Yesterday, a Senate committee approved an obnoxious pay increase for Louisiana legislators. The plan would triple legislative pay from $16,800 to $50,000 per year and double their expense account, making our legislators the ninth highest paid in the country. Do we have the ninth best economy or the ninth best roads or the ninth best schools? Of course not, Louisiana is at the bottom of most lists, so our politicians should be paid at a commensurate level, at least until the living situation improves in this state
Senate Bill 672, authored by State Senator Ann Duplessis (D-New Orleans), is another example of legislators putting themselves before the constituents they serve. Politicians should not be focused on their pay until all the other problems are solved. Have all of the problems in the Senator’s district been handled? Not quite, so the pay raise issue should be shelved at least for now. If a pay raise is approved, it should be more reasonable than a 300% increase.
The bill now moves forward to the full Senate for discussion, so the outraged voters of Louisiana need to let their elected officials know how they stand on this issue.
The current legislative package totals about $35,000 per year including salary, as well as per diem and expense payments. This package is competitive with other states and is reasonable for part time work. Obviously legislators knew the pay scale when they ran for this position, so this is no surprise.
It is insulting that some legislators are rushing forward with a pay raise while an income tax cut for struggling citizens is being stalled in the house. With a massive surplus, state legislators should insist that the taxpayers, not politicians, be the first group allowed to participate in this financial bonanza. The “extra” money should not be used for more government, more pay for politicians, or more government employees. It should be used to give our struggling taxpayers a financial benefit and allow that money to stimulate the economy and be used by the people in the private sector, a much more efficient alternative to the usual government solution.
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.
God help us. What representation. She knew what the salary was when she ran. they should never have a raise if they ran knowing what the salary was. They can quit any time they want to. Her district should start a recall immediately. If we citizens sit around and let this happen, we may desrve it. Written by bobby
on 5/14/2008
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Quick, pass some Preperation - H,,,,,,,, I'm getting that burning pain again!!!!!!!! Written by ........GASP!!!!!!!!!
on 5/14/2008
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Our legislators love to slip in fiendish amendments to manipulate the process. How about an amendment to this bill which holds each legislator responsible for up to $100,000 for reimbursement of expenses to organizers of a successful recall election? And the reimbursement could not come from campaign treasuries. And no campaign funds could be used to oppose the recall elections. Written by ralphie
on 5/14/2008
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A RAISE. Damn the thing we need is the rising of the people of this state to thrown the bums, who vote themselves a raise, out of all political office. Help the people with the money and not yourselves. Written by RhettsWife
on 5/13/2008
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I saw Senator Ann Duplessis try to justify this by saying “We need to make a decent living wage” on the news. Then of course there was the D.O.T. gal that used a state credit card to go on a pre Christmas shopping spree that was arrested the other day…. It just goes to show where quite a few of our elected officials and our state workers have their priorities…. But the sad thing about this is that those two examples are only monkeys at the bottom of the totem pole (nothing racial intended, but monkey see, monkey do). The monkeys that hide out of sight, and manipulate are even more insatiable with their appetites. They rob or deny taxpayers while squandering the contributions made to the state…. This is a mess. Written by Robin
on 5/13/2008
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"Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress....
But then I repeat myself".
-Mark Twain
"What this country needs are more unemployed politicians".
-Edward Langley, Artist (1928 - 1995)
“One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.” —Plato
Don't let them raise their pay, they do not deserve a raise any more than Jindal has accomplished enough to be Vice President...oh I forgot about Al Gore, guess Bobby is qualified. Written by Sid
on 5/13/2008
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It often comes down to how something is defined. Instead of calling it a "surplus" call it "excess taxes" and give it back to the taxpayers. Do not give the "excess taxes" to those who do not pay taxes or to the politicians. Give this back to those who had an excess amount dollars removed from their paychecks so they can better provide for those for whom they labor. Written by kpf
on 5/13/2008
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Yesterday, a Senate committee approved an obnoxious pay increase for 
