Pay Raise: Protesters, Veto, Override
No surprise that Gov. Riley vetoed the legislative pay raise as he had promised he would. “More than 200 people gathered outside the Statehouse to protest the raise” in a protest organized by talk show host Matt Murphy of WYDE radio in Birmingham.
The House overrode the veto 57-41 in a vote that had no debate. Four House members did not vote and three abstained. The Senate overrode the veto 20-15 with everyone voting and no one abstaining. Only two senators spoke against the bill.
The recorded vote can be found here.
The way it was enacted originally was not the legislature’s brightest moment, and it is difficult to argue that a 62% pay raise is not excessive, even for a position that has not enjoyed a pay raise since 1991.
I also have sympathy for the idea that the job should pay enough to attract Alabamians from all walks of life. It is a part-time job, but a demanding one that would make it very difficult to keep some other jobs.
For purposes of comparison, I noted earlier that the amount that it will cost the state is not as much as the state gives away to industrial air polluters in the form of uncollected fees.
Many Alabamians will remain angry about this, but three years (until the next campaign) is a long time. Some legislators live in safe districts, some will no doubt count on voters having short memories, and some hope or believe that they can soothe unhappy constituents when it comes to other matters.
One point is clear: because the legislators put a cost of living adjustment in their own salaries, future controversies like this are unlikely. If only they would consider doing the same for the least of the wage-earners.
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I still say my roll call vote list is cooler.
Comment by Dan — March 20, 2007 @ 7:25 pm
So, one of newly-elected Representative Butch Taylor’s first votes is for a pay raise. And do I really need to add - Democrat (District 22).
Comment by Reactionary — March 20, 2007 @ 8:43 pm
Dan, no question about it. Your list is cooler than the other side of the pillow.
Comment by Danny — March 20, 2007 @ 11:17 pm
Voting for the pay raise is much more honorable than voting no…and then taking the money anyway. Let’s see how many of those no-voting statesmen give the money back. Most of them are already hedging about giving the money back to the state.
Comment by QEK — March 21, 2007 @ 10:33 am
[…] Between the Links (Listed first for their ultra-cool listing of those who voted for the measure) Alabama Improper Birmingham Blues Doc’s Political Parlor Montgomery Advertiser Birmingham News Huntsville Times […]
Pingback by Pay Raises « The Alabama Moderate — March 21, 2007 @ 1:33 pm
Since all this money for the present (and now guaranteed future) raises comes from the General Fund, does anybody have any idea how much less this means for foster parent payments, state troopers, state employee pay raise, etc?
Comment by Anonymous — March 21, 2007 @ 2:19 pm