Post by phinehas on Mar 15, 2007 23:07:32 GMT -5
Here is another perspective of this debate that people should consider before storming Montgomery.
www.ncsl.org/programs/press/2004/backgrounder_fullandpart.htm
"Being a legislator doesn't just mean attending legislative sessions and voting on proposed laws. State legislators also spend large amounts of time assisting constituents, studying state issues during the interim and campaigning for election. These activities go on throughout the year. Any assessment of the time requirements of the job should include all of these elements of legislative life."
Notice that Alabama is classified as a white state and NOT a blue state.
While not 100% decided on whether or not the pay raise is too high (Can somebody tell me if this expense allowance they receive is taxable income? That is what I am not clear about.) ....I don't think it should be out of the question that they don't get one. I do think that their expenses should be vouchered and, if not in the law already, any unused expense money should be returned to the coffers monthly as a possible option.
Their salaries are not really the issue here in my opinion...the issue is that people think the current Legislators suck. That being the case, VOTE THEM OUT OF FREAKIN OFFICE IF YOU DON"T LIKE THEM!
Instead of doing that...people would rather do some "feel good" march to the capitol that will amount to NOTHING and RESOLVE NOTHING because the root cause of the problem is forgotten AGAIN come election cycle.
Also as a side note...all this talk of a voice vote versus a recorded vote and the controversy surrounding it. Can anybody find me an article that states exactly how many Senators raised their hands? Because unless it was at least 10, then we
can't fault Folsom. So far I haven't seen any numbers at all other than reports of "Several Republican senators"..which in my book isn't proof of 10.
* side note to the sidenote...why is aye retained but nay changed to no?
www.legislature.state.al.us/house/houserules/houserules57_64.html
Rule 62.
All questions subject to voice vote shall be distinctly put in the following form: "Those in favor (as the question may be) say 'aye'," and after the affirmative voice is expressed, "Those opposed say 'no'." If the Speaker doubts, or if requested by a member and sustained by ten other members before a decision is announced, the members shall vote by recorded vote.
Piggybacked onto this subject (which mentions pay raises)....here is an interesting idea back in 2003 for those that don't think voting has changed anything.
www.annistonstar.com/opinion/2003/as-editorials-0115-cwaddle-3a14q4639.htm
Politicians are locked into their habits. We the People are not. One way to break out of the rut is with a media development called Public Journalism.
Editors, broadcasters and reporters could form shadow legislative delegations of real citizens in every community and converse with them about a People’s Agenda that has to do with our lives instead of our politicians’ careers.
Publish and broadcast that conversation side-by-side with the report from Montgomery.
State associations for newspapers and broadcasters could even gather all these shadow delegations together into a big shadow Legislature with the help of universities. Let the governor sell his plan there.
This legislature-of-the-mind would be revolution without bloodshed. And the ideas straight from the people would let the traditional senators and representatives know what’s on the public mind.
Public Journalism would end up answering my question. I think it would tell us the Legislature isn’t much worth anything if it doesn’t work for the People’s Agenda instead of more power and pay for legislators.
www.ncsl.org/programs/press/2004/backgrounder_fullandpart.htm
"Being a legislator doesn't just mean attending legislative sessions and voting on proposed laws. State legislators also spend large amounts of time assisting constituents, studying state issues during the interim and campaigning for election. These activities go on throughout the year. Any assessment of the time requirements of the job should include all of these elements of legislative life."
Notice that Alabama is classified as a white state and NOT a blue state.
While not 100% decided on whether or not the pay raise is too high (Can somebody tell me if this expense allowance they receive is taxable income? That is what I am not clear about.) ....I don't think it should be out of the question that they don't get one. I do think that their expenses should be vouchered and, if not in the law already, any unused expense money should be returned to the coffers monthly as a possible option.
Their salaries are not really the issue here in my opinion...the issue is that people think the current Legislators suck. That being the case, VOTE THEM OUT OF FREAKIN OFFICE IF YOU DON"T LIKE THEM!
Instead of doing that...people would rather do some "feel good" march to the capitol that will amount to NOTHING and RESOLVE NOTHING because the root cause of the problem is forgotten AGAIN come election cycle.
Also as a side note...all this talk of a voice vote versus a recorded vote and the controversy surrounding it. Can anybody find me an article that states exactly how many Senators raised their hands? Because unless it was at least 10, then we
can't fault Folsom. So far I haven't seen any numbers at all other than reports of "Several Republican senators"..which in my book isn't proof of 10.
* side note to the sidenote...why is aye retained but nay changed to no?
www.legislature.state.al.us/house/houserules/houserules57_64.html
Rule 62.
All questions subject to voice vote shall be distinctly put in the following form: "Those in favor (as the question may be) say 'aye'," and after the affirmative voice is expressed, "Those opposed say 'no'." If the Speaker doubts, or if requested by a member and sustained by ten other members before a decision is announced, the members shall vote by recorded vote.
Piggybacked onto this subject (which mentions pay raises)....here is an interesting idea back in 2003 for those that don't think voting has changed anything.
www.annistonstar.com/opinion/2003/as-editorials-0115-cwaddle-3a14q4639.htm
Politicians are locked into their habits. We the People are not. One way to break out of the rut is with a media development called Public Journalism.
Editors, broadcasters and reporters could form shadow legislative delegations of real citizens in every community and converse with them about a People’s Agenda that has to do with our lives instead of our politicians’ careers.
Publish and broadcast that conversation side-by-side with the report from Montgomery.
State associations for newspapers and broadcasters could even gather all these shadow delegations together into a big shadow Legislature with the help of universities. Let the governor sell his plan there.
This legislature-of-the-mind would be revolution without bloodshed. And the ideas straight from the people would let the traditional senators and representatives know what’s on the public mind.
Public Journalism would end up answering my question. I think it would tell us the Legislature isn’t much worth anything if it doesn’t work for the People’s Agenda instead of more power and pay for legislators.