House OKs bill to give PSC raise

• By MARSHA SHULER
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: May 8, 2008 - Page: 9A - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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The House endorsed a $30,000 a year pay increase for members of the Public Service Commission.

The House voted 64-26 for the pay boost for the utility regulators. The bill now moves to the Senate for debate.

Under House Bill 939, the five, part-time elected PSC commissioners salary would jump from $45,000 to $75,000 a year, a 67 percent increase.

“This request is not out of line,” said Rep. Jeff Arnold, D-New Orleans, sponsor of the legislation.

Arnold said the last PSC pay raise occurred in 1991.

The compensation is the eighth lowest in the nation for members of similar regulatory commissions, Arnold said. He said the southern average is about $90,000. Florida pay is $123,000 while Mississippi is just under $80,000.

Arnold said the money to cover the increase would come from PSC self-generated revenues. No state funds would be involved, he said.

“Is there any way it will impact the operations of the commission? Will anything be lacking?” asked Rep. Pat Smith, D-Baton Rouge.
“They have capacity within their budget. They just don’t have the authority,” replied Arnold.

Rep. Greg Cromer, R-Slidell, noted that the PSC members only meet once a month. In addition, they have a state office that handles much of their work.

“The job they are doing now is less demanding than ours,” said Cromer.

“They stay pretty busy,” said Arnold.

Legislators are on pace to make $38,000 this year. That includes base pay of $16,800 a year, plus they get $143 per diem for every day they are in session as well as a $6,000 unvouchered expense allowance.

Cromer said the PSC members want $75,000 in annual pay.