Jindal is blackmailed ...

I thought Bobby Jindal, Governor of Louisiana would be different. Here are some comments on the mammoth pay raise that the legislature is giving itself, and Jindal's failure to put a stop to it:

From the Louisiana Action Council:

"We are extremely disappointed that the Louisiana House of Representatives chose to pass a pay increase that resisted the ultimate will of the people. Despite the fact that the House members reduced the pay raise from 300% to 200%, there is still no exception for disregarding the thousands of phone calls, letters and emails from residents all over the state pleading for legislators to stand up against this self serving increase in their annual salary."

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From LANewsLink.com:

“Maybe it was just too good to be true. A hugely popular governor getting pretty much everything he and the voters asked for in the way of ethics reform. A move which has put a new face on Louisiana, sweeping behind decades of corruption, greed, and backroom deals.

Governor Jindal says he doesn't like the pay raise. It's overboard, but he says he will not veto this outrageous affront to the voters.

Legislators asked us to give them their jobs fully knowing what the pay was. Everyone whose fingerprints are now on this awful legislation should hang their heads in shame and turn in their political badges. Many of our people are struggling with wages they can barely get by on.

Our legislators should be ashamed of themselves. We urge Governor Jindal to veto SB 672. It's the right thing to do.”

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From Baton Rouge’s WBRZ Channel 2 and the Advocate, Comments (158):

"Gov. Bobby Jindal said Wednesday he would let a bill that would triple legislators’ pay become law rather than use his veto pen. Jindal said he did not want to give legislators a reason to sidetrack the bills he wants passed.

Asked if he had been threatened by lawmakers, Jindal said he would not discuss private conversations with legislators.

House speaker Jim Tucker, R-Terrytown, said he has urged Jindal to stay on the sidelines. “I have never threatened the governor,” Tucker told House colleagues Wednesday after a political Web site said he had threatened Jindal with a “government shutdown.”

SB672 would increase legislators annual compensation package to about $70,000 and top legislative leaders to the $100,000 mark. The pay raise would cost taxpayers $5.34 million more annually when it goes into effect July 1.

Senate Finance Committee chairman Sen. Mike Michot, R-Lafayette, said there is no money in the budget for the pay raise. 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.

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.

Louisiana legislators’ base pay would be the eighth highest in the nation with the change, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.”

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