Pay raise to benefit retiring legislators

• By MARSHA SHULER
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Jun 17, 2008 - Page: 1A - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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Seventeen legislators will substantially increase their future state retirement system checks as a result of a pay raise bill that’s on its way to the governor’s desk.

Eight state representatives and nine senators, most of whom voted for the pay raise measure, stand to benefit.

Exactly how much lawmakers would potentially increase their state pension “would involve much speculation,” said R. Stephen Stark, deputy general counsel, Louisiana State Employees Retirement System, called LASERS.

But since pension benefits are based on the final average compensation, a more than doubling of pay would add more to the financial bottom line, Stark said.

The governor can sign the pay raise bill, veto it or let it become law without his signature.

Gov. Bobby Jindal said in a prepared statement he would not veto the measure.

A constitutional amendment approved in 1996 banned new legislators from joining the Louisiana State Employee Retirement system after Jan. 1, 1997.

Eleven legislators were elected before the amendment was enacted and can still participating. Another six legislators held local government positions at the time and can take advantage of an exception to the ban.

In the Louisiana Senate, members include Senate President Joel Chaisson II, D-Destrehan; Senate President Pro-tem Sharon Broome, D-Baton Rouge; and state Sens. Yvonne Dorsey, D-Baton Rouge; Butch Gautreaux, D-Morgan City; Troy Hebert, D-Jeanerette; Rob Marionneaux, D-Grosse Tete; Danny Martiny, R-Kenner; Ed Murray, D-New Orleans; and John R. Smith, D-Leesville.

Chaisson, Broome, Dorsey, Gautreaux, Marionneaux, Martiny and Murray voted for the Senate version tripling legislators’ pay and translating to a $70,000 compensation package. They also voted for the package that won final legislative approval Monday that would bring them nearly $60,000.

Hebert voted no to both pay raise measures. Smith did not vote on the $70,000 package but voted yes on the scaled down version.

In the Louisiana House, members include state Reps. Elton Aubert, D-Vacherie; Richard Burford, R-Stonewall; Herbert Dixon, D-Alexandria; Noble Ellington, D-Winnsboro; A.B. Franklin, D-Lake Charles; Rickey Hardy, D-Lafayette; Nita Hutter, R-Chalmette; and Wayne Waddell, R-Shreveport.

Aubert, Burford, Dixon, Ellington, Franklin and Hutter voted for the House-passed pay raise measure that calls for a more than doubling the base pay.