I am quite miffed, to put it mildly, a state that has resulted in an almost overwhelming need to express my displeasure, so express it I shall.

I’m miffed because of an article I read in Wednesday’s The Advocate (my newspaper of choice) that relates how Louisiana’s state senators voted to give themselves raises for the coming year, raises that, in fact, will triple their base salaries; and although some members voted against the bill, it was approved 20-16 “very quickly and without discussion and “no one debated the measure” (2008, p. 1A).

Yet, are you ready for this? While they approved these fat raises for themselves so easily and without debate, the Senate is expected to scrap a proposal to provide $20 million in merit pay for this state’s teachers, money that would “reward top teachers” and also help “finance hard-to-fill jobs,” such as those teaching math and science (Advocate, 2008, p. 1A).

A little background: Currently, Louisiana legislators draw a $16,800 annual base salary, a $6,000 expense allowance, and a daily per diem of $143 for every day they are in session or in committee” (Advocate, 2008, p. 8A). As a result, members can earn “close to $35,000 a year, and legislative leaders receive more” (Advocate, 2008, p. 8A). Now, with their nice “raises, base pay, expenses, and per diem, legislators will receive almost $70,000 a year,” and that’s for part-time work (Advocate, 2008, p. 8A). 

What irks me to no end is how these people work only part-time in the Senate and the majority of them either have other jobs (lucrative jobs at that) or own their own businesses, whereas many teachers work full-time in the classroom and also work part-time at other jobs in order to make ends meet. And that’s just sad, in my opinion. Here we have a state where teachers who work full-time at the often demoralizing job of trying to impart at least a modicum of knowledge to our children, most of whom couldn’t care less about learning, are lucky if they are employed by a school system that pays $30,000 a year, which is less than most legislators have been receiving for part-time work.

On the other hand, I guess I should be grateful since the raise could have been much larger had the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Ann Duplessis (Democrat—New Orleans), not amended her bill. Apparently, she originally proposed a base salary of $70,000, with a $12,000 expense allowance (Advocate, 2008, p. 8A).

But do you know something? I’m not in the least bit grateful, especially after reading that this same group of legislators, who were elected by the people of this state and, therefore, should put their constituents first, voted themselves these nice fat raises while, at the same time, making budget cuts not only to education but also to health care.  And that, in my opinion, says it all.

Blum, J. “Measure Tripling Legislators’ Base Salaries Goes to House;” Capitol News Bureau; The Advocate; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Wednesday, June 11, 2008; pp 1A, 8A.