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Jindal vetoes controversial pay raise; Riser pleased
Published Tuesday, July 1, 2008
VIDALIA — After weeks of statewide protest against a proposed legislative pay raise that would have increased lawmaker pay by almost $21,000, Gov. Bobby Jindal vetoed the legislation Monday morning.
The proposed legislation would have increased legislative pay from $16,800 yearly to $37,500 a year.
District 32 Sen. Neil Riser voted against the pay raise and signed an affidavit saying he would not take it even before the bill went to the governor’s desk.
“(Whether or not to veto) was left to the governor’s discretion,” Riser said. “I would have respected his decision either way it went.”
Riser said he thought the governor’s decision to veto the pay raise was fueled by the voice of the Louisiana electorate.
“I think he vetoed it for the same reason I voted against it,” Riser said. “The people of the state were really against it, and he listened to the people.”
The veto announcement came after the pay raise infuriated voters, leading some to file recall petitions against the governor and two of his top allies in the Legislature. Jindal said he should not have promised lawmakers that he’d withhold his veto pen.
‘‘Today I am correcting my mistake,’’ Jindal said.
The announcement came two weeks after lawmakers approved the pay raise bill.
Jindal said at the time that he disapproved, but that he would allow the raise of more than 100 percent to become law — a position that triggered the first wave of criticism in his six months as governor. He became a daily target for stinging attacks from editorialists, talk radio callers and bloggers, many of whom questioned whether the governor was being pushed around by the Legislature.
Critics had also noted that Jindal made campaign promises last year to ‘‘prohibit’’ lawmakers from approving such a pay raise for themselves.
On Monday, Jindal said breaking his promise to lawmakers could make them angry, but added he hopes they will continue to back his proposals.
‘‘They’ve got a right to be angry with me,’’ he said. ‘‘I made a mistake in telling them I’d stay out of it.’’
Jindal made the surprise announcement at a news conference that had been scheduled to discuss state budget matters.
A poll conducted during the weekend — as the controversy reached its peak — found that Jindal’s approval ratings have sunk. Southern Media & Opinion Research polled 600 likely voters statewide, and 59.3 percent had a favorable view of the governor compared with 35.8 percent who had an unfavorable view. The poll had a margin of error of 4 percent.
A similar poll in April found Jindal with 77.1 percent favorable responses and 6.8 percent unfavorable.
After Jindal’s announcement, House Speaker Jim Tucker released a brief statement that said ‘‘I respect Gov. Jindal’s veto of Senate Bill 672.’’
Tucker, R-Terrytown, defended the pay-raise proposal as an attempt to raise legislative pay so that all types of people — not just the rich — could afford to serve in the House or Senate. Tucker, R-Terrytown, noted that the state Constitution says legislative pay can only be altered by the legislators themselves.
The veto caused organizers to drop recall efforts aimed at Jindal and Tucker. Forcing a recall election against Jindal would have required petition signatures from one-third of Louisiana’s registered voters — more than 900,000 people — within six months of the petition’s filing.
Others targeted by pending recall efforts were Rep. Hunter Greene, one of the governor’s top committee chairmen, and a handful of other House Republicans.
The Southern Media poll also had troubling findings for lawmakers. Asked if they’d vote to re-elect a legislator who voted for the pay raise, 67.6 of respondents answered ‘‘No.’’
The pay raise bill by Sen. Ann Duplessis, D-New Orleans, would have raised lawmakers’ annual base pay from $16,800 to $37,500. It would have made Louisiana legislators the highest-paid in the South and the 14th highest-paid in the country, according to data from the National Conference of State Legislatures. The bill gained final approval in the House and Senate by slim margins.
Comments
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on July 1, 2008 at 6:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Way to go LA.....Make your voices heard.......
Posted by flylo (anonymous) on July 1, 2008 at 6:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Way to go Bobby, my hat goes off to you and Neil. You did the right thing, Let the people vote for a raise for our legislatures. That was a terrible thing our legislatures did giving themselves a pay raise so large, and then not passing the bill for supplemental pay for our law enforcement, and firefighters. We want forget how you voted Andy come next election time!!!
Posted by Yeahuhuh (anonymous) on July 1, 2008 at 7:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Nothing like getting numerous recall petitions started, having your ethics board RESIGN and going back on your campaign promises to show the mettle of a man.
If Jindal has screwed up this badly so far, imagine how he would do with Katrina!
Next step -- let's see how the legislature treats him after flip-flopping.
Wonder if McCain still wants Bobby for VP consideration?
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on July 1, 2008 at 7:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That was way to big of a pay raise, and even dumber than the huge payraise what the thought that Jindal was at first going to allow it to happen. Somebody must of pulled him aside, slapped the mess out of him, and gave him a talkin' b/c he sure changed his mind and decided to veto this. I would of laughed if the recall would have started in Louisiana.
Posted by Yeahuhuh (anonymous) on July 1, 2008 at 7:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
But here is another question:
"Tucker, R-Terrytown, defended the pay-raise proposal as an attempt to raise legislative pay so that all types of people — not just the rich — could afford to serve in the House or Senate. Tucker, R-Terrytown, noted that the state Constitution says legislative pay can only be altered by the legislators themselves."
What if Tucker is right? I mean the Republican First Rule of Acquisition is you get what you pay for. The lower you keep pay the more corruption temptation you get, the more legislators need something else going --- or --- the more you only attract the wealthy to the ranks of government -- and among the wealthy there are a lot of alliances that leave out the common man.
I suspect the people of Louisiana have long indulged in false economy and a pauper's logic that has given them corruption when their choices get to office. I suspect that both Jindal and the legislature were chosen with this same logic. But who am I? I live in Mississippi. He,he!
Posted by squeetlebomb (anonymous) on July 1, 2008 at 12:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You get what you pay for? What have they got?
Posted by Yeahuhuh (anonymous) on July 1, 2008 at 12:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Their pay is average about, maybe a little low. That when you add their per diems and expense, etc.
A legislator is expected to put in about 2/3 of his time to do his job and alot of that away from home.
I wouldn't do it for what they get now, that's for sure. Imagine the nuts they listen to and all the whining.
Posted by lilredhead (anonymous) on July 1, 2008 at 1:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Here is a link to the salary information from the PAR of Louisiana.
http://www.la-par.org/guide_laleg1.cfm#S...
I think that Gov. Jindal is doing the right thing. He said he would not veto because he was hoping the legislature would do the right thing.
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on July 1, 2008 at 2:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The Ethics Commission of Louisiana were all Blanco appointees, naturally I would want to get "rid" of them too! The members of the State of Louisiana Legislature work Full-Time and their Offices do also. The Pay-Raise issue was not managed properly and Governor Jindal realizes that now!
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on July 1, 2008 at 3:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Am I missing something here rushing? What does the ethihcs commission have to do with this?
Posted by lilredhead (anonymous) on July 1, 2008 at 4:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You are right rushinghjr. I am glad he stepped up and did the right thing.
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on July 1, 2008 at 4:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The State Ethics Commission was "extra" Food For Thought for the Louisiana Folks. The ethics reform is being tied to the Pay Raise Issue also here in the State and the majority of the Commission have tied their resignation to the Pay Raise also!
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on July 1, 2008 at 4:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Rushing, maybe you know something I don't, but in MS the ethics commision is a group of lawyers that monitor lawyer related issues. They aren't in the legislature. If I read this article correctly, the legislature was voting themselves a pay raise. I don't see anything about pay for the ethics commision, and the ethics commision doesn't monitor lawmakers anyway.
Posted by tolduso (anonymous) on July 1, 2008 at 4:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How can anyone say good job or trust this man.He has lied and flip flop so many times its frightening.First he was bullied by the legislature and now he trying to impress the people.FOOL ME ONCE ....you know the rest.
Piyush won't fool me twice..
Posted by lilredhead (anonymous) on July 1, 2008 at 4:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
mike8427
http://www.lpb.org/programs/LApublicsqua...
Here is a little info on what the ethics committee does.
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on July 1, 2008 at 4:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I stand corrected, thanks lileredhead
Posted by lilredhead (anonymous) on July 1, 2008 at 5:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You are welcome Mike.
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