Commentary: Another black eye for Louisiana

New Orleans CityBusiness, Jun 16, 2008 by Editorial

Unbelievable.

But then again, we're talking about Louisiana politics, where the unthinkable is sadly all too common.

As CityBusiness went to press, the House of Representatives was expected to approve a measure Friday that would more than triple the pay of state lawmakers. With minimal discussion, the Senate and a House committee approved Senate Bill 672, authored by Sen. Ann Duplessis, D-New Orleans, earlier in the week.

Legislators will make $32,300 this year when salary and per-diem pay is calculated for the two special sessions. They are also given access to $500 a month for expenses without vouchers.

Effective July 1, the Duplessis bill increases legislator base pay from $16,800 to $50,700, with the figure based on 30 percent of what members of Congress make. Salaries for the state Senate president and House speaker come to 45 percent of congressional pay.

A state lawmaker would make $11,400 more than the median Louisiana household income.

If Congress members approve a raise for themselves, Louisiana lawmakers also see a pay hike. Plus, state lawmakers will still receive per-diem pay and the $6,000 annual expense allowance.

The total package comes to $70,000, the eighth highest figure among state legislatures, with leadership earning more than $100,000.

The Louisiana Legislature is the only state government entity that can determine its own pay raises, a power that clearly should be transferred to an independent commission that could assess a more realistic figure based on need.

That lawmakers -- including some freshmen who have only been on the job six months -- would give themselves a 202 percent base salary boost is disappointing enough.

Equally disturbing is Gov. Bobby Jindal's halfhearted opposition. While chiding lawmakers for the exorbitant raise, he does not plan to veto the bill because it could initiate quid pro quo from the Legislature, potentially sidetracking his agenda.

It is a stance that borders on spineless.

The governor is ceding the high ground on this issue. If he vetoes the pay raise bill and lawmakers suddenly change course and oppose his legislation, the reason will be apparent. Even by letting the raise become law without his signature, he has sunk to the level of politics that has mired meaningful reform in the state for decades.

Our business is reporting on business, and this is bad business.

Jindal and lawmakers were just starting to remove the tarnish of political expediency that has sullied Louisiana's image for generations. This latest black eye may be indelible.