Jindal v. Legislature on Massive Lawmaker Pay Raise
By Vladimir Posted in Bobby Jindal | LA | State Politics — Comments (48) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Promoted by Erick. This is terrible news from Louisiana.
There will be no showdown in Baton Rouge over the legislature's vote to increase legislative compensation from $16,800 to $50,790, and to index state lawmakers' wages to that bastion of legislative and fiscal restraint, the U.S. Congress.
Gov. Bobby Jindal said Wednesday he would let a bill that would triple legislators’ pay become law rather than use his veto pen.
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“I don’t want to give anybody any excuse for slowing down any of the important reform going through the legislature (that are) important to the people of Louisiana,” Jindal said. [more...]
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The legislation would tie state legislators’ pay to a percentage of that of U.S. congressmen, which is $169,300 today. It would give lawmakers a boost now and guarantee them an increase every time congressmen hike their pay.
The base pay of a legislator would increase from $16,800 to $50,790 — 30 percent of congressional pay. The Senate president and House speaker’s base pay would hit $76,185 under the plan — 45 percent of congressional pay.
The head of the Legislature’s four money committees would get 35 percent of congressional pay as well as the president pro-tem in the Senate and speaker pro-tem in the House. That would mean a base pay of $59,255 for them.
Legislators would also continue to get $6,000 in annual unvouchered expense allowance, which is considered income by the federal Internal Revenue Service, as well as per diem payments that sit at $143 for each day they are in legislative session, attending non-session committee meetings or other transacting other legislative business.
The combination translates into a $70,000 a year pay package for rank-and-file lawmakers. The average, full-time state employee’s pay in Louisiana is $36,104 annually. The average Louisiana worker’s pay is $37,946, based on the 2006 census data.
I would say it's not good news, to the people of Louisiana.
However if Jindal wants to keep the Legislature Louisiana on his side, he has got to throw them a bone or two.
Besides, they have been very good at cutting taxes left & right and generally have been working for the state of Louisiana. Let the people of Louisiana choose if they like the pay raise.
they are who will be paying these new improved salaries....and I suspect Jindal just lost some support on this move....one thing that is always a political winner is denying pay raises to politico's ask the fine people of NJ.
Freedom of Religion NOT Freedom from Religion
Look what happened when they voted themselves a pay raise that "wasn't a pay raise" in 2006...
"Always be honest with yourself. Even if you are honest with no one else."
--me
kickbacks and slop trough corruption like they used to be able to, I can see how Jindal is allowing the pay raise to go through. It's ridiculous, but it is a lesser evil. I still remember the story of a car salvage company from Texas that offered to pay the state of Louisiana $$$ for every car they removed from New Orleans after Katrina, but were turned down. THEY NOT ONLY WOULD HAVE DONE THE JOB FOR FREE, THEY WOULD HAVE PAID TO DO IT!!! The government there had already approved of HIRING another group to do the same thing and PAYIN the group hundreds of dollars per car removed. Corruption anyone? I think Bobby knows what he's doing.
Tim Schieferecke
You make Political office a profession and it all goes to H E double hockey sticks in no time flat. Office should be looked upon as a duty and an obligation not a career.
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
In practice, good people will leave public service in order to make more money in the private economy. Take the example of Michael Luttig leaving the Federal bench for a position with Boeing (although after the Jose Padilla controversy, I am sure many people here probably think "good riddance").
*****
Unrepentant Black nationalist, Unapologetic Black conservative!
This also discourages those without previously high incomes from running for office. If you want public office to be available to everyone, then you have to offer good wages.
Are they part-time or full-time jobs in LA? $16,800 seems ridiculous for even part time fair.
"No compromise with the main purpose, no peace till victory, no pact with unrepentant wrong." - Winston Churchill
Though my first reaction was; 16k? No wonder they're all crooks.
What the hell is going on out here? - Vince Lombardi
Yeah, I make 18K.
So it's a mix bag for Jindal. He should have fought for maybe a less of a pay raise, but hopefully he'll get something out of this for the people of Louisiana. I just hope he knows what he is doing.
Part of the legislature's rationalization is that the lower salary makes it impossible for "the common man" to serve.
Politically, though, this has gone over like a fart on a submarine.
Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible. - Frank Zappa
The legislature will act right for the correct kickback.
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I am a Positivist Pastafarian for the alliteration alone.
They should also deliver salaries in plain brown envelopes in the back booth of a local bar.
"Here, Mac - another $50,000. Now, you're going to vote for tort reform, ain't ya?"
"You bet. Wait, is this legal?"
"Yes."
"Oh..."
"Uh, I mean no."
"Buddy, you've got yourself a legislator!"
Extremism in defense of liberty.
... the private bribes are going to stop? These are politicians we're talking about remember.
John
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Why would God invent something like whiskey? To keep the Irish from ruling the world of course.
A father is worried that his son isn't going to make anything out of his life, so he asks the local doctor what you should do. The doctor says put out on at able a 20$ bill , a 50$ bill and a Jug of whiskey.
The father asks what will that do ?
The doctor says if He takes the 20 he'll be a doctor
If he takes the 50 he'll be a lawyer
if He takes the whiskey well he is going to be a no account.
The father says: Sounds good I'll give it a try.
He comes back two days later and says to doctor I don't know what to make of this.
He took the 20 and the fifty then drank the whiskey !!! What does that mean !!!
The Doctor turns white tells the man to sit down rubs his forehaead.
Says to the father: Sorry your son is going to be a politician.
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
What's the problem, here? They're not getting rich here. $50,000 is relatively modest.
“.....women and minorities hardest hit”
If its the same in LA then 16k is fine. Its a career path and a resume padder. 50 k is flat crazy for a job with the perks attached to state office, and part time work full time leaching.
Nobody deeerves that kind of raise for the same job.
Here they have to put it on the ballot and i think its in the mid 30's after decades of it being on the ballot each election.
Typically there is one regular session per year and it lasts from three to four months.
Occasionally you'll have special sessions, and Jindal called two earlier in the year, but combined, they lasted for two and a half weeks (the first one lasted two weeks and the second was practically in-and-out.)
16k under those circumstances is perfectly reasonable. It may limit "citizen-legislators," but frankly, I want someone in office who has their personal life together and has demonstrated enough personal and business success to where they can spare four months.
I see this more as a daft political move on Jindal's part...now they have no reason to complain, no reason to accept bribes and no reason NOT to work their keisters off. If anything allowing this is stronger than a veto in some ways as it puts accountability squarely in the laps of the legislators. Its a bold way of saying, okay, you've got your money, now do the right thing and get to work.
Thanks for always posting these stories, I just returned from nola and we have GOT to keep the lights on when it comes to discussing these issues. As "others" have expressed, NOLA and Louisiana are historically pretty questionable in their legislative practices and even shadier in their spending, so I understand some of the ire and media fatigue pointed their way when it comes to the continued reporting on this issue.
HOWEVER, I would argue that in order to prevent the mistakes of the past, we all have to keep a sharp eye on each and every step of the way here, so bravo to RS for keeping the info coming.
I like Governor Jindal a lot, but with a dramatic pay spike of this nature, I worry that the unintended (hopefully unintended) message to the Legislature is, "you can get away with this on my watch." Talk radio is buzzing down here, and while I think Bobby Jindal has done a lot of good, I fear this is a setback.
I think we're in a gray zone. I'm reading other columns that are saying, "well, we oppose it, we're just not sure we'll veto it." I think this leaves enough room for the Governor to eventually issue a veto, so I'm not sure this is the end all and be all of this issue.
I'm not sure which you meant, but I do know that we're going to have to wait and see which one it turns out to have been...
"Always be honest with yourself. Even if you are honest with no one else."
--me
... than a well-bribed one. I would prefer, however, that any pay raise be attached to some sort of performance benchmark. For instance, if Louisiana cuts its corruption rate down to something below that of Liberia, all the legislators get to not be thrown into the swamp.
Extremism in defense of liberty.
Then they'll just study to the test and then let the rest of the state go down the crapper.
Well, I guess they're halfway there already so . . .
If pay raise is a must to state legislators, then couldn't Jindal compromise on agreeing to maybe 30k pay raise? If they're demanding 30% increase, then why not bargain with them, lowering pay raise until it's something both sides can live with? That's better than giving in to their demands.
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Daniel 2:20 And he [God] changeth the times and seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding.
This isn't necessarily a bad thing. If they've gotten rid of the bribes & kickbacks through ethics reform, this is a reasonable salary.
Knowing the pay. And now want a 300% raise? Ahh no he!! no if they dont like the pay they can be like the rest of us and quit or suck it up. There is no way that any critter at any level should be able to just vote in a raise for themselves. And this raise is just awful.
They took the job knowing the pay. That included bribes, kickbacks & special favors (sports tickets, etc.). That's the way it's been done for a very long time in LA.
That changed with ethics reform. Jindal got rid of all of that. So, let's pay them a decent salary & keep getting the job done.
Sheesh, this government, led by Jindal has done more in four months than any other state has ever done in four years! I say let them have their incentive pay.
Is a bit better than decent.
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
based on work performed compared to other State Legislatures, I'd be willing to bet they'd come out severely underpaid.
Give them an additional housing allowance for staying In Tallahassee if they would just agree that the regular sesion would be no more than 2 weeks. The same for any special sessions and no more than 2 per year.
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
Being honest is the lowest common denominator in any blasted job if I’m not honest I get fired so should they (and as I remember just an indictment will achieve that).
I’m sure Big gator 5 would take a part time job for 17k and 150 a day with a 6 k bonus for 3-5 months of work.
Maybe they do need more money but 50 k is just too much go for 25 and let the people vote on it.
Could you not have butched my name so throughly?
However, you are right. I would take that job. Who wouldn't?
We do get raises sometimes - occasionally only by virtue of having served for a long period - and the only way legislators get similar raises is to vote for them. Now, these particular legislators don't deserve their raises, and they'd be fired if it only took one person to fire them instead of a couple of million. Still, it's not a good idea to stick people next to levers of power and then pay them peanuts.
Extremism in defense of liberty.
It sounds like the LA legislature just got a huge pay raise without having delivered much of an improvement in state functioning yet. Plus they've baked in an index to the US Congress that will guarantee them endless raises. Is there any reason to think the pay raises will induce this crowd to be any less corrupt? LA is the only state that makes NJ govt. look clean.
I think Goldwaterite had the right idea. There should be some kind of a performance benchmark. Maybe get everyone to agree on a small, carefully defined set of benchmarks that reflect how well or poorly the state & its citizens are are doing. Link the pay raise to improving those benchmarks.
It's a $5 million per year increase, which is roundoff error given the "windfall", and $16 K seems ridiculously low, but...
Given what Jindal is trying to accomplish, the symbolism is terrible.
Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible. - Frank Zappa
...is paved by a well-paid full-time legislature.
Just look what "going professional" did to California between the '60's and now!
Better a crooked politician that takes bribes from private third parties then "honest" politicians that want to "earn" their high income via "professional" meddling.
"Good Intentions Asphalt"
I could advertise Let your road be paved with GOOD INTENTIONS.
Maybe make the employees dress like imps.
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
This bipartisan bill sailed thru the senate committee, and of 4 dissenters, only one was Republican.
Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible. - Frank Zappa
The Democrats will learn that too.
Advice for both:
When it's just you against the world,
bet on The World.
$16k is ridiculous. Consider the amount of oversight these legislators have. They're way underpaid, and a fair pay increase is quite appropriate. In North Carolina it's the same deal---the legislature is woefully underpaid so as a result you have a bunch of rich people and retirees running the state. No good. Not representative.
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Oil: Drill here. Drill now. Pay less.
a 300% increase is too much. I like the idea of tieing their pay to the average gross income in the state. Someone said it was about 38k. Sounds good to me. That way if they do well and the state and its population gets rich, they get more money. If they not so well and the state and its population gets poor, they lose money...
"Always be honest with yourself. Even if you are honest with no one else."
--me
There's a fire down here about this. Almost EVERY major news outlet has come out against this so far. Talk shows' lines are completely jammed, legislators' lines and emails are being clogged up. There's talk of recalling those in favor of this, and of Jindal being a one-termer if he signs it. And it's conservatives, moderates, independents, and lots of Democrats saying this. If you don't live here, then you just don't get the justifiable disgust many feel for the Legislature. We're tired of "scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" politics. It's a new day and they'll (including Jindal) either stand on principle or fall at the polls. And for those of you saying 16,000 isn't enough... fair. But last night on WAFB (Baton Rouge channel 9), there was a freshman Independent legislator from Thibodeaux who has suffered a significant pay cut because he's away from work so much attending sessions, but he voted against the bill. When asked why, he replied something along the lines that politicians should never vote themselves a raise... if they want a raise, let it take effect after the current term ends in January, 2012. Like he said, they knew the pay when they ran for the job, so deal with it. Where are more men like him? Btw, the campaign against this has gotten to the point where we've found out that the sponsor of this turd-legislation, Sen. Ann Duplessis (from New Orleans, surprise-surprise) is a vice president at a bank and photos of her Mercedes Benz are circulating in mass emails to stop this. Jindal better veto if he knows what's good for him. To get an idea, visit 2theadvocate.com, wafb.com, or thedeadpelican.com for some local perspectives.
Stand up, and let's acquit ourselves like men.
Keep your posts and responses coming as we certainly need a voice from the ground. While I have family there and just visited, its hard to grasp the scope of the discussion and issues in just a weekend. My previous comments that this could be a interesting way for Jindal to checkmate his congress were just speculative, I agree that if they are going to enact a pay raise let it be when they are leaving. And yes, they did know the salary when they ran for the job.
I can't believe this is the issue that gets everyone in La. riled up with talk of recalls and one terms. If signing this bill is the worst thing Jindal does while governor, then we truly have our next conservative star.
Jindal in 2012!
Freedom of Religion NOT Freedom from Religion