Posted on 12/05/2007 10:31:41 AM PST by NormsRevenge
It's starting to seem like a tradition in the Golden State: pay raises for the highest-paid elected officials in the country while their budgets go bare.
This week, Sacramento's legislators got a boost to their paychecks. They were already the best-paid legislators in the country, but still they got a $3,111 a year raise, to $116,208 with only a few declining the increase. That's on top of their generous per diems, state cars, and large office staffs.
And what have these pols done to earn this boost?
Let's see: redistricting legislation? Nope.
Health care reform? Nope.
Solved the budget problems? Nope.
In fact, what did distinguish the legislators this year is placing a measure on the ballot that will try to trick voters into giving them more time in their well-paid jobs and for ushering in a $10 billion structural deficit in future budgets.
They get rewarded for this?
Why not? Everyone else is doing it.
In recent days, the five Los Angeles County supervisors and 18 elected officials of the city of Los Angeles also got handsome raises for all their good work.
The city, of course, sets records for giving away taxpayer dollars without any benefit to taxpayers, even as these politicians maintain their status as the nation's highest-paid municipal officials.
And they, too, end the year with a bleak financial picture despite always rising revenues. For extra fun, they are seeking tax and fee hikes and cutting basic services.
In fact, all the state's pols seem to be practicing this particular form of political dissonance.
Executives at the state's public higher-education institutions also got a pay boost and perks when they are considering raising fees for students - again.
Many people like to point out that cutting politicians' pay wouldn't even do much in the face of billions in financial shortfall. To which we say, it's not the money, it's the point.
What crazy kind of logic allows elected leaders to divorce their ever-rising paychecks - not to mention the countless perks of office they happily enjoy - while they cut vital services or raise taxes for the rest of us due to a supposed lack of money?
If they want the public to swallow higher taxes, then the elected representatives ought to set a better example themselves.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Right. The bureaucrats are starving. No money to run the state. No money at all.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
How can anyone imagine that putting government in charge of health care would be a good thing?
Any high-ranking govt employee is overpaid..for the work they do.
When it comes to budget cuts, most high-ranking govt hacks and pols never cut their own salaries.
Our Board of Supes over here was planning to give themselves a nice raise, then they backed down when they felt the public ire heating up. Heheh.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Who gets a $3,000 salary increase? Crooks!
California politicians are about as crooked as the ones running the city of Washington DC. They keep spending what they don’t have. They all need to be recalled.
Don’t get me started!....These bastards are all making white collar crime an art form!
This sounds like a rational article - are we sure its a real L.A. paper? :)
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