Legislatures in LA 300% pay raise, WTF!!!
By alexsis
@alexsis (2149)
United States
June 13, 2008 7:08pm CST
Yes, I'm highly upset and PO'd and I'm not the only one in Louisiana that feels this way. The legislatures here in Louisiana are giving themselves a 300% pay raise, yes, thats right I said 300%.
Don't get me wrong, but I do think they deserve a raise but now a 300% raise. Currently they are making about $17,500 a yr. 300 percent would raise it to $50,000. I think they deserve about a 50 or 100 percent raise but diffently not 300.
I really think that the teachers here really deserve that type of pay raise instead of the legislatures. Teachers here start off with about $15,000 to $20,000 a yr. Yes, thats all they are getting paid to put up with our kids all day, thats just sad.
They house has approved the bill and now it is going through the senate. Once the Senate approves it it goes to the Governor. And the Governor has already stated that he will not veto the bill, because when he pass a major bill through the legislature he wants them to approve it.
So what do you think about this raise, do you think they deserve a 300% pay raise or not?
3 responses
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
14 Jun 08
They only approved a raise to $37,500 a year. These guys work FULL TIME, they deserve at least $37,500. Who can work that type of job full time and do it well knowing that a minimum wage worker makes more than they do?
What parish are you in? The 2 parishes I have lived in teachers started at $35-40K, with no experience and just a BA. I know in New Orleans teachers make next to nothing in public schools (heck they only pay their most qualified subs $82/day).
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
15 Jun 08
With the current pay changes they are doing away with a lot of those expense allowances. They are not only allowing $6K of expenditures (I believe restricted) a year on top of their salary.
Even so $38K with isn't jack squat to make if you are working full time. Ever think that if they made more, there would be LESS corruption?
@alexsis (2149)
• United States
15 Jun 08
Since I've posted this discussion there has been a change/update with the pay raise. They decided on a 200% raise. But these legislatures get other perks too.
Here is LA. Lawmakers current pay: (Printed in the local newspaper)
$16,800 BASE salary per yr.
$6,000 annual UNRESTRICTED expense allowance.
$15,587 per diem for 3 legislative sessions, based on a $143 per day payment.
An ADDITIONAL $143 per day payment for interim legislative meetings.
Total $38,387 minimum compensation for the current year.
@jonesy123 (3948)
• United States
14 Jun 08
Wow, and that for the little work they do, lol. Here in KY they gave themselves 5%, then the next week said there is no money in the budget to give the teachers or state employees more than 1%, and that would already be a major stretch. And sorry, we have to cut education expenditures. Schools will just have to fire some teachers. The public was very upset. So I can imagine how people in Louisiana feel about a 300% increase. You do have to keep in mind that they usually still have other sources of income and often a real job on the side.
One can only hope that when the next election rolls around people will remember who voted for that nonsense in the Senate and the House.
I for one will make sure that the senate majority leader will have some explaining to do. It seems that in his district people are quite unaware of his extravagant life when he is here or the things he votes for...
1 person likes this
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
14 Jun 08
The thing is, these guys run the state and make less than a minimum wage worker does, how is that fair? They do the job full time. Would you want to work full time for just $17K. They are making about $20K less than most brand new teachers with only a BA. The raise they settled on is $37,500, still has to be approved by the Senate and Jindal.
FYI they haven't gotten a pay raise in something like 20 years.
No one is being laid off or major budget cuts for this raise.
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
17 Jun 08
I think that is so wrong!! With all the problems that the states are going through, that money should be spent somewhere else. I can see a small raise, but that much could benefit something else so much better.
1 person likes this
@alexsis (2149)
• United States
17 Jun 08
They decided on a 200% raise. The new base salary will be $37,500, they also receive an automatic $6,000 for expenses and $500 for office expenses. And they also receive $143 a day for attending legislative sessions and any type of gov. related meetings. And they will get a raise every year.
The House and Senate has passed the pay raise bill and Gov. Jindal says he will not block a legislative pay raise.
