Some area lawmakers agree with veto

• By WILL SENTELL AND SARAH CHACKO
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Jul 1, 2008 - Page: 4A - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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Area lawmakers who opposed raising their pay praised Gov. Bobby Jindal’s veto of the volatile increase on Monday.

But two Democratic lawmakers interviewed said Jindal broke his word and others said the veto may jeopardize his proposals in the Louisiana Legislature.

“When someone gives you his word and takes it back, you lose a lot of respect,” said state Rep. Damon Baldone, D-Houma and a supporter of the increase.

The legislation, Senate Bill 672, would have raised the pay package of rank-and-file lawmakers from about $38,000 per year to nearly $60,000. It was set to take effect today.

But Jindal on Monday reversed days of saying he would not veto the bill and did just that. He told reporters that the legislative pay raise “is inconsistent with a new Louisiana.”

Legislators dismissed any thought of trying to override the veto, which requires two-thirds majorities in both chambers.

“He did the right thing,” said state Sen. Jody Amedee, D-Gonzales and an opponent of the increase. “The people spoke and he listened.”

State Rep. Clif Richardson, R-Central, said while Jindal’s action may leave a political “scar or two,” he was pleasantly surprised by the veto.

“Either way that he went was very difficult,” said Richardson, who voted against the pay raise.

Jindal repeatedly said in recent days that, while he considered the pay raise excessive, he would not veto it. However, during his bid for governor last year the Republican said he would oppose legislative pay raises that take effect before their next term.

“It was always going to come down to which commitment he would honor,” said state Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge and an opponent of the increase.

Cassidy and others said Jindal clearly heard the torrent of public criticism aimed at both lawmakers and the governor.

“The people have spoken and he was a wise man to listen to the people,” said state Rep. J. Rogers Pope, R-Denham Springs and an opponent of the increase.