BOGALUSA - Many Washington Parish residents have taken note of the recent 120 percent pay raise for Louisiana legislators, and they aren't too happy about it.
"I have not heard the first person that is for this (other than the legislators that voted in favor of it)," said Larry Hunt, 64, of Bogalusa.
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Both legislators from Washington Parish - Sen. Ben Nevers and Rep. Harold Ritchie - voted for and accepted the pay raise.
Nevers said he voted for it because it will give blue-collar folks a chance to earn a living while serving in the state Legislature.
"It was a tough decision on my part," Nevers said this week. He said the Louisiana Legislature is becoming a place where only the wealthy can afford to serve, however, the pay raise allows a working man the chance to leave his job for several months of the year and serve the public. The pay raise, he said, allows for a legislature that can be fully representative of the people.
Nevers said he has had a number of phone calls from people in Washington Parish that are not happy about the raise. "I've had others that say they understand," he added.
However, even with the pay raise, Hunt says that serving in the Louisiana Legislature will still be reserved for the wealthy. It's the wealthy people that have the money - and political pull - to win an election, he said.
"A person like me or you couldn't beat him. No way," Hunt said.
Ritchie said his main reason for voting for the raise was to increase the base pay for Louisiana legislatures - which had been among the lowest in the country. The $16,800 yearly pay was "really not enough," he said. Like Nevers, Ritchie said the new law opens up serving in legislature to more people - not just those who can afford to do it.
"I think you'll see more people wanting to run because of that," Ritchie said.
Ritchie said he considered declining the raise, but decided to donate his first year's extra income to local organizations instead - rather than see the money go elsewhere in the state. The nearly $20,000 extra he will receive - barring a governor's veto - will be donated to organizations in his district, he said.
"I'll pay my taxes, and then give it organizations in our area," Ritchie said.
Still, the pay raise - approved in both the state Senate and House - has to pass one final hurdle: the governor's desk.
If the governor is going to help the people of this state, he will veto the bill, Hunt said.
Gov. Bobby Jindal has until July 8 to veto or sign the bill into law. Jindal has said he does not approve the pay raise, but won't veto it either.
Some folks in Washington Parish say they are not opposed to legislators receiving a pay raise, but this raise was simply too much.
"I'm totally against it," said Donald Ray Fornea, 60, of Angie. "It's too much at one time."
The money could be better spent on improving highways or other actions, Fornea said.
Fornea said it wasn't right for local state leaders Nevers or Ritchie to vote themselves a pay raise of that amount. Or any other state leader for that matter, and it will hurt them in the next election.
Fornea said Jindal should veto the bill.
"He should veto this 100 percent without any questions asked," Fornea said.
Even some visitors to Washington Parish don't approve the pay raise.
Walking out of Main Street Grocery in Bogalusa on Monday, Ty Fusilier, a construction worker, said state leaders should not have voted for it.
"I think it's a bunch of bull--," he said.
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