Comments on: Pay the Crooks More

By: Suspect Device: The Blog » Fiddling while the world burns

Suspect Device: The Blog » Fiddling while the world burns — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 03:43:02 +0000

[...] Some don’t have an issue with the pay raise, arguing that a higher salary would attract better candidates, which I find wholly spurious: dumbshits like money too, and are as attracted by high salaries as are smartypantses. And I really don’t think Louisiana should be advancing the notion that politics is a bug-bucks career move. We obviously have to pay legislators some fair amount, but I firmly believe the only hope for Louisiana to crawl from the political tar pit it’s in is to rebuild the idea of elected office as a public service and obligation of citizenship. [...]

By: Frank Schiavo

Frank Schiavo — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 19:50:15 +0000

None of it is easy to defend or swallow. http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=496358 has the text of Ms Dupliss’s bill. And yes, they keep their per deims and travel expenses at the current rate. In one of the five poorest states in the union we have legislators who think nothing of looting state funds meant for economic devlopment, education, public saftey, tourism, hell, even road-way repair and heath care. All under the guise of so called payrasies. And we have a lame assed Govenor without the political clout or cajones to tell them at least that he would veto it…which even if they over-road the veto would at least add some come of bite/backbone to his so called “ethics reform” noise to the press. And the reasons…well we have to pay them more so they won’t steal it or take bribes? It is so much foolishness.

By: Ray Ward

Ray Ward — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 17:35:05 +0000

I’m with mominem on this issue. The U.S. Constitution, 27th amendment, allows Congress to vote itself a pay raise, but requires that the raise not take effect until there’s been an intervening election. Although the La. Constitution doesn’t have a similar provision, nothing prevents the Legislature from incorporating a post-election effective date into the pay-raise bill. If they did, then the pay raise would be easier for the Legislature to defend and the voters to accept.

By: Best Of New Orleans Blog » Blog Archive » The lege pay raise: the bloggers chime in

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 17:08:09 +0000

[...] Editor B: I guess I’m in a very small minority with this opinion, but I actually support our Louisiana state legislature’s efforts to give themselves a huge salary increase. It’s not because I think they deserve a reward them for a job well done. It’s not because I like big government or higher taxes. It’s because when I looked into the prospect of running for the legislature myself (yes, I know, ha ha ha) I have to admit the salary was a nonstarter. I understand public service entails some sacrifices, but the pay really is paltry — a joke. What is it, like $23K? Oh, it’s supposed to be a part-time job, but that’s a joke too. [...]

By: A New Orleans and Louisiana Blog About Politics, Culture, Arts, Lifestlyes and Recovery.

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 15:06:20 +0000

[...] What Bart Said Posted in Haps on the June 13, 2008 What Bart Said. [...]

By: Frolic

Frolic — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:06:03 +0000

Ok, I’ve looked at the numbers again that the paper reports. Is it right that the base pay will be three times as much, but when you include all the extras total compensation will be double?

By: celcus

celcus — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:48:40 +0000

“…if people are frustrated with the incumbents, they should vote them out of office.”

Apparently, that is too complicated for most voters.

By: Sam

Sam — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 05:32:39 +0000

They are working so hard to pass non helmet laws, a state cocktail, creationism, no smoking in cars with kids, immigration stuff which is only controlled by the Feds, and who will defend the lawsuits which will emerge from this? They work so hard at a lot of nothing and it seems they should apply themselves to laws of substance. And then, maybe then they could have a raise.

By: matter

matter — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 04:54:28 +0000

To follow on mominem’s comment, let’s not forget the “slush funds” aka “discretionary funds” that each legislator gets to allocate.

A notable example, of course, is the money that Jalila Jefferson “allocated” to “non-profits” controlled by the Jefferson Crime Syndicate. I think it’s safe to assume she wasn’t the only one playing these kinds of games.

By: Owen Courrèges

Owen Courrèges — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 04:33:08 +0000

We don’t have a full-time legislature. We have a part-time legislature, and it works in a very poor state. Total compensation under this new bill will be nearly $70,000 per year — for part-time employment.

That will make Louisiana legislators the 9th highest paid nationally. I believe the eight states that would beat us all have full-time legislatures.

So no, it’s not a knee-jerk reaction. Neighboring states pay their legislators less than Louisiana and get much better results. So now we’re supposed to pay them very high compensation for part-time work? That makes no sense whatsoever.