Legislative Pay Raise Controversy

“Strike the iron while it is hot” is what some may start to say regarding a proposed bill that is on Louisiana’s legislators’ plate. A pay raise authored by Joe Marino(I -85) would raise the legislator’s pay from $16,800 to $60,000. That’s a whopping almost 400% increase in pay for a job that is not full-time. You would need more than “two hands” to handle a whopper of that size. Seriously, some legislators should know that such a proposal could potentially raise the ire of many voters back home in their districts who do not have $60,000 salaries to report on their income forms. Voters in the Monroe region are aware of recent salary increases given to any subsequent Monroe Mayor after Friday Ellis and Monroe City Council Members beginning after the next elections. Then there is also Monroe Schools Superintendent Brent Vidrine, whose salary will increase to just shy of $200,000 for the next two years. Members of the city council and the school board believed that the mayor and school superintendent “were deserving” of those increases. Some legislators now believe they are also deservingly entitled to a raise.

State Senator Katrina Jackson (D-34) said that the increase would “encourage others” to be willing to serve. Though lawmakers are paid $16,800 annually, some, like Jackson, have other professions. She believes the average everyday citizen can’t make that type of sacrifice for the amount of compensation.

"The current pay is keeping talented people from serving,” said Jackson. Senator Jay Morris(R-35) said that the current pay might be a burden to some, but compensation is not an issue for most regional leaders. Morris said he would offer a caveat, an amendment that would prevent any current legislator from receiving the increase if they voted for the measure. Good luck with that amendment. What that would mean, says Morris, is that any current legislator “would be limited” to their current salary as long as they are in the legislature.

Senator Jackson may have a point in saying that the current pay “is keeping” talented people from serving, but an even big obstacle may be getting a majority of voters to change their political affiliations to that of Democrats. Good talented people who lean Democrat that want to serve know getting elected statewide in areas outside of areas that vote Democrat is very slim unless they run against Democrats already in office. Just take a look at the state’s congressional delegation in Washington. It is very difficult. Republicans ultimately will control if there is a pay increase, and unless Morris’ amendment is not in the bill, voters can get ready to shell out a little more money. Strike the iron while it is hot.