tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post116458150331167906..comments2020-04-11T03:30:02.282-05:00Gary R. Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15185079937305083438noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-1164675137799647942006-11-27T19:52:00.000-05:002006-11-27T19:52:00.000-05:00Harrison Ullman's tired line about Indiana having America's worst legislature wasn't true at the time he wrote it, and isn't true now. While the Indiana general assembly would never be mistaken for the first continental congress, they put in a decent showing compared to other legislatures in the US, or even in the Midwest. They deserve a lot of credit for passing a budget every year, even a couple of years ago when money was very tight.<BR/><BR/>Yeah, the marriage amendment is stupid, but it's not like is the only state wasting its time in this manner. Having said that, though, I should point out that the committee hearing on the amendment (at least in the senate) was carried on with a high degree of deference, decorum, and fairness for each side.<BR/><BR/>I do agree that the pay scale should be much more transparent - perhaps a $40,000 salary with pay increases linked to inflation or raises given to executive branch employees or something similar. Underpaying legislators isn't a good idea, since then only the wealthy become legislators.<BR/><BR/>I don't think that there's really a way to make the legislature representative, since most people don't have jobs that allow you to take off 4-6 months a year to do another job.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-1164658392512344032006-11-27T15:13:00.000-05:002006-11-27T15:13:00.000-05:00<I>The thread is about legislative pay-- not your personal beef with Peterson or Democrats.</I><BR/><BR/>Seems this thread was more a slam on Bob Garton than anything.<BR/><BR/>And a full-time career legislator - would be a BAD thing. Using Gary's example of Illinois - where Speaker of the House's daughter is the AG, and the Gov's father in law is a Cook County Dem Machine hack. Too much political inbreeding there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-1164644819490273162006-11-27T11:26:00.000-05:002006-11-27T11:26:00.000-05:00This is just a truth in advertising issue. The job pays $40,000 a year. Just say so. I know it might make for a tough vote for a legislator or two to go home and campaign on, but it's an important step.<BR/><BR/>Don't give different wages to Indianapolis legislators. That's a punishment to those individuals. Pay a salary, if you can't afford to cover costs (e.g. gas, lodging during session, cell phone bills, etc.) then don't run, but don't create a tiering of salaries, this will discourage candidates in Central Indiana.<BR/><BR/>If we give legislators a realistic salary, the need for the insane 4 to 1 match pension also goes away.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-1164643885699678032006-11-27T11:11:00.000-05:002006-11-27T11:11:00.000-05:00Hailstone wouldn't know reality if it whacked him over the snout with a rolled up newspaper.<BR/><BR/>The thread is about legislative pay-- not your personal beef with Peterson or Democrats.<BR/><BR/>ON TOPIC:<BR/>I believe the origin of the citizen-legislator was to make sure that these people A) were in close contact with their constituents and B) had to live under the same laws they pass. <BR/><BR/>Although I agree with Gary that they should come up with a more straight-forward system and better reporting for lobbyist goodies -- htere is no way they will do that-- and expose the reality of the system. <BR/><BR/>And GOD FORBID they ever become a full-time legislature-- we don't want all those laws!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-1164635788118113652006-11-27T08:56:00.000-05:002006-11-27T08:56:00.000-05:00Yessss...<BR/><BR/>Things will be so much better once I am in control and [cue: thunder, lightning, echo reverb voice effects] I WILL ABOLISH ALL LEGISLATURES AND HAVE COMPLETE CONTROL!!!!<BR/><BR/>[cue: Vincent Price voice]<BR/>MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!<BR/><BR/><BR/>[The above is 98% sarcasm, substitute Bart Peterson for "I" and you'll be amazingly close to reality]Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-1164630822600520502006-11-27T07:33:00.000-05:002006-11-27T07:33:00.000-05:00Garton started the Ivy Tech gravy train. And if I'm not mistaken, he didn't even have a college degree. Just a rare talent as a professional speaker, a pipe, and a calm demeanor. And a gavel.<BR/><BR/>The whole system is broken. <BR/><BR/>Orentlicher's pay is fair--if we want a citizen legislature. He's the brightest guy over there, and he teaches a full load at IUPUI in addition to legislative duties.<BR/><BR/>Hell for a period of time the state Republican Party's exec was a representative too. Talk about hacks.<BR/><BR/>Thing is, nobody sat in a big room and said, "Hmmmm. This may be a bad idea. Republican executive director as a legislator? Let's not do it. Wouldn't look good."<BR/><BR/>This posting, and other news stories about this subject, neglect to mention the freebies these folks get. Tickets to games. Meals. Tickets to the race, national "conferences." And the broad reporting categories on their Conflict of Interest statements, mean, effectively, that you'll never know the true influence level if those freebies cost $250.01 or more. It's all the same on those forms.<BR/><BR/>Harrison Ullman was right.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-1164596863701623772006-11-26T22:07:00.000-05:002006-11-26T22:07:00.000-05:00I posted this on the Star story:<BR/><BR/>Just found a WISH TV report on public wages for a few of our elected "leaders."<BR/><BR/>In Oct. of 2005:<BR/><BR/>Bauer was making $106,000 from Ivy Tech alone. Combine that with his statehouse pay, he makes $151,000 a year. How hard is it to live on $151,000 a year? I am sure there is just a good of person that can do the job, but is find with living frugal. Plus he has gotten the benefit of a 4-for-1 retirement plan.<BR/><BR/>Former Rep. Garton made $109,000 from Ivy Tech. So he made $154,000 a year PLUS life time healthcare PLUS a 4-for-1 retirement plan.<BR/><BR/>Craig Fry made $101,000 from Ivy Tech. So he made a combined income of $146,000 PLUS the 4-for-1 retirement plan.<BR/><BR/>Bill Crawford made $65,000. A combined income of $110,000. Plus all those nice benefits.<BR/><BR/>David Orentlicher teachers at Indiana Univ. He makes $135,000 just from IU. So a nice combined income of $180,000.<BR/><BR/>No wonder these guys did not want Mitch's tax on people who make over $100K...it would include them. Funny how the Dem party always slams CEO pay, yet they rape the Indiana taxpayer. Sickening.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-1164584427781080702006-11-26T18:40:00.000-05:002006-11-26T18:40:00.000-05:00Of course you're right, AI, but good luck getting America's worst state legislature to listen.<BR/><BR/>These geniuses are going to debate the Marriage Amendment, which affects so many of us so closely to home, in a month or so.<BR/><BR/>Their pay scheme invites so much cronyism and shadow corruption, it's ridiculous.<BR/><BR/>Senate President Pro Tem Garton used to classify himself a "professional speaker" and accept many off-session gigs from groups which lobby heavily. It was extra income he didn't have to report.<BR/><BR/>I personally don't care what they're paid, except: any pay increases hsould never go into effect until a differently-elected legislature is in session, and their entire pay and income should be disclosed.<BR/><BR/>As it is, we have a legislature full of public employees, lawyers and retirees.<BR/><BR/>Not exactly representative.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com