Senators Support Their Own Pay Raise!!!

TheNewOrleansChannel.com
updated 10:03 a.m. CT, Wed., June. 11, 2008

NEW ORLEANS - State Sen. Ann Duplessis said she and fellow senators are ?on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week? and so she and her peers approved a raise of $34,000 per year Tuesday. Click Here: Watch The Story

The raise would increase the average salary for part-time legislators from $16,800 dollars to more than $50,000 a year. A House committee also approved the raise Wednesday morning, and it moved to the floor for debate.

That would put Louisiana in the top ten when it comes to legislative pay.

Lakeview resident Desiree West Durham, who lives in the midst of a neighborhood still rebuilding from Hurricane Katrina, takes issue with legislators getting a raise.

"I feel like that are robbing Peter to pay Paul," Durham said. "They are taking out of state tax payers pockets and putting it in their own. I don't think it's right."

These senators voted for the legislative pay raise: Senator Ann Duplessis, Senate President Joel Chassion and Metairie Senator Danny Martini among others.

Woting against the pay raise: Sen. Julie Quinn from Metairie, Sen. John Alario from the Westbank and Senator David Heitmeier from Algiers.

"Although we have had a lot of negative press on this, at the end of the day this is positive for our state," Sen. Duplessis said.

But Durham called it Louisiana politics as usual. Gov. Bobby Jindal has said he is opposed to legislative pay raises but if it passes he will not veto it.

The governor released this statement saying: "I strongly disagree with this pay increase. They are a separate branch of government and must manage their own internal affairs."

IT GETS WORSE! Not only did they pass the bill for their pay raise but they "put aside" a pay raise for police/firemen. The pay raise was only $900 A YEAR!!! They say they "can't find it in the budget"...I WONDER WHY???


EMAIL LOUISIANA SENATORS TO TELL THEM YOU OPPOSE THIS BILL!

List of Senators:
Senator Robert Adley
Senator John A. Alario, Jr.
Senator "Jody" Amedee
Senator Sharon Weston Broome
Senator Bill Cassidy
Senator Joel T. Chaisson, II
Senator Sherri Smith Cheek
Senator Donald R. "Don" Cravins, Jr.
Senator A.G. Crowe
Senator Jack Donahue
Senator Yvonne Dorsey
Senator Ann Duplessis
Senator Reggie P. Dupre, Jr.
Senator Dale M. Erdey
Senator D. A. "Butch" Gautreaux
Senator "Nick" Gautreaux
Senator Cheryl A. Gray
Senator Troy Hebert
Senator David Heitmeier
Senator Lydia P. Jackson
Senator Robert W. "Bob" Kostelka
Senator Eric LaFleur
Senator Gerald Long
Senator Robert "Rob" Marionneaux, Jr.
Senator Daniel "Danny" Martiny
Senator Joe McPherson
Senator Michael J. "Mike" Michot
Senator Dan "Blade" Morrish
Senator Willie L. Mount
Senator Edwin R. Murray
Senator Ben Nevers
Senator Julie Quinn
Senator Neil Riser
Senator B.L. "Buddy" Shaw
Senator Derrick Shepherd
Senator John R. Smith
Senator Francis Thompson
Senator Mike Walsworth
Senator Seat District #9 Vacant