Louisiana: Let The Revolution Begin Over Legislative Pay Raise

Finally, the sleeping giant has awakened. The people of Louisiana have been roused from their decades old slumber. The issue of a legislative pay raise has struck a chord like no other issue in years.

As noted by political watchdog C.B. Forgotston, “The people of the state are more upset about this pay raise than anything I’ve ever witnessed in my lifetime of living in Louisiana.” People in Louisiana are suffering from a poor economy, rising gas prices and a host of other financial worries. While Road Home settlements are still not completed, recovery projects have still not started and the coast remains untouched, it is more than premature for legislators to demand such a raise. In short, the job is not done; in fact it has not even started.

Many legislators are complaining about the costs of traveling to Baton Rouge and the impact of this time consuming job on their other income producing activities. Yet, legislators need to understand that their constituents are also working hard and dealing with high gas prices. It is incredibly galling that legislators are putting their own pocketbook issues before the public's financial problems.

At the present time, Louisiana is ranked at the bottom of most important lists. Just look at the condition of our schools, roads and health care facilities. However, legislators are currently not paid at the bottom when compared to other states. In fact, at the current level, Louisiana legislators are paid fairly well in comparison to other states, ranking 26^th among state legislatures. Based on the ranking of Louisiana in most of these critical issues, legislators should be thankful for their current level of pay, not asking for more.

It is also scary that these same legislators are able to stand down a Governor with a rock star image who is on John McCain's short list for vice president. Jindal seems to be allowing the pay raises to go forward so that his agenda will not be hijacked. This is political blackmail in the worst kind of way. Our Governor needs to show leadership. He has one of the strongest chief executive positions in the country. In a showdown with the legislature, the Governor has a much bigger arsenal of political weaponry. If Jindal does not veto this bill, McCain should drop the Louisiana Governor from his “short list.”

As noted by Forgotston in an open letter to Jindal, “If you don’t side with us on this issue, all of the reforms that you are pushing (and have passed) will be meaningless.” As usual, Forgotston is quite right. All of the legislative accomplishments from tax cuts to ethics reforms will be lost on the public if this pay raise becomes law. People will remember one thing from this session and it will be the pay raise. Good legislators will lose their jobs in the next election as this issue has angered too many people and the voters will not forget this outrage.

One very beneficial impact of this debate is that, finally, voters are paying attention and inundating the Governor's office, legislative offices and media outlets with their denunciations of this monstrosity. It is the type of passion that I have been waiting to see all of my political life. It took the pay raise issue to raise the ire of the public, but at least it woke up the drowsy voters. Hopefully, this debate will mark a new episode in Louisiana politics, one in which voters take a more active role and demand that legislators do the bidding of their constituents and not themselves.

Legislators need to understand that they are public servants and voters are the boss. We are the ones that employ these politicians and those who vote for this pay raise can very well be fired at the next election. To all of the competent and skilled legislators who are considering a vote in favor of this bill, think again. It is the equivalent of a political death sentence.

For Governor Jindal, it is time to show courage, leadership and get back engaged in what is happening here in Louisiana. It is time to stop the grand political and media tour around the country and stop campaigning for the vice presidential nomination and start paying attention to job #1.

People are now watching and demanding that our public servants follow the will of the ones in charge, not the politicians, but the people of Louisiana. Finally the roles are reversed and let's hope it stays this way.

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