EDITORIAL: An undeserved raise
Monday, June 09, 2008

Ordinary Louisiana families are struggling to get by, juggling multiple jobs and fighting a losing battle against rising fuel and food prices.

In light of that Sen. Ann Duplessis' legislative pay raise bill is evidence of a shocking lack of perspective. Sen. Duplessis is pushing for lawmakers to get an almost $34,000 annual pay raise for their part-time work in Baton Rouge. The raise would put their salary at about $50,700 per year -- plus expenses -- at a cost of an estimated $5.8 million per year to Louisiana taxpayers.

That is offensive.

The median household income in Louisiana is only $36,700. That includes Jefferson Parish sheriff's deputies, whose starting salary is $34,000. That includes scores of residents who do back-breaking work and can't begin to make the kind of money Sen. Duplessis wants lawmakers to make for their part-time work.

With Senate Bill 672 expected to be debated by the Senate today or Tuesday, lawmakers are likely to bring out the same tired arguments: public service is hard, being a lawmaker takes more time than they thought it would, the chintzy pay is a deterrent to service.

That's rubbish. Who thought that being a lawmaker in a state recovering from two hurricanes and a devastating flood would be easy? If the pay is a deterrent, why did they run?

And if the work load is too heavy, maybe they should step aside. Or, perhaps, resist filing frivolous bills like the one that passed last week to designate an official cocktail for New Orleans.

The Legislature isn't supposed to be a career. It is supposed to be public service, which implies some level of sacrifice.

Louisiana lawmakers, whose current base salary is $16,800, already make more than most of their counterparts across the South. They make more now than many Louisianians do in their full-time jobs. And they are cutting money for education, health care and other services while arguing for a pay hike for themselves.

There is no justification for a raise, certainly not a $34,000 raise. Let them know that.

To reach the Senate by phone, call (225) 342-2040 or fax (225) 342-0617. Or e-mail metro area senators as follows:

Sen. Duplessis, the bill's sponsor, duplessisa@legis.state.la.us; Sen. John Alario Jr., alarioj@legis.state.la.us: Sen. A.G. Crowe, crowea@legis.state.la.us; Sen. Jack Donahue, donahuej@legis.state.la.us; Sen. Cheryl Gray, grayc@legis.state.la.us; Sen. David Heitmeier, heitmeid@legis.state.la.us; Sen. Danny Martiny, martinyd@legis.state.la.us; Sen. Edwin Murray, murraye@legis.state.la.us; Sen. Julie Quinn, quinnj@legis.state.la.us, and Sens. Joel Chaisson, Ben Nevers and Derrick Shepherd all at websen@legis.


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