The fact is noone really voted against this bill. A few guys were smart enough to see the thing was gonna pass without problems and thought "Man I am gonna vote against this thing, not piss of my constituents, and still get my 200% raise. Sweet!" I am willing to bet none of the dudes that votead against it are going to refuse the raise.
OK, I did. Here are the numbers you failed to provide . . . and I'm not surprised why. FOR = 14 democrats to 7 republicans (Democrats 2 to 1 in favor) AGAINST = 9 democrats to 7 republicans (Democrats 1.2 to 1 in opposition) So I repeat . . . Where is this 3 to 1 democrats to republicans in favor of the pay raise that you mentioned? By your own source, democrats led both FOR and AGAINST the bill and neither by 3 to 1.
I calculated 15 dems voted yes and 4 republicans voted yes. I'm not going to do a recount but I'll take your word for it. A 2 to 1 ratio is still great enough to more than make my point. To criticize just the republican party because of a bill that was created by a democrat and had twice as many yes vote cast by the democrats is not rational thinking. I think both parties should be criticized.
Actually the vote For was 14 Dems, 6 GOP, but SO THE HELL WHAT? Clearly this took substantial voting on both sides of the aisle, and with Dems controlling the House 54-52, it won't pass tomorrow without significant support from both parties. I won't defend Jindal's refusal to veto for a second (he should veto and tell both houses,"now send me a bill with a raise more in line with what people in the real world get...4-5%, and I'll gladly support and sign"), but to try to lay this in the lap of either party alone is just absurd.
Of course, but why pick one party to bash here. This is nowhere near a party issue. You always bash the republicans and rarely the democrats even though, in this situation, this whole thing goes across party lines. I guess that's why you consider yourself a pragmatic independent.:yelwink2: The truth is, they all would have voted for it. Some were just smart enough to know it was going to pass and jumped off the train. This is a very disappointing day for LA politics no matter what your party affiliation. Some raise may have been in order but to put us in the top 5 or so nationwide is ridiculous. Jindal just sold his soul to the devil (assuming he signs the bill into law), I hope it was worth it. Here's a breakdown by state of legislator pay. 2007 Legislator Compensation
And that is exactly right. Our Mr. Good, who will change the state around, blah blah blah blah hasn't got the balls to veto this crap. Looks like more of the same LA politics..
Uhhh, . . . because we only have one governor? Well, I voted for Jindal and I've voted for republicans many times previously. That doesn't blind me to their failings. The lack of moderate candidates forces independents to choose from left or right. Right now the Republicans have drifted so far from the center that I can't follow them. Jindal showed some promise because he definitely has a brain, but he disappoints me already, because he apparently has no balls.
