Jun 19 2008
Quotes
What have they been saying about the pay raise? We’ll list it here:
“I did the right thing for the Legislature,” - Speaker of the House Jim Tucker
“WE WILL NOT LET A FEW RADIO (TALK SHOW) PEOPLE DICTATE WHAT WE KNOW IS IMPORTANT,”– Senator Ann Duplessis to her colleagues on the Senate floor…….trying to minimize public outcry against legislative pay raises.
Speaker Tucker warning that if the governor vetoed the pay raise after saying he would stay out of it, “THE WHEELS WOULD COME OFF THE SESSION,” jeopardizing administration bills.
“LOUISIANA HAS A NEW STATE BIRD. ITS NO LONGER THE PELICAN, BUT THE MIDDLE FINGER.”-Moon Griffon, in reference to the Louisiana legislature voting themselves a more than 200% pay raise.
“IF YOU LET THE PUBLIC VOTE TO TAKE THE CUSHIONS OFF OUR CHAIRS, WE’D BE SITTING ON THE FLOOR TO GET COMFORTABLE, IF THEY DIDN’T VOTE TO TAKE UP THE CARPET.” –Sen. Danny Martiny
“WAIT UNTIL AFTER THIS BATTER,” said Don Trahan (R-Lafayette) to Regina Barrow (D-Baton Rouge) as she was at the microphone on the House floor—discussing Flag Day. Seems her colleagues, at the time, were more interested in watching the LSU-Rice baseball game!
“YOU CAN BLAME THESE GUYS,” said Rep. Austin Badon, D-New Orleans, to fellow lawmakers before the bill’s hearing, POINTING TO THE PRESS ROW with both hands. “They use words like huge and massive, like we’re getting a $200,000 raise.”
“I KNEW GOING IN WHAT THIS JOB PAID, AND I KNEW IT WASN’T A PART-TIME JOB,” said St. Germain, D-Plaquemine. “TO PRETEND OTHERWISE WOULD BE DISHONEST.”
“I DON’T KNOW WHY HE IS TRYING TO ANTAGONIZE THE LEGISLATURE,” House Speaker Jim Tucker, R-Algiers, said of Jindal’s request to reverse enactment of SB672.
Rep. Tucker’s response when questioned about pay raise: “THIS IS NOT THE PRIESTHOOD WHERE YOU TAKE A VOW OF POVERTY.”
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“IF YOU LET THE PUBLIC VOTE TO TAKE THE CUSHIONS OFF OUR CHAIRS, WE’D BE SITTING ON THE FLOOR TO GET COMFORTABLE, IF THEY DIDN’T VOTE TO TAKE UP THE CARPET.” –Sen. Danny Martiny
“WAIT UNTIL AFTER THIS BATTER,” said Don Trahan
(R-Lafayette) to Regina Barrow (D-Baton Rouge) as she was at the microphone on the House floor—discussing Flag Day. Seems her colleagues, at the time, were more interested in watching the LSU-Rice baseball game!
“YOU CAN BLAME THESE GUYS,” said Rep. Austin Badon, D-New Orleans, to fellow lawmakers before the bill’s hearing, POINTING TO THE PRESS ROW with both hands. “They use words like huge and massive, like we’re getting a $200,000 raise.”
“I KNEW GOING IN WHAT THIS JOB PAID, AND I KNEW IT WASN’T A PART-TIME JOB,” said St. Germain, D-Plaquemine. “TO PRETEND OTHERWISE WOULD BE DISHONEST.”
“I DON’T KNOW WHY HE IS TRYING TO ANTAGONIZE THE LEGISLATURE,” House Speaker Jim Tucker, R-Algiers, said of Jindal’s request to reverse enactment of SB672.
Rep. Tucker’s response when questioned about pay raise: “THIS IS NOT THE PRIESTHOOD WHERE YOU TAKE A VOW OF POVERTY.”
“WE WILL NOT LET A FEW RADIO (TALK SHOW) PEOPLE DICTATE WHAT WE KNOW IS IMPORTANT,”– Senator Ann Duplessis to her colleagues on the Senate floor…….trying to minimize public outcry against legislative pay raises.
Speaker Tucker warning that if the governor vetoed the pay raise after saying he would stay out of it, “THE WHEELS WOULD COME OFF THE SESSION,” jeopardizing administration bills.
“LOUISIANA HAS A NEW STATE BIRD. ITS NO LONGER THE PELICAN, BUT THE MIDDLE FINGER.”-Moon Griffon, in reference to the Louisiana legislature voting themselves a more than 200% pay raise.
Richard Leche, governor during the late 1930s, said, “When I took the oath of office, I didn’t take a vow of poverty.” SOUND FAMILIAR!??
Leche’s approach to governance landed him in jail, convicted of bribery charges.
I wonder if Tucker is headed in the same direction!?
Peter, thanks for pointing that out. Don’t know if Tucker is headed to jail but, hopefully he’ll be headed out of office soon.
This one chaps my you know what:
“What’s $3 million in a budget of $33 billion?” Thompson said. - State Sen. Francis Thompson’s response regarding $3 million pay increase cost to the state.
http://www.ouachitacitizen.com/news.php?id=2393
Here’s another one:
“When you have so much money to spend in government, it’s real easy to spend it all,” -Rep. Karen Carter Peterson who thinks the Legislature should be applauded for restraining spending as tax revenue bulges.
http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/capital/index.ssf?/base/news-6/1214112371180380.xml&coll=1
A 33 billion dollar budget which is outrages won’t result in the type of improvements you will see in other states for less money. I can assure most voters they won’t see many real changes in this state as long as we have people this bold giving us the finger knowing they have more than 3 years to swallow what they are feeding us.
From the dog catcher to the governor, they all gotta go.
Billy, I agree with your post.
With regard to my previous two “quote” posts……..I’m not sure whether I should be afraid or appalled……their statements are so cavalier.
Here’s part of what my representative, Franklin Foil, had to say in a e-mail response to my e-mail to him chastising his ‘rookie’ vote in favor of SB672: “Unfortunately, the Legislature did not have the courage to vote for any pay raise since that time (1980), so I do not think that $37,500 is an exorbianant (his spelling, not mine, and he’s a lawyer) amount to pay people you want to lead the State and balance a $30 billion dollar budget.”
Naturally I responded that I failed to see any courage in his vote and the fact that he’s in office to lead our state and control our budget distresses me even more now.
He also offered some additional lame excuses for his vote but it’s obvious where his concerns lie and it is not with his constituents.
It’s people like him that succeeded in getting SB672 passed. They can try to justify what they did until the cows come home……I’m sure there are some that support them……..unfortunately, their boldness and arrogance will come back to bite them in the a–.
As a side note…..I’m not sure they really balanced the state budget as Foil states………more than likely, they “backed into” the numbers.
G8trgirl: I didn’t even attempt to deciper the 2000 bills. I am still trying to find the words that will most accurately capture how disgusted, repulsed, and disappointed I am with the governor and entire legislature. I had called many times before today and left messages for my rep.. Today, I called the HOUSE of REps, and, for the first time, I spoke to my rep for dist. 57. I told him that I did not support his vote for the pay raise, and I am informed him that I have communicated my position to Jindal to veto the raise. Dist. 57 rep. replied, you are entitled to your opinion…I told him that have serious concerns with the timing, the process, and the amount. He replied that it began in the SEnate and sent to the House and it passed. ABSOLUTELY NO REMORSE….ONLY AN ARROGANT AND SELF-SERVING ATTITUDE.
I spoke calmly with respect but with a voice of committment to my position against the raise and for as veto. Oh, he did make a comment: We are wrapping up the session now. I repeated that I called to speak my position…HE DID NOT GET IT BECAUSE HE DID NOT WANT TO GET IT….THEY DO NOT GET IT…JINDAL DOES NOT GET IT…
On the news, all they did was interview legislators: LaBruzzo, Leger, Shepperd, Martiny, Duplessis, Alario…….Alario was the only one who even said it could have been handled differently…and that was his comment…
I am still waiting for the tv and newpapers to interview the citizens…they don’t want to give the citizens air or print time….
Do they think by ignoring the citizens, we will forget!
“It’s not a good idea to leave Baton Rouge during a legislative session because too many games get played. You need to stay close.”
former Governor Kathleen Blanco referring to Jindal, who avoids the legislative chambers and often is out of state making political appearances and participating in TV interviews.
http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-
6/121471682897650.xml&coll=1&thispage=2