Would you become a Louisiana legislator for one year if someone paid you $16,800?
“Some of you are probably thinking that there’s no amount of money that would convince you to get behind the pawns on the Capitol chess board,” writes Jeremy Alford in his latest column. “There are others, though, who would surely do it for free.”
Alford notes lawmakers worked long hours for their $16,800 annual salary in 2016, with more consecutive days spent in session than in any other year since 1812.
“On the other hand, the Legislature failed to adopt a construction plan on time last year and couldn’t agree on a budget before the most recent regular session adjourned in June,” he writes. “We all know what would happen if you missed your deadlines at work. There would be no paycheck.”
But Alford points out that government is not business, adding he doesn’t believe it should be run like one.
“Unless they’re independently wealthy, legislators want to be compensated for their time just like we do—and $16,800 seems like a small sum for the efforts invested,” he writes. “Skeptics and critics have every right to be offended by that opinion, but they shouldn’t needlessly worry. The political landscape isn’t right for an increase in legislative salaries.”
Across the nation legislative salaries in 2017 remained largely unchanged from recent years, according to a study released three weeks ago by the National Conference of State Legislatures. In the 41 states that actually pay their legislators an annual salary the average pay was $35,592, the study found.
Jeremy Alford publishes LaPolitics Weekly, a newsletter on Louisiana politics, at LaPolitics.com. Follow him on Twitter, or on Facebook. He can be reached at JJA@LaPolitics.com.
