How dare you not listen to the Citizens(electorate) of this state. It is your job as an elected official to listen and vote on behalf of your constituents. This is a travesty that you propose a raise of this proportion, when most citizens in this state and country are struggling. This is a travesty that you have the audacity to tie your raises to US Congress but not abide by the 27 amendment of the United States Constitution where " No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened”.
French Revolution philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau once said:
"As soon as public service ceases to be the chief business of the citizens, and they would rather serve with their money than with their persons, The State is not far from its fall"
You need to wake up!
Bill Walsh
New Orleans
Ok now below are email address that we all need to keep in our perminat folders and continually send out emails to them regarding our likes and dislikes of all the going on's in this skid mark of a chocolate city that Willie Wonka and His Umpa's built. Boy talk about the book..." the house that crack built" hummmmmmmm...Nagin is not that far behind.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008 6:45 AM
To: Duplessis, Sen. (District Office)
Cc: Alario, Sen. (District Office); jcarter@cityofno.com; Adley, Sen. (District Office); Amedee, Sen. (District Office); Broome, Sen. (District Office); Crowe, Sen. (District Office); michael@wrno.com; info@citizensfor1.com; couhigre@couhigpartners.com; clancy@gambitweekly.com; epaulsen@wwltv.com; kaare@wistradio.com; brr@sntg.com; rgoyeneche@metropolitancrimecommission.org; cb@forgotston.com; rosscole1@yahoo.com; mark.singletary@nppg.com; beggler@timespicayune.com; terry.oconnor@nopg.com; cslaughter@wwltv.com; chris.rose@timespicayune.com; edmund@louisianaweekly.com; nocrimeline3@gmail.com; Heitmeier, Sen. (District Office); Quinn, Sen. (District Office); Walsworth, Sen. (District Office); Donahue, Sen. (District Office); Dupre, Sen. (District Office); erdeyd@legis.state.la; Gray, Sen. (District Office); Murray, Sen. (District Office); websen; sheldon@abc26.com; jackie clarkson; Mary B. Cunningham; arnie felkow; stacy head; cynthia willard lewis; Jill McGaughey; shelly midura; cynthia hedge morrell
Subject: Raises not deserved without results
To: "Leger, Rep. (District Office)"
CC: bmccarthy@timespicayune.com, briandenzer@yahoo.com,
grev2614@bellsouth.net, CBrylski@aol.com, chris.rose@timespicayune.com,
christine@maisondupuy.com, dshea@timespicayune.com,
dmonteverde@timespicayune.com, dmeeks@timespicayune.com,
ewillis@wvue.emmis.com, fibre.mills@property-one.com,
fox8news@wvue.emmis.com, gfilosa@timespicayune.com,
Jzorrilla@wvue.emmis.com, jdeberry@timespicayune.com,
jamoss@timespicayune.com, islandlog@aol.com, kreckdahl@timespicayune.com,
Ramsd@lsuhsc.edu, Mikramar@tribune.com, nrobin@wvue.emmis.com,
nathanchapman@vcpora.com, pkovacs@timespicayune.com,
rmasson@wvue.emmis.com, tmackel@hearst.com, wphilbin@timespicayune.com,
abc26news@tribune.com, cslaughter@wwltv.com, pressrelease@wwltv.com,
michael@wrno.com, sheldon@abc26.com, info@citizensfor1.com,
rgoyeneche@metropolitancrimecommission.org, kaare@wistradio.com,
epaulsen@wwltv.com, couhigre@couhigpartners.com, clancy@gambitweekly.com,
cb@forgotston.com, john@wrno.com, jeff@ringsidepolitics.com,
vjcllc@bellsouth.net, duplessisa@legis.state.la.us, kholditch@cox.net,
grayc@legis.state.la.us, pontie@legis.state.la.us, icphish@yahoo.com,
meltraina@msn.com, hinesw@legis.state.la.us, larep086@legis.state.la.us
Mr. Leger
Thanks for responding. You are one of the few that do respond to constituents. hopefully not because you are new to Baton Rouge.
First of all we know the base was set at $16.8k plus $143/day per diem plus other expenses for a part time job. So don’t as others use the $16.8k number.
You did know what the job paid when you ran for office. I have no problem increasing pay of legislators, but it needs to be done in an ethical manner. Its un-ethical to vote yourself an increase while you don’t give the electorate a chance to either approve or vote you back into office. They have included in this bill the automatic increase of legislator salaries based on increases tied to US congress. This is absurd, Louisiana is in a bubble based on Federal money and windfall oil prices flowing extra dollars to the state. How long do you think this will last. This country is in the midst of an economic crisis, Joblessness is the highest in 25 years. For the first time in history, Children are worse off than their parents. My full time job in 1980 was earning $30.k in New York City. That same job today is out-sourced to India paying $9,000 per year in todays dollars. Just ask the same question to any of the your constituents where their average family income is $27,000 for a full time job.
You just raised the tuition in state colleges, you have now made it more difficult for the electorate to send their children to college. Education, where we are on the bottom of every list, is the common denominator for turning this state around. Education will draw business to this state. You need to spend time cutting the pork out the state budget and redirect funds to areas like crime and education that will move us up the quality list.
Louisiana is last in everything good that adds to quality of life and first in everything bad.
You all run for office indicating you going to run Baton Rouge like a business. Well guess what! Businesses award raises based on performance. Once this state starts leading in Quality of life issues I will devote as much effort to supporting and voting you back into office.
Bill Walsh
New Orleans
"Leger, Rep. (District Office)"
Dear Mr. Walsh,
First, let me thank you for contacting me regarding the above referenced issue. As I respond to you, I realize that I may never be able to convince you or others who have written or called that casting a vote for the pay raise is the right thing to do.
Legislative pay was set at $16,800.00 per year on May 1, 1980. Please consider what someone who does your job now was earning in 1980.
A few years ago the legislature established an Independent Commission to review the compensation package of legislators. These citizen members recommended a substantial increase after having spent more than a year reviewing and comparing compensation packages around the region. Even with the recommendation of the Commission, legislature still did not have the courage to adjust the compensation due to the amount recommended (in large part due to the passage of time since the last increase).
I do realize that people will say the following: "You knew what the job paid when you ran . . . " . . . " It is a part time job . . . " . . . "The legislature may be due a raise, but not one of such magnitude . . . "
To that I can only offer my experience in public service. I would venture to say, no profession is earning the same pay that they were earning in 1980, 28 years ago. This service is not, contrary to popular belief a part time job. As you know, this job follows legislators to grocery stores, ball parks, weddings, church etc . . . And when we don't show up for a meeting at 6:00 p.m. following session it is said that "I never see my legislator."
As a former assistant district attorney, one of our largest problems in retaining qualified prosecutors was inappropriately low salary. The same issue rears its ugly head for legislators and other public servants. As we celebrate the over $1 billion dollars in tax cuts passed over the last 6 months, we should take another step forward in fairly compensating the legislature.
The legislature is cursed with having to set its own salary. Nothing was said over the years when we voted to raise, Sheriffs, Clerks of Court, Assessors, Deputies, Statewide Officials, Public Service Commissioners, etc . . . Most of whom make more than legislators who are charged with the general operating budget of the State of Louisiana not at more than $30 Billion Dollars.
The workload of the Louisiana Legislature has increased substantially since the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. In just the past two and half years since the storms hit, the legislature has held 5 special sessions in addition to the work of the regular sessions each year and the increased interim work necessitated by the recovery efforts. The additional workload is expected to continue. LEGISLATORS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CALLING OF SPECIAL SESSIONS, nor were they anticipated when persons ran for office.
You may choose blame me for my ignorance, but also blame the New Orleans media, for failing to fully educate our people on the intense time demands on legislators. When I ran for office, I did not ask what the salary was, but of course looked into the time commitment. As a young lawyer, I was perfectly willing to spend three months a year in Baton Rouge working for the people of New Orleans, knowing that the pay may only cover my increased expenses of living in Baton Rouge for three months a year. However, the legislature has been in session for most of 2008, and I have been in my law office very rarely.
Comparisons with Other States
While critics of any pay increase for legislature's point to lower salaries for legislators in our neighboring states, they are not comparing apples-to-apples. For instance, Texas has a relatively low pay rate for legislators. However those legislators get a sizeable office allowance that is used to boost their actual pay and they only meet in regular sessions every other year. Additionally, Texas legislators get a Judge's retirement package valued at over $100,000.00 per year for the rest of there lives.
The Philosophy of Public Service & Public Policy Those who argue that public service should be about serving the public and not how much someone is paid to serve, are not looking at the big picture. The right to hold public office or seek such an office should be available to anyone who feels they have talents to offer the public regardless of their personal financial status.
An adequate salary for service in the legislature is necessary to make sure that men and women from all economic and social situations have an opportunity to serve. Such diversity is vital in shaping common sense public policy that meets the needs of all citizens and builds a stronger state.
Otherwise, small business people will forever be lost to the halls of the Louisiana Legislature. Take for instance the small business plumber who has 2 employees. Can he/she afford to take 3-4 months per year away from their business, and should the public expect him/her to do so? Consider the school teacher, an active teacher cannot participate in the legislature due to the time required and the time of the year called for by the constitution. Other small business owners simply cannot make the commitment of service at $16,800 per year.
If we want the legislature to be only insurance agents, large business owners, lawyers, doctors and the well to do, perhaps we should remove any compensation from the books. Put to the voters I'm sure they would vote for such a measure. I would prefer the legislature to represent a cross section of Louisiana, representing every walk of life, every age, creed, religion, color, socioeconomic background.
Finally, with the legislative pay tied to Congress this very divisive issue will no longer overshadow the good work being done by this governor and legislature.
By the way, I hope you saw that we repealed the Stelly tax increases which will return $370 MILLION DOLLARS to the taxpayers of the State of Louisiana. Furthermore, over approximately $500 million dollars of tax cuts have been passed in this legislature in the past 6 months. I am very proud of that fact.
In closing, I've included the pay raises/adjustments that we passed last year to which there was little to no media attention.. It is attached to the end of this letter.
With warmest thoughts,
Walt Leger
State Representative District 91
PAY & BENEFIT INCREASES (2007)
Supplemental Pay
ACT 281 (HB 4 - Alario) - Raises the state supplemental pay for qualified first responders and provides for pay increases for other public safety-related employees. Supplemental pay for first responders eligible for the state pay supplement will increase from $300 to $425 a month beginning July 1. Those affected by the $1500 a year raise are firefighters, deputy sheriffs, municipal police officers, harbor and bridge police, fireboat employees, public safety officers employed by certain Indian tribes, Wildlife and Fisheries agents, Department of Public Safety officers and campus police officers. The increased pay for DWF agents, DPS officers, campus police and state harbor, bridge and fireboat officers is dependent on approval by the State Civil Service Commission. The pay raise package will cost over $64.8 million a year if fully implemented. The 07-08 budget includes funding for the most of the increased pay, but does not include money for the proposed campus police, state bridge, harbor and fireboat officers, and Indian tribe public safety officers pay raises.
ACT 275 (SB 286 - Heitmeier), ACT 485 (SB 128 - Heitmeier) (CA) - These measures clarify state law and the State Constitution as to who is eligible for supplemental pay to include law enforcement and fire protection officers employed by police agencies who patrol waterways and riverfront areas in municipalities with a population over 450,000.
ACT 483 (SB 2 - Fontenot) (CA) - Proposes to change the State Constitution to prevent lawmakers from cutting state supplemental pay from the proposed increased level. The State Constitution now protects supplemental pay for sheriff deputies, local police, firefighters and constables from reduction, but only at the $300 level. Voters will consider the proposed amendment at the Oct. 2007 statewide election.
Teacher Pay Raise
The Legislature approved a pay raise of $2,375 or about 6% per year for public school teachers in an effort to move Louisiana salaries to the Southern Regional Average, which is $45,169 as determined by the Education Estimating Conference. The state's average teacher pay for the 2006-2007 year was $41,238. As proposed, the increase will cost $157.6 million a year. Additionally, 50% of the annual increase in the Minimum Foundation Program (MFP) or about $57 million must be used for teacher pay increases in many school districts. Teachers in 52 of the state's 69 school districts - districts where the average teacher pay is below the regional average or those who are receiving a decrease in state aid - will be eligible for additional raises from those funds, bumping their average pay increase to $3597 or 9%. Teachers last received a general annual pay raise of $1500 in 2006.
School Support Worker Pay Increase
The state budget includes funds for pay raises for school support workers. Governor Blanco proposed a $750 pay increase for school support workers. The Senate changed the state budget to grant a $1000 pay raise. School support workers include non-certificated instructional personnel, instruction support workers and service workers. This year, the average salary for these groups respectively is $15,746, $31,304 and $19,585.
Higher Education Faculty Pay Increase
The state budget allocates $30 million for an average 5% pay increase for college faculty. Higher education officials at the various universities will decide how to allocate the pay raise fund at their various campuses.
State Employee Pay Increase
The state budget includes a pay raise of $1500 per year for state employees, amounting to as much as a 10% increase for some lower-paid classified state workers. An additional pay raise over and above the $1500 a year is proposed for state police and certain employees in jobs that experience high turnover rates such as Corrections, Probation and Parole Officers. State police officers are set to receive an annual pay raise totaling $4300. Adult and juvenile prison guards as well as state probation and parole officers will receive a total $6000 annual pay hike.
Retirees - Cost of living pay raises are provided to retired state employees and teachers only when earnings on retirement systems' investments are adequate to support the raises. No direct state tax dollars are used to fund such raises.
SCR 3 (B. Gautreaux) - Provides legislative authorization for a 2.5% cost of living raise for retired teachers as well as an additional .5% as outlined in ACT 67 (SB 116 - Theunissen). Retirees receiving disability retirement and those who are at least 55 years of age and have been retired for at least one year are eligible for the cost of living raise.
HCR 7 (Schneider) - Provides legislative authorization for a 2.5% cost of living increase for retired state employees as well as an additional .5% as detailed in ACT 67 (SB 116 - Theunissen). Eligibility for the cost of living raise is the same as that for retired teachers.
ACT 67 (SB 116 - Theunnissen) - Authorizes an additional .5% cost of living increase for both retired state workers and teachers to bring the total cost of living raise that kicks in July 1, 2007 to the maximum 3% allowed under law.
Assistant District Attorneys Pay Increase ACT 283 (HB 148 - Farrar) - Increases the pay of assistant district attorneys in the state from $35,000 a year to $45,000 starting July 1. Lawmakers adopted legislation last year to raise the pay of assistant district attorneys from $30,000 to $35,000 as of last July 1, 2006 and $40,000 July 1, 2007.
Judges & Sheriffs Pay Increases
ACT 422 (HB 974 - Farrar) - Continues through June 30, 2010 the annual pay raises of 4.5% to 4.9% that Supreme Court justices, district court judges, juvenile court judges and family court judges have received last year and this year. The state contribution to city and parish court judges pay will also increase by 4.9% a year. Since the salaries of local sheriffs are tied to the salary of judges, sheriffs' pay will also increase. The pay raises will cost about $2.2 million in state spending beginning July 1, 2008. Judges have received pay raises seven of the last 12 years per the recommendations of the Judicial Compensation Commission. Supporters of the raises note, after full implementation of the latest increases, judges pay in Louisiana will be at the southern average. After July 1, 2010, the salary of sheriffs will no longer be tied to the salary of judges. Additional increases in sheriffs' pay will require separate legislative action.
Judges Retirement
ACT 348 (HB 818 - Heaton) - Increases retirement benefits for a specific group of retired judges and surviving spouses of retired judges. The estimated increased cost to the state is $1.1 million over five years.
Clerks of Court Pay Raises
ACT 77 (HB 210 - Faucheux) - Increases the salaries of Clerks of Court based on the population of the parish. Clerks' of Court pay now ranges from $65,000 to $90,000 a year. This measures increases the pay to a range of $88,000 to $108,000 at a cost of over a million dollars a year to parish governments.
Assessors Pay Increases
ACT 97 (HB 467 - Townsend) - Authorizes parish assessors to increase their own pay, using money generated by their offices. Assessors' pay, which is currently dependent on parish population and other requirements such as certification status and personal expense increases, ranges between $60,000 and $80,000 a year. This measure authorizes increases to between $88,290 and $108,290, about a 35% increase. If all assessors opt to increase their pay, the cost to local finances will be over $2.85 million.
Registrar of Voters Pay Raises
ACT 254 (SB 103 - Jackson) - Provides pay raises for registrars of voters, chief deputies and assistants based on the parish population in which they serve and sets new minimum salaries with new step increases for the employees. The new minimum pay for registrars in the largest parishes increases by about $18,000 a year. An amendment was added on the House floor to include the poll commissioners pay raise proposal in this bill. The poll commissioners raise is also included in a separate measure (ACT 297 (HB 347 - Gallot).
Statewide Elected Officials Pay Raises
ACT 440 (HB 489 - Toomy) - Increases the pay of the Governor and other statewide elected officials beginning Jan. 14. 2008, when the new term of office begins. The Governor's salary will increase from $95,000 a year to $130,000 a year. Other state officials will see a raise from $85,000 to $115,000. Statewide elected officials have not received a raise since 1995. The proposed increases are based on recommendations from the Compensation Review Commission created by the Legislature to study elected officials pay.
From: William Walsh [mailto:wmwalsh01@yahoo.com]
Sent: Fri 6/13/2008 8:46 AM
To: Danahay, Rep. (District Office); Dixon, Rep. (District Office); Doerge, Rep. (District Office); Dove, Rep. (District Office); Downs, Rep. (District Office); Edwards, Rep. (District Office); Ellington, Rep. (District Office); Fannin, Rep. (DO); Foil, Rep. (District Office); Franklin, Rep. (District Office); Gallot, Rep. (District Office); Geymann, Rep. (District Office); Gisclair, Rep. (District Office); Greene, Rep. (District Office); Guillory, Rep. Elbert (District Office); Guillory, Rep. Mickey (District Office); Guinn, Rep. (District Office); Hardy, Rep. (District Office); Harrison, Rep. (District Office); Hazel, Rep. (District Office); Henderson, Rep. (District Office); Henry, Rep. (District Office); Hill, Rep. (District Office); Hines, Rep. (District Office); Hoffmann, Rep. (District Office); Honey, Rep. (Chamber Laptop); Howard, Rep. (District Office); Hutter, Rep. (District Office); Jackson, Rep. Girod (District Office); Jackson, Rep. Michael (District Office); Johnson, Rep. (District Office); Jones, Rep. Rosalind (District Office); Jones, Rep. Sam (District Office); Katz, Rep. (District Office); Kleckley, Rep. (District Office); LaBruzzo, Rep. (District Office); LaFonta, Rep. (District Office); Lambert, Rep. (District Office); Lebas, Rep. (District Office); Leger, Rep. (District Office); Ligi, Rep. (District Office); Little, Rep. (District Office); Lopinto, Rep. (District Office); Lorusso, Rep. (District Office); Marchand, Rep. (District Office); McVea, Rep. (District Office); Mills, Rep. (District Office)
Subject: Fwd: SB-672 No raise without results
Hummmmmmmmmmm for some reason I do believe that I had a good peice of info regarding this one in an earlier blog...why just let me dig that one up for ya ok.
ahhhhhhhhhhh here we go now...enjoy.
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2008 13:55:04 +0000
This is too true to be very funny
The next time you hear a politician use the
word 'billion' in a casual manner, think about
whether you want the 'politicians' spending
YOUR tax money. A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but one advertising agency did a good job of
putting that figure into some perspective in
one of its releases.
A. A billion seconds ago it was 1959.
B. A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.
C. A billion hours ago our ancestors were
living in the Stone Age.
D. A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet.
E. A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and
20 minutes, at the rate our government is spending it.
While this thought is still fresh in our brai n, let 's take a look at New Orleans It's amazing what you can learn with some simple division .
Louisiana Senator, Mary Landrieu (D), is presently asking the Congress for $250 BILLION to rebuild New Orleans. Inter resting number, what does it mean?
A. Well, if you are one of 484,674 residents of
New Orleans (every man, woman, child), you
each get $516,528.
B. Or, if you have one of the 188,251 homes in
New Orleans , your home gets $1,329,787.
C. Or, if you are a family of four, your family
gets $2,066,012.
Washington, D.C .. HELLO!!! .. Are all your calculators broken??
Tax his land,
Tax his wage,
Tax his bed in which he lays.
Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes is the rule.
Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.
Tax his ties,
Tax his shirts,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.
Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he tries to think.
Tax his booze,
Tax his beers,
If he cries,
Tax his tears.
Tax his bills,
Tax his gas,
Tax his notes,
Tax his cash.
Tax him good and let him know
That after taxes, he has no dough.
If he hollers,
Tax him more,
Tax hi m until he's good and sore.
Tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in which he lays.
Put these words upon his tomb,
'Taxes drove me to my doom!'
And when he's gone,
We won't relax,
W e'll still be after the inheritance TAX!!
Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL License Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Do g License Tax
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Perm it Tax< BR>Gasoline Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax),
IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax),
Liquor Tax,
Luxury Tax,
Marriage License Tax,
Medicare Tax,
Property Tax,
Real Estate Tax,
Service charge taxes,
Social Security Tax,
Road Usage Tax (Truckers),
Sales Taxes,
Recreational Vehicle Tax,
School Tax,
State Income Tax,
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA),
Telephone Federal Excise Tax,
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fe e Tax,
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Tax,
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax,
Telephone Recurring and Non-re curring Charges Tax,
Telephone State and Local Tax,
Telephone Usage Charge Tax,
Utility Tax,
Vehicle License Registration Tax,
Vehicle Sales Tax,
Watercraft Registration Tax,
Well Permit Tax,
Workers Compensation Tax.
DO THINK THIS IS FUNNY !!
Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago,
and our nation was the most prosperous in the world.
We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.
What happened? Can you spell 'politicians!'
And I still have to 'press BUSA at least 100 times
What the heck happened?????
OMG! is this a sign of the times???!!!!
Posted by Tree Stump at 10:27 AM 0 comments
Ahhhhhhhhhh yes..."GOD BLESS AMERICA...OUR HOME. SWEET. HOME".
Hummm ya think the next song will be..."THIS LAND IS MY LAND, THIS LANDS NOT YOUR LAND...I GOTA SHOT GUN...AND YOU AIN'T GOT ONE...I BLOW YOUR HEAD OFF...IF YOU DON'T GET OFF...THIS LAND WAS MADE FOR ME AND ONLY MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE"
Stanky ass Government folks...ya right We The People...we the people have gotten nothing other then one big ass roll of recycled toilet paper man...now let's use that shit to throw back at our president Mr. Genicide, as well as all the rest of those dumb ass shit heads who have their heads so far up their bunns man that they do noting but spew disentary onto all of us.
Ok I'm done for now...
William, you just keep up the good work man.
I truly do love your spunk and spirit. Mr. Spirit of New Orleans man.
One of us right down to the bone.
OK MY BABIES, MAY WE ALL HAVE PEACE IN OUR CITIES, PEACE IN OUR VALLEY'S AND PEACE IN OUR SOULS TO INVADE OUR HOMES.
So come on yawl...feel it man and start making noise. Just don't leave out your brothers and sisters to the north, the south, the east and west...above and below us for we do so all count as one.
To`hi`ge se`di folks...to hi ge se di....
keep in mind...asga ya gaiun lati....to hi ge se di.
Tree Garrison ~usti`itlv`gv~
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