Jindal won’t stop raise

• By MARSHA SHULER
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Jun 12, 2008 - Page: 1A - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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Gov. Bobby Jindal said Wednesday he would let a bill that would triple legislators’ pay become law rather than use his veto pen.

House Speaker Jim Tucker told the state House of Representatives on Wednesday that the pay raise bill would be scheduled for a vote on Friday.

Jindal said he did not want to give legislators a reason to sidetrack the bills he wants passed.

“I don’t want to give anybody any excuse for slowing down any of the important reform going through the legislature (that are) important to the people of Louisiana,” Jindal said.

Jindal mentioned health care, education and tax initiatives pending legislative approval as the session nears a June 23 end.

Asked if he had been threatened by lawmakers, Jindal said he would not discuss private conversations with legislators.

Tucker, R-Terrytown, said he has urged Jindal to stay on the sidelines.

“I have never threatened the governor,” Tucker told House colleagues Wednesday after a political Web site said he had threatened Jindal with a “government shutdown.”

SB672 would increase legislators annual compensation package to about $70,000 and top legislative leaders to the $100,000 mark.

Jindal said he “strongly disagrees” with what he called “over the top” pay raises. But he said the Legislature is an independent branch of government and responsible for its own internal affairs.

At the very least, Jindal said, the pay raise should not take effect until the next legislative term after elections.

Meanwhile, the pay raise proposal approved Tuesday by the full-Senate cleared a House committee Wednesday. The action occurred with no debate and within five minutes of when the panel took up the measure.

The pay raise would cost taxpayers $5.34 million more annually when it goes into effect July 1.