In my view, that is one of the wonderful things about Bayoubuzz.Some readers might think we are “sly” and others might consider us “stoned”, and occasionally we do make mistakes, but at least we allow a diversity of viewpoints.
One person who has been a featured columnist for Bayoubuzz for years and who is well respected throughout Louisiana is Jeff Crouere.Yesterday, he wrote a column with which I disagreed.However, since I do not censorship opinions and since I rely upon his facts, I published his writings as his opinions.I must say that he is rarely incorrect on the facts and his writing is very crisp and grammatically, “error-free”.
Yesterday, Crouere wrote a column strongly condemning the pay increases for certain Jindal Administration officials.The thrust of his column was if we deny the legislators a pay raise, we should do so for the Jindal officials.
I understand the inconsistencies and also understand the pain of “everyday people” who are shocked over the salaries that public officials make serving the people.I personally am in favor of increasing the legislative pay raises after the legislators get full consensus of their constituents and after full hearings on this matter.My preference is a cost of living increase for the next few years and then a fair increase for the next batch of legislators.
Now, what should we do about certain the Jindal officials?
Without doubt, it is very difficult for the average person to understand high salaries for public officials when they bring home so little.In part, that is why Jindal vetoed the increase the salaries of Public Service Commissioners.
But, what about the salaries of Steve Moret, Alan Levine and others in Jindal’s administration.
Yesterday, Crouere said, “For example, the Secretary of Economic Development Stephen Moret received a $75,000 raise and will now be making $320,000. His assistant Steve Grissom will be receiving an even larger raise of $94,040 for a total pay package of $237,000. The Secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals Alan Levine will receive a $60,000 raise for an annual salary of over $160,000. The Director of Legislative Affairs will receive a $76,000 raise. The Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Waguespack will receive a $30,000 raise. Despite all of these excessive salaries, they pale in comparison to the jackpot winner Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek who will make $355,000 per year and receive a salary increase of over $50,000 per year.”
There are two salaries which I want to address, that of Moret and Levine.
From everyone that I have talked with in economic development, the salary for Moret is appropriate given the value he is bringing to the table and what he gave up in the private sector.He would actually be receiving close to one half million dollars at his former job with the Baton Rouge Area Chamber if he had continued that position.So, as I have said before, we should try Steve Moret for two years, then re-evaluate his performance.Based upon my own personal discussions with others, Louisiana has some great projects in the works, Moret is well worth the money, but only time will tell.
Also, Jindal will not reduce the Moret salary, nor would I.
Today, I have received the following from Secretary Alan Levine of DHH of which I am publishing the pertinent part: “Yesterday, Jeff Crouere wrote a column about pay raises in the Governor's administration. In it, he claims I received a $60,000 pay increase. This is not true and should be retracted. I am being paid the exact same as my predecessor. I have not asked for a raise, and I have not received one.”
I likewise personally know the many projects that are being devised and implemented by the Department of Health and Hospitals and believe that Louisiana will improve immensely in this area.Louisiana is a very poor state with bad health problems, an aged medical community, and a medical system that is broken.I personally have tremendous confidence in Secretary Levine and have seen strong improvements.Likewise, I believe that Governor Jindal should re-evaluate his salary after two years.
Both Moret and Levine have come from the private sector, are not elected officials, work for the Governor that the state elected and serve under him.They also do not have the power to set their own salaries as do our legislators.
Department heads can make a tremendous difference in helping a state work efficiently and in attracting other cutting-edge minds.Yes, the Louisiana’s economy is horrible in many sectors.Yes, public officials’ making high salaries is very hard to swallow. Yet, for those individuals who can make more in the private sector, who cannot set their own salaries, and who can make major differences in their own individual departments, let’s test drive their respective performances.Two years is fair for job scrutiny.If we do not like Governor Jindal’s decisions and the legislator’s vote for the approvals of those pay raises, the real bosses have a chance make adjustments.That time period are called elections. Ultimately, we have the stroke to make a difference.
Doc, it is called tendering to the Status-quo Written by
on 7/10/2008
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Steve, I respectfully disagree with you on the pay raises for Jindal administration officials. The premise that Stephen Moret's salary should be raised given what he would have received had he remained in the private sector is basically flawed. Public sector jobs at that level cannot and should not try to compete with the private sector. Using that logic, Congress should have substantially increased the salary of Vice President Cheney because it was not comparable to the seven figure pay check he drew as CEO of Halliburton. I do think you are correct that legislators should get a pay raise - I thought the size of the pay raise they sought this time was simply excessive and politically unwise to pursue. But it is hypocritical for Jindal to veto raises for legislators, veto raises for members of the Public Service Commission, only to sign off on outrageous, outlandish, unwarranted, and unnecessary raises for members of his executive staff. Shame on the Governor! Written by Dr. Albert Samuels
on 7/10/2008
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Jindal has apparently surrounded himself with very smart, young, idealistic, and very inexperienced men and women. Jindal has never been in a position of managing a large company or corporation. His advisers seem to be woefully without wisdom and experience. Good managers surround themselves with good experienced people. The salaries for these cabinet appointees is to high, they haven't earned it yet. If we don't see viable improvements by next year does he fire them and get someone else in the position? jindal showed his lack of experience with the pay raise debacle. He made a deal with the devil. Time to man up Jindal and talk to the common man...slowly. And not because we can't understand you, you talk to fast and when it's coming out of both sides of your mouth, it sounds like politics of old. Written by Sid
on 7/10/2008
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I disagree with you, Stephen. The salaries are too much, and the 2 year evaluation is too long. I am a businessman, and I know how to hire, and the salary is too much, too fast. The raise should have been given after it had been earned; say, after millions of dollars of savings/cuts at just the right places. These departmemt heads seem to have a need for an umbrella retirement, where, under any circumstances, cannot loose. I think the pay should be on merit, just as in any other job. Written by Chiefpete
on 7/9/2008
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Concrete you are not as hard as I thought. I agree with your comments. Plainly spokkne. Painly correct. Written by Bobby
on 7/9/2008
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This is Louisiana at it's best.......
Written by Roy
on 7/9/2008
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Let me see now, 1/2 million dollars?...... $500,000.00 per year....... hmmmmmmm, in four years........ uhhhhhhh $2,000,000.00 dollars for this genius or economic guru??? Wasn't Alan Greenspan one of those economy guru wizard types???? Isn't a certain sector of the nations faltering economy being pretty much assigned to him in certain circles right now?????? Hmmmmmmmmmm,,,,,,, economic geniuses…….. I LUV that topic....... I wonder how many linear feet of levee protection or erosion protection $2,000,000.00 would buy? I wonder how much more protection it would buy if a technology were able to reduce the overall prices involved….. Cost - Price - Price - Cost........ Tic, Toc, Tic, Toc,,,,,, Oh heck, I wonder how much it would be worth to the citizens of the State of Louisiana if these gurus and officials were able to figure out a way to save the State several hundreds of millions of dollars????? What would an official like THAT be worth?....... $500,000.00 a year? $300,000.00 a year? How much are these geniuses making and what is Louisiana really getting for its money….. Options out there anyone????? Because after all, anything those gurus are doing or planning or scheming requires more tax dollars above and beyond those they are given in the form of a paycheck, as well as more resources from the taxpayers their selves... Who is really screwing who here????? Where is the logic……? Written by ............STRONGCONCRETE......................
on 7/9/2008
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Civil Service employees are evaluated 6 months after hire date and then yearly. The same rule should apply to those making the exceptionally big bucks. One year is more than enough time to tell if they're sitting on their duffs, milking the public trough. Written by Harvestmoon
on 7/9/2008
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Jindal has LIED, and that is That!!! No one can ever resurrect themselves from the flames of having lied and everyone knew and knows it!!! The people of this state must REMEMBER these lies about first of all, the Legislators' Raises, which he finally vetoed, and secondly, he was definitely against doing away with the Stelly Tax Plan, then he "turned around" and favored it, and even claimed it as one of his accomplishments, but, OH, too Late, Jindal, you are on your way for the third and last strike---just one more LIE, which I'm sure you've already done, but it is just that I have no immediated knowledge of it, but there will be more LIES, citizens and voters of this state---JUST YOU WATCH WHAT I SAY!!! Sidney Touchet...
Written by Sidney Touchet
on 7/9/2008
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Stephen, dear, we must disagree with you to a certain point. Everyone who enters into an employment situation that involves the public interest is well aware that salaries may not be as high as in the private sector. For example, teachers in public institutions know full well that, regardless of the extent of their education and the quality of the schools they attended, and their experience, the salary in the public institution will ordinarily be lower, unless some politico moves them up the ladder quickly. So should the members of the staff, etc. of the governor. In light of the existing economy and the fact that many people are now in the unemployment line or did not receive an increase in salary, the same should be true of the public officials to which you refer. We do not doubt their ability but we must doubt their sincerity in serving the public. We will give them the benefit of the doubt but will watch carefully what happens in the future. Written by RhettsWife
on 7/9/2008
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“Different strokes for different folks.”
