Yes, their jobs have been hard with three legislative sessions this year.Unfortunately, the Louisiana Senate approved a major pay raise and a House committee has also concurred.The issue now goes to the full House.
In what be the sign that the general public finds pay raises for legislators to be repugnant, one legislator has requested the House of Representatives to circulate a clarification on the issue.
Here is the statement circulated by the House on behalf of “REPRESENTATIVE PONTI CONCERNING SB 672, LEGISLATIVE PAY RAISE”
" It was reported by WAFB-TV at noon today that I voted in favor of a legislative pay raise. In reality my vote was to send this legislation to the House floor in order to allow the full house the opportunity to debate and vote on this legislation.
In its current form, I am opposed to this legislation and will vote against it on the House floor."
Ultimately, the Louisiana voters pay for these raises.They are seeing their incomes drop not rise.They are seeing their net wealth drop, not rise.They are making sacrifices as human beings living in a post-Katrina environment not knowing if their houses will flood or be blown away by the next storm.For the most part they are doing with self-help or quite frankly, not being able to make ends meet.
Allowing legislators to raise their own salaries is the height of arrogance.Unfortunately, Governor Jindal has decided not to veto the legislation should a successful bill reach his desk.He does however oppose the pay raises.
It is time for Louisiana to stand up and tell the legislators to quit their legislative jobs if they cannot make it.They forget to mention that they have campaign funds which they use to feather their own beds.Those are perks that the average citizens do not enjoy.There are plenty of fine men and women who will proudly take the positions of those legislators who want to raise their own salaries.No legislator should feel they are above the people and are indispensible.The people are making their own sacrifices.Now it is time for our elected officials to do the same.
Well, I guess 26K is out of the question then now that I now that!!!!! VETO PIYUSH!!! VETO PIYUSH!!!! Hmmmmm,,, wait a minute.... Veto Piyush?!?!?!? Heh-heh,,, while were are at it......... RECALL PIYUSH!!! RECALL PIYUSH!!!! Written by .....Eh,,,, Wut's up Doc?,.................
on 6/16/2008
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Excuse me? 17,000$....no way. Someone needs to get the figures straight. Here are the facts.
Legislature: meets in even-numbered years at Baton Rouge starting last Mon. in Mar., for 60 legislative days of 85 calendar days; meets in odd-numbered years on last Mon. in Apr. for 45 days of 60 calendar days. Members receive $16,800 annually, plus $121 per day expenses while in session and $500 per month as an unvouchered expense allowance.
This figures to be somewhere between 60 and 90 thousand a year for a part time job. I think I could live well enough with this.
And to the legislator who said, " we have to do this in order to attract the best and brightest", I would say, if you think you are a dim bulb, and we only settled for you, please resign. Written by unhappy
on 6/14/2008
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Oh Lord, provide me with enough that I do not have to steal, but not so much that I become fat and lazy............ Written by .........AMEN................................
on 6/14/2008
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Professor,
I thought they all knew what they were paid when they ran. I have not seen anybody resign. And why do people who run for public offrice spend so much money getting elected. I don't believe they think that $16,000 is all there is. Sorry, professor. You seem to be an intelignet and honest man, but I can not agree with you on this one. If the pay has been too low, why do some of these professional politicans stand in office for thirty or 40 years. If they were losing money, they would not stay. Written by Bobby
on 6/13/2008
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Dear Professor, our constitution states that we have a part time legislature Written by Sid
on 6/13/2008
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The reason the bills are so complicated is because they've been maniupulated to confuse the public and create the loopholes that they need to keep screwing us. Like the legislation that created the massive LAFA boondoggle for Bob Odom. If the public read that legislation, it sounded fine. But the crooks and their cronies knew exactly what it would do to us, and they laughed in our faces.
And the reason they have so many constituent requests is because nothing happens in this state unless they first find a way to take credit for it. I have seen state agencies delay delivery of routine services until the political hacks in those agencies can make the citizens believe that a legislator somehow made it happen. If these jerks created agencies and policies that were efficient and effective, there would be no need or purpose in calling them to fix a pothole or get your dim-witted child a state job.
-- Our state legislature has created the disaster we call Louisiana. Many of the current ones have been at for decades, swapping houses to defeat term limits, then getting high paid consulting jobs for state agencies when their gravy train finall runs dry. -- Their kids and wives and brothers and sisters are all at the trough. They live in their own society and consider any taxpayer who's not a paying supporter to be a serf. Lobbyists kiss their asses and hold their noses while they do it. It's because they get paid by their clients to make things happen (or to keep bad things from happening) and asskissing and bribes are the only currency that the legislator deals in. Written by ralphie
on 6/12/2008
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I'm sorry, but I must disagree with you all. These legislators decide the future of our state. They are asked to review, become educated, and vote on over 3000 bills during just the regular session - and hundreds more per special session. There is not enough time in a day to review all of the bills that will come up that day. Therefore, they must spend weekends and evenings doing their jobs. They also spend time prior to a session researching and writing their own bills. This year, before even the midpoint of the year, our legislators will have spent 80 of 135 business days in session (again, not including evenings or time before session). They make $16,900 salary. Yes, there is a per diem - and it gets almost all eaten up with gas and incidental costs. And, all I've talked about so far is what goes on when they are making laws. Well, making laws is less than half of what they are expected to do. First and foremost, they are a liason between the average constituent and state government. When they leave the session, they go back home to a backlog of constituent requests (my road needs fixing, my insurance company sucks, blah blah blah). These are requests that go on all year long. So, even when they are not in session, they spend time doing these things. All for a measly $17k? Do you know how much their assistant (who is usually a full-time position) makes in a year? About $24k. So, we're paying bottom dollar to the people in whom we entrust the future of our state? That makes sense to some of you? Well, not me. They deserve a pay raise. They earn every penny. I watch them in BR on almost a daily basis. I work with them. I see how much time they put in. I see how hard they work. But, most of all, I see how much of their passion they put into the job. Give them a raise. Written by Professor
on 6/12/2008
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Bobby Jindal is a coward and is allowing himself to be blackmailed by the scoundrels in the legislature. COme on voters; let's get all of the scum out of BR and elect some people who care for the people of this state. Written by noladude
on 6/12/2008
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Come on Jindal, Are you going to let that ignorant, bloated Ann Duplessis speak for you and tell us all that will not veto this bill? It's not fair that you have to take the blame for their greed and arrogance. But you got the big job, that means you have to do the hard work. Veto the bill, fight the war with these criminals. Call them out like you said you would!!!!! Written by westbank walter
on 6/11/2008
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Steve, They deserve the guillotine, then the shovel. Written by
on 6/11/2008
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With the price of gas, higher food bills, etc. this bill needs to be vetoed. The everyday workers are barely making ends meet and now with everything being so much higher, how can we keep our homes much less pay for medical, food and gas to get to these low paying jobs. What about sharing the money with those of us who are working for almost nothing and trying to support our family. Jindal should stick to his promise and veto this bill. I am not objecting a pay raise, but give them the same 4% state employees get, when we get it. If we have to live on a 4% raise, why can't they. This is part-time job and they knew what the pay was when they ran for the office, but now they want to make full-time HIGH pay. Give us a break! Make calls to Jindal and say no to these raises. Written by Louisiana Worker
on 6/11/2008
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These wonderful legislators state that in order to attract higher quality candidates they need a raise. They also say that to be a lege you are either retired, wealthy, or a dirty rotten scoundrel...so that must mean there are alot of scoundrels in Baton Rouge. These wonderful elected public servants/"peoples" lobbists just stuck their middle finger out and told us to kiss it. If Mr. Jindal does not veto this bill, he can go get on McCain's ticket or at least be his driver because he ran on the promise of "fixing things" and to not veto this mess sends a message, he lied! This is the epitome of bad Louisiana politics. Sen. Butch Gautreaux and the rest of you bums that voted for this pay raise can go to... I think they do need a raise, but not a 300% raise that has a yearly raise included in it forever. maybe a 5% or even a 10% raise would be acceptable, but after this debacle they can kiss it! Call Jindal's office and demand that he veto this crap and tell the legislature to come up with something reasonable that will go into effect after the next election cycle. We don't get a tax cut for a year or two and these bums get their pay raise immediately, I don't think so! Written by Sid
on 6/11/2008
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Governor of ethics. This pay raise is about the most unthical bill that has come through in years. $4 gas. medical bills out the roof, job lay offs, groceries out of sight, and yet we have a legislature that is thumbing their nose at the citizens of this state who are trying to make a living. Governor, show some courage. And real leadership. Veto the bill. Governor this bill may define your sincerity concerning ethics. Written by Bobby
on 6/11/2008
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Ponti probably had so much fun at the LSU regionals with his legislative tickets that he decided he might want a motor home to travel to Omaha. Doesn't take a new guy very long to get arrogant and greedy, does it? Written by
on 6/11/2008
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Steve, That's clear and to the point. Resignation would be the honorable thing to do if these "noble public servants" can't afford to represent us on the current pay plan. Goodbye and good riddance to all of them. Written by ralphie
on 6/11/2008
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Pay raises for 
