Other officials up for large pay raises
Legislative pay package includes:
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Louisiana Department of Economic Development Deputy Secretary Steve Grissom is in line for a $94,040 pay increase over his predecessor.
His boss, state Economic Development, Secretary Stephen Moret’s pay is scheduled to go up $75,000 over the last agency secretary today.
Meanwhile, the state’s public health chief, Rony Francois, has a $60,300 raise over the last person who headed that office.
Gov. Bobby Jindal included money for the raises for his administration’s appointees in the proposed $29.9 billion state operating budget. House Bill 1 — the budget legislation — sits on Jindal’s desk. The governor has line-item veto authority, meaning he can reject part of the budget without vetoing the whole thing.
The pay raises for Jindal appointees are the largest of any approved during the 2008 Legislature. They are more than the $20,700 base salary increase he vetoed for legislators on Monday.
Jindal called “excessive” the legislators’ increase in base pay from $16,800 to $37,500.
Pay raises included in HB1 will push Moret’s salary to $320,000 a year and Grissom’s to $237,500. Another $52,564 is included for “related benefits” for the two, according to Legislative Fiscal Office documents.
As Moret’s compensation was debated in the Legislature, state Rep. Hunter Greene, R-Baton Rouge, noted that it is more than that of Vice President Dick Cheney’s.
The House voted to set Moret’s pay at $245,000, but the Senate restored it to the full $320,000. The House then went along with the Senate changes.
The pay for Francois, a physician, will hit $180,000 during the new budget year that begins today. His predecessor, Sharon Howard, was not a physician.
The proposed state budget includes a $1,019 pay raise for Louisiana teachers and a one-time $1,000 bonus for school support workers.
Also approved by the Legislature is a $5,000-a-year pay increase for assistant district attorneys throughout the state. It’s part of a phased-in pay package approved in 2006. The raise will push salaries from $40,000 annually to $45,000.
Other bills have been sent to the governor’s desk that provide for pay raises.
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I figured that this Legislative pay increase thing was just a diversion. I was wondering when the real dirt would come out. I guess the laundry is starting the rinse cycle.
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What have these appointees done for Louisiana in the last six months to deserve such a pay raise?
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In order to improve our economy and healthcare, we must be willing to compete with private industry to attract highly qualified individuals. It's painfully obvious that the status quo was not making the state's position any better. I fully support the compensation increases for Mr. Moret and Dr. Francois and expect great things in the next couple of years. Both of these men took significant pay cuts to take a job with the state government.
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Are these pay raises ,along with the more budget -busting, stealth expenses that go along with them such as retirememt benefits, not non-recurring expenses funded by non-recurring revenue?
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Antony, dont be so Naive, economy, healthcare, ha ha ha. No wonder the legislatures wanted a pay raise, everybody in the Jindal Administration was getting one. I agree with Chris what have they done for Louisiana in the last six months to deserve such a pay raise? Oh let me guess the change is coming soon right??????
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It is a shame when the black elected officials that voted for their payraise in exchange to give moret $320,000 and their raise was vetoed; they should feel like a fool. Jindal is a crook and his ethics is one sided and it is for the rich; teachers, first responders, bottom line state workers go to their jobs and really work and still underpaid. Why people just won't do the right thing; life would be much eaiser if everyone was fair; moret should have stayed where he was so that he could make more money and he could have stillo benifitted the state; when will people be real servant; everything is not about money; eventually everybody will die and leave it all. Jindal should veto those high price raises and call a special session to deal with what is fair or let the people vote on it in october - put it on the ballot.
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sad, sad, sad, what are you blabbing about. The black elected officials that voted for their pay raise in exchange to give moret a raise and their raise was vetoed. Its not a black and white issues. Please don't push the race card here. antony you make somewhat of a good point but chris makes a good point. Bring them in at the current rate which was probably more than they were making in the first place then go from there if they prove themselves.
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It is obvious that Governor Jindal's refusal to veto the Legislators pay raise caused enough stir for the other exhorbitant raises to slide by the great people of Louisiana. This money should be spread where it is needed most - not in our politicians pockets. You are still not helping Louisiana - "POLITICS AS USUAL"
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LOL, Jindal stabbed legislators in the back they would not give his appointee a raise unless they received one. After recall petitions were targeting Jindal he VETOED their raise but Grissom and Moret are still in line to get their raise. Now that is ETHIC REFORM.
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Big bucks are needed to attract big ideas. Louisiana needs to attract the best and brightest, and the best and brightest are going to expect to be compensated accordingly.... and rightfully so. People who are highly educated, highly knowledgeable and highly skilled deserve high salaries. Sometimes, you get what you pay for.
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What are they doing??? RAISES larger than what most LA citizens make in a year?? What's wrong with this picture??
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Hey, Bobby, Is there a way you can appoint me to a job on your payroll and give me a great big huge raise like you are giving to all of these politicians? How can I get a t-shirt like that man was wearing on television the other night? You know the one with the knife in the back? I thought you were going to straight out Louisiana, Bobby, not give all our money to your appointees. I'm moving to another state.
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These pay raises were all in the papers but no one paid too much attention to them. If you follow what goes on at the capitol you would see that the House of Representatives choose to lower the amounts of the raises but the Senate put them right back on.....It is something that most of the raises are more than twice as much as the average income in Louisiana but I guess it was ok cause Jindal has so many supporters.
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$30,000 increase for the Public Service Commissioners...that is an increase of 67%. Outrageous considering that it also is a part time job "for the corrupt."
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"I pity the fool" Bobby Jindal has fooled the people of Louisiana. He made a deal with the legislature so his good ole boys would get paid. the house had Jindal figured out and refused to give his good ole boys the raise, so Jindal went to the senate and cut a deal to not veto the bill. Remember the bill was just sitting there, it had no steam, no power, no gas until Jindal said he would allow it to become law, IF THE SENATE GAVE HIS GOOD OLE BOYS THEIR MONEY. The rest is history. Do your research.
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Can the legislators call back thier approvel for these raises? If possible, hopefully they could since they are so ticked at not getting theirs
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