Legislative Pay Raise

Many in Alabama are looking hard at the newly elected Republican Legislature and asking the question.

What's new?

My republican brothers made a lot of stink in the last election about our Democratic Alabama Legislature giving themselves a 62% pay raise, then tacking on an automatic COLA without taking it to a vote of the people. Even worse, the "Salary" of our legislators is $10 a day and the rest is "expenses" which essentially causes the three million dollars of your tax money they give themselves each year to be tax free.

Frankly, during the campaign I didn't make too much of the pay raise issue because if I had gotten elected - Due to State Board rulings and the Alabama Supreme court decision - I would have been forced to give up my day job.

I just might have needed the money.

Most, however, of your elected officials are not required by the Supreme Court to give up their day jobs.

And most don't need the money.

The TEA party, who had a great influence on the election, are waiting to see legislation creating jobs, cutting taxes, eliminating illegal immigration, and harsher rules about the "culture of corruption" in Montgomery. They would even like to see them take a stab at improving our schools and maybe allowing a prayer time or state help with homeschooling efforts.

December 8th is going to see a special session on ethics. Unfortunately you probably won't see any discussion of repealing the pay raise or taking it to a vote of the people. PAC to PAC transfers will be discussed but no real progress or changes made. The $250 per day per lobbyist that can be spent on your legislators will not be affected. You will not hear a word about "400" money, discretionary spending funds for legislators, severance tax accounts, or TVA in lieu of funds. -

This my friend is where the bodies are buried.


We will know by Christmas if the new boss is different from the old boss.