Monday, Bernie Pinsonat released a statewide poll.
Among other things, the poll showed that the voters are still mad about the 2008 lege pay raise. That’s the one that the “Roads Scholar” vetoed at the last minute after intense public pressure.
Over 80 percent of the voters are likely to vote against a lege who voted for the pay raise.
Despite this sentiment, the leges got an auto-magic pay raise last October. Their per diems went from $145 to $159 per day. They get these payments when they attend interim committee meetings as well as every day of a lege session whether they actually meet or not.
This session, Rep. Dee Richard, I-Thibodaux, has legislation (HB 1390) to freeze for two years the per diems at $159.
Despite the sentiment against lege pay raises, last week in the House and Governmental Committee, many leges voted for auto-magic pay raises. They voted for a pay raise by voting against Richard’s bill.
Those leges who still haven’t gotten the message are: Rep. Rick Gallot, D-Ruston; Rep. Jared Brossett, D-New Orleans; Rep. Greg Cromer, R-Slidell; Rep. Mike Danahay, D-Sulphur; Rep. Rosalind Jones, D-Monroe; Rep. Erich Ponti, R-Baton Rouge; Rep. Mert Smiley, R-Port Vincent; Rep. Jane Smith, R-Bossier City.
HB 1390 is up for final passage on the house floor this week.
If you are among the 80 percent that oppose a lege pay raise, contact your representative today to tell them to vote FOR HB 1390.
Another Jindal failure?
The promise
When running for governor in 2007, Bobby Jindal made this promise: Prohibit Legislators from changing their votes after floor action is completed. The public must clearly understand not only how their elected official voted, but also when he or she voted that way. Source: Jindal Campaign Brochure: GOVERNMENT REFORM Controlling runaway State Spending.
The rhetoric
Among the list of accomplishments in his first special lege session in 2008, the “Roads Scholar” listed: HR3: Prohibits legislators, through House rules, from changing their vote.
(Note: The Senate does not (and did not before Jindal was elected) allow votes to be changed after Final Passage.)
The evidence
Despite the above promise and alleged “accomplishment”, nothing has changed.
The last day that the House met was Thursday, April 29. The following members of the LA House of Representatives changed a vote that they cast on Final Passage the PREVIOUS DAY (Source: LA House Journal, April 29, 2010):
Rep. Brett Geymann, R-Lake Charles, changed his vote on final passage of House Bill No. 35 from yea to nay.
Rep. Robert Johnson, D-Marksville, changed his vote on final passage of House Bill No. 35 from yea to nay.
Rep. Johnson also changed his vote on final passage of House Bill No. 78 to yea.
Rep. Scott Simon, R-Abita Springs, changed his vote on final passage of House Bill No. 120 from yea to nay.
Rep. Simon also changed his vote on final passage of House Bill No. 194 from yea to nay.
Rep. Roy Burrell, D-Shreveport, changed his vote on final passage of House Bill No. 194 to yea.
Rep. Thomas Carmody, R-Shreveport changed his vote on final passage of House Bill No. 194 from yea to nay.
Rep. John LaBruzzo, R-Metairie, changed his vote on final passage of House Bill No. 194 from yea to nay.
Rep. Sam Little, R-Bastrop, changed his vote on final passage of House Bill No. 194 from yea to nay.
Rep. Barbara Norton, D-Shreveport, changed her vote on final passage of House Bill No. 906 to yea.
Rep. Jared Brossett, D-New Orleans, changed his vote on final passage of House Bill No. 1259 to yea.
The accomplishment
Not only does vote changing go unabated in the House, anecdotal evidence suggests that the changing of votes has worsened since “The Scholar” enacted his “reform”.
Why; because “The Scholar” actually made it EASIER FOR A LEGE TO CHANGE THEIR VOTE. (See explanation here.)
To paraphrase “The Scholar”: It’s time for Bobby to match his action to his rhetoric.
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