Legislators Raise Pay, and a Governor Pays the Price (JindalWatch® Alert)

The New York Times ^ | June 24, 2008 | Adam Nossiter

[abb]

The reformist image of Gov. Bobby Jindal, considered by Republicans a top potential vice-presidential choice, has recently taken a beating after Mr. Jindal refused to veto a sizable pay increase that Louisiana legislators voted for themselves this month.

The increase would more than double the salary of the part-time legislators effective July 8, to $37,500 from $16,800, with considerably more money available once expenses are added in. It has touched a nerve in this impoverished state.

Conservative talk-radio show hosts and bloggers have denounced it, newspaper editorials have inveighed against it — The Times-Picayune of New Orleans called the increase “greedy” and its main proponent “shameless” — and the legislators themselves received floods of e-mail messages from angry constituents.

More confounding to many citizens here than the action by the lawmakers is the inaction of Governor Jindal, who came into office this year with promises to overhaul Louisiana’s reputation for dubious ethics.

During his election campaign, he vowed to prohibit legislative pay raises. Once elected, he quickly pushed through a package of measures increasing the Legislature’s transparency and stamping out conflicts of interest, basking in the subsequent glow of his image as a youthful Ivy League reformer doing battle in a shady subtropical outpost.

That image and his solid standing with the religious right helped propel Mr. Jindal, a 37-year-old former Rhodes scholar, into the front ranks of Senator John McCain’s possible running-mate choices. But now some conservative critics are saying the pay-increase episode demonstrates weakness as well as Mr. Jindal’s unreadiness for the prime time of the vice presidency.

snip

[Boanarges]

It is disturbing that Jindal would bow to the Louisiana legislature and screw the people who put him in office. It was Jindal who made this one issue crystal clear in his campaign brochure. He should honor it!! But the man has no political fighting bone in his body.

[napscoordinator]

A hit piece.

A 100 percent true piece. I am always amazed at how even conservatives use the Messiah term when speaking on someone they like. We did it with Colin Powell and many others who turned out to be a disappointment. I often wonder how we put so much faith in politicians...bottom line that is what he is. He will disappoint us, just as Obama will disappoint his followers.

[Red_Devil 232]

Seems like $16,000 is low pay for someone a citizen counts on to make good laws.

The Louisiana Legislator is in session for 90 days.

[abb]

I often wonder how we put so much faith in politicians...bottom line that is what he is. He will disappoint us, just as Obama will disappoint his followers.

I can't recall anyone setting fire to himself/herself as quickly as has Jindal. At least not in my lifetime.

[Non-Sequitur]

NY Times has ignored the reforms Bobby has put through a democrat legislature along with tax cuts.

For example?

[Non-Sequitur]

Bet ya the Demoncrats readily passed it!

I think Blanco managed to keep it from passing last year.

[abb]

To steal a line from “National Lampoon’s Vegas Vacation,” we conservatives here in Louisiana kept telling Jindal he was gonna pierce himself shut one day, but what can you do?

[Non-Sequitur]

You all would know better than the rest of us how Jindal’s been doing as governor, all 5 months of it. My take on what I’ve been reading is that he’s been a bit of a disappointment. True?

[iopscusa]

Add Rhodes Scholar to the never vote for list...Jindal has unfortunately tagged himself as a ‘bold faced liar’,
it is better to know now than after he is in a National election, we don’t need another McCain Conservative.

[abb]

That’s accurate. He fought hammer and tong early on to stop an income tax cut (Stelly Rollback) but then when he saw it would pass, he ran and got in front of the parade.

Also, huge pay raises for state employees and other assorted deadheads. He increased the state budget $1 billion over last year.

On the pay raise issue, he said he was opposed but won’t veto. This is in direct contradiction of his published campaign pledge.
http://forgotston.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/jindalforgov.pdf

[abb]

Jindal has unfortunately tagged himself as a ‘bold faced liar’, it is better to know now than after he is in a National election, we don’t need another McCain Conservative.

Which is precisely the reason I've started doing these updates. And also because I detest being lied to and think Jindal needs to pay a price for that.

[abb]

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080623/NEWS01/806230303/1060
President rejects state’s request for aid

[OKIEDOC]

I stand corrected.

So he campaigned on no raises, then the electorate needs to keep his happy feet to the fire.

Sort of like “Read My Lips,No New Taxes”.

[OKIEDOC]

The Colorado constitution provides that no change in compensation may take place during a member’s term of office.

Comment:

Thats a good law.

Wished we had an ethics law saying Senators who sit in control of certain committees, say Banking can not take bribes in the form of say special loans.

Democrats investigating Democrats, what a hoot.

This whole Democrat and Republican congress stinks in my estimation.

[Antoninus]

I just love the fact that "conservatives" are attacking Bobby Jindal.

Like you people have nothing better to do with Barack Obama as the Democrat nominee.

If the party is made up primarily of whiners and complainers who jump on their own leaders more readily than those of the opposition--we deserve to lose.

[abb]

I just love the fact that "conservatives" are attacking Bobby Jindal.

You have it exactly bass ackwards. He attacked us. All he had to do was what he promised during his campaign. He said - in plain English - that he would cut government, cut taxes and make the Legislature behave. He's done no such thing.

I absolutely refuse to be faulted for expecting Bobby Jindal to do what he said. You can eat offal for breakfast every day so you lay claim to being "kinder and gentler" but I ain't.

[abb]

http://forgotston.com/
State-subsidized insurance for leges

http://www.legewatch.com/
IMPEACH !!!

http://centrallapolitics.blogspot.com/
JINDAL CRITICISM IN THE NEW YORK TIMES

http://www.thereductbox.com/
Jindal’s woes go national

http://wwl.com/Lawmakers-fear-Jindal-could-still-veto-raise/2471925
Lawmakers fear Jindal could still veto raise

http://wwl.com/Activist-wants-veto-—may-file-suit-against-raise/2472455
Activist wants veto - may file suit against raise

[Ebenezer]

Pelican State ping

[Ebenezer]

Courtesy ping

[Pikachu_Dad]

Read the ethics law - they may actually apply {at least that is until weasel lawyers redefine the words}

Look at 1112 and 1120.

Legislators are obligated to recuse themselves from a vote when they have a financial stake in the issue. They are allowed to discuss - although I think in that case they have to disclose the conflict.

Don’t know if there is a formal ethics opinion on this issue. The question was asked of Sen. D. in the first hearing. She had not asked for an advisory opinion.

However, she did blow smoke that she was told it was okay because it affected everyone and not just herself.

Curiously enough, at least for the committee she is golden. She filed the bill, but she didn’t vote on it there. She did however vote on the Senate floor.