVICE - if they want to serve themselves, quit, and stop dragging Louisiana down, to the nation (yea, we need Katrina help, when we have high-paid, fat cat Legislators - they are paid so much more than our Texas neighbors, because Louisiana is so much better)! Oh, they also need this raise as a reward for the pathetic job they do (sending millions of Federal matching funds back to the Fed's, because they are too stupid to budget for the State matching funds). Written by Mike
on 6/13/2008
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I am outraged. There are many people of this state struggling to make ends meet and the Legislature sees fit to give themselves a BIG FAT PAY RAISE??? That's bull that they are on call 24/7, FOR WHAT? I am a retired Police Officer not making $25K a year. I don't get a BIG FAT PERDIUM or MILEAGE either. How about cutting their perdium and mileage, with that kind of money why can't they pay it out of pocket? They wanted to serve, SERVE THE CITIZENS OF THIS STATE. They should quit MILKING IT FOR PERSONAL GAIN. Perhaps if they wanted a 2% or 4% cost of living it would have been difficult for the rest of us to see it as greedy. But that's what it is, GREED. Shame on Bobby Jindal for not vetoing this either. I will vote against all who vote for this rase and urge all my friends to do the same.
Archie Keyser Written by Archie Keyser
on 6/13/2008
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Jeff, Excessive greed is rarely appropriate even in the private sector. It often spills over to the public sector, example: costly defense contracts in Iraq; enron and others. Demand for services and products creates holsom financial empires...Greed in an area of the economy can cripple segments of markets that would otherwise continue to invest in the economy...witness the housing market today...that was caused by greed. Otherwise your article is okay.
OA Written by OA
on 6/12/2008
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It was the Louisiana GOP that brought the politics of greed to Baton Rouge. Jindal and his legislative allies could have killed this pay raise at any time they chose. Written by David Quidd
on 6/12/2008
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"pretty sweet" indeed. In '90 congress convinced George Bush to go back on his "no new taxes" pledge to - among other things - end deficit spending (waht a <expletive deleted> joke that!!!!). Not only did they increase their pay from $70K to $120K they also have automatic 3% annual pay raises - unless inflation is higher. Gee, I wonder if our state legislators - seeing the need to tie their pay to inflation - also see a need to tie the homestead exemption to inflation? Um... probably not. Written by kpf
on 6/12/2008
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We all deserve a raise, or at least we think so! It is tough to justify a windfall raise as proposed. The second part of this raise is tied to the Congressional pay and will annually increase their pay without a vote. Pretty sweet. Maybe our Governor should propose a compromise increase and save face for all. Written by Chuck N
on 6/12/2008
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Oh you silly rabbits!!!!!!!!!! Run - run - run - run ............... Written by ...And it's a lineshot up the middle!!!!!......
on 6/12/2008
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i just heard a representative on the radio state that he was not voting for the pay raise however they do need one. He also said he didn't know the pay when he ran for office. I don't know about you but I don't feel very confident with someone representing me that didn't know what his pay was going to be...he thought he would be making around $30,000. You think things are changing, forget about it! It's going to take one or two more election cycles to get this crap out of office. And I am now sorry i voted for jindal! Written by Sid
on 6/12/2008
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Being a citizen who believes our elected legislators do far more harm than good... I am always grateful when a "shutdown" occurs. After all, I really do not expect a long-term solution for our pi$$ poor government (too many dependant citizens desire this type of governance) but at least they adjourn and have "shutdowns" occasionally - for that we can be grateful. Written by kpf
on 6/12/2008
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I have not seen any legislatures running out the door and resigning becasue they can't make it financially. I think everyojne who ran for office knew the pay scale. I am sick and tired of this flimsy excuse. Maybe we did not change our legislature enough. Where are you Governor? Show some leadership. some dcourage. Veto. I don't believe I have had any legislation discourage me like this bill. Written by Bobby
on 6/11/2008
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I gave you your benchmark with which to measure the totem pole by long ago..... You experienced the rants and raves of 'state workers' and folks associated with entities that line up to the hog trough to sup on your tax dollars when they literally screamed out like scalded dogs on this buzz board at the smallest mention of the term "Strongconcrete"....... I laid out their fashion and manner of thinking and action almost on a line by line basis........ And true to my forcasts, they have proceeded on with their plans....... Why the anger and the dissatifaction then??????? I offered, you refused....... How many out there stood up for Strongconcrete while it attempted to stand up against the wrong???? And now you show your angst at the keyboards and still, yes still, no one is advocating an ideal that is right.............. It is certainly a sad year in Mudville, so please take solice in your new reality...... It only continues to get worse after this...................... Much to my and your sadness......... Written by .................STRONGCONCRETE..................
on 6/11/2008
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I expect this kind of self-serving greed from legislators. So much for good government, fiscally conservative republicans. Hypocrisy anyone? The governor is hiding under his desk on this issue---symbolically the most salient and important issue of the entire legislative session. He would rather assuage and mollify the "good ole' boys(and gals)" rather than do that which is consistent and principled. Stop talkling the talk governor, and start walking the walk. Kind of sounds like what Edwards and Blanco would do rather than sounding like what "Mr. Ethics" would do. Disgusting and shameful!!! Written by Randall
on 6/11/2008
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Now is the time for the voters to make their voices heard. Jindal has said that he is against this legislation. How dare the Legislature threaten a shutdown over a veto. Jindal needs to hear from the voters that REpublican or Democrat, you don't think that these part time lawmakers deserve this kind of increase. Veto the Bill. Written by Sharon
on 6/11/2008
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By vetoing this bill, Gov. PBJ has a chance to back up all that slashing waste in Gvt. spending campaign rhetoric he espoused.
By the way ..... wasnt he advocating some obscene monetary figure for the economic development secretary? Written by Willie Stark
on 6/11/2008
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What a sleazy bunch. They waste time debating drink names and other rubbish, then use that as an excuse that they are overworked and so vote themselves a huge pay increase. Let's all remember who voted for this travesty at reelection time and get the rascals out of office. Mr Jinday, here is your chance to use your veto powers and shine, but I suspect you are too cowardly to do so and will find all kind of excuses to keep out of this fiasco. Written by noladude
on 6/11/2008
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And despite the hollow pronouncement from the State Republican party, eight of the thirteen votes in the House Committee to move this travesy forward came from so-called republicans. Here are the names of all the jerks, pay special attention to the "republicans" ------
FOR: Reps. Patrick Connick, R-Harvey; Greg Cromer, R-Slidell; Noble Ellington, D-Winnsboro; Brett Geymann, R-Lake Charles; Cameron Henry, R-Jefferson; Girod Jackson III, D-Marrero; Rosalind Jones, D-Monroe; Tony Ligi, R-Metairie; Charmaine Marchand, D-New Orleans; Erich Ponti, R-Baton Rouge; Steve Pugh, R-Pontchatoula; M.J. Mert Smiley, R-St. Amant; and Gallot.
AGAINST: Reps. Taylor Barras, D-New Iberia; Mike Danahay, D-Sulphur; Dee Richard, I-Thibodaux; and Jane Smith, R-Bossier City.
ABSENT: House Speaker Pro Tem Karen Carter Peterson, D-New Orleans; and Rep. Wayne Waddell, R-Shreveport.
ONLY ONE Republican on this commitee voted against this atrocity. Hooray for Jane Smith of Bossier City.
Written by ralphie
on 6/11/2008
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Jeff, we need to point out that six republican senators voted for this obscene bill. Erdey, Martiny, Adley, Michot, Crowe, and Kostelka. It should be very easy to replace these senators at election time. I'll be happy to contribute to any conservative opponent willing to take on these scumbags. Get your campaigns started now, while the stink is still in the air.
I doubt that the democratic senators who voted for this will be in much danger, but we can always hope. Written by ralphie
on 6/11/2008
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On Wall Street, it is appropriate for characters like Gordon Gekko to pursue a greedy thirst for more money. In the private sector, greed can be a very good thing because that is what builds financial empires. However, for a 
