M. Towery says what should be regarded as a truism: "We underpay our legislators." - But would the public howl about a bipartisan raise? It shouldn't.
The following excerpts are from an interesting article by Sonji Jacobs and Nancy Badertscher article in the 01-10-05 ajc entitled:
Lawmakers juggle a variety of livelihoods
State Sen. Jack Hill, a Republican first elected to the Legislature in 1990, is chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, the powerful body that helps decide how state money is spent. When he's not poring over the state's $16 billion budget, he is bagging groceries and checking the balance sheet at the small supermarket he owns in Reidsville.
At times, it's a tough juggling act between running one's business and serving as a part-time legislator. "The daily aggravation of carrying on a business is harder when you're not there," he says.
At the Capitol, Georgia's lawmakers control billions of dollars and make decisions that affect millions of people. They hobnob with corporate big shots and dine with lobbyists in alligator shoes.
But take a look at their day jobs, and it's clear many of Georgia's 180 House members and 56 senators have a lot in common with regular folks.
State Rep. Mack Crawford (R-Zebulon) said legislators must battle a perception they're rolling in money.
"The Legislature is a cross-section of Georgia from an economic and social standpoint," he said. "You do have some people who are independently wealthy and some people who have to leave here to look after their businesses. You've also got a lot of middle class people and some who just barely get by."
State Rep. Brian Thomas (D-Lilburn), a freshman, says "I don't have the luxury of separating myself from work entirely. Quite frankly, I wouldn't be able to pay my bills if I did. I'll just have to use my weekends and nights."
State lawmakers earn $16,524 annually and $128 per diem for their public service.
Thomas can commute from the Capitol to his home daily. Many legislators live several hours away from Atlanta and must come up with innovative ways to work, spend time with their families and serve in the Legislature.
State Rep. Willie Talton (R-Warner Robins), the chief deputy of Houston County, is taking a leave of absence to participate in his first legislative session.
Sometimes the financial strain and time commitment become too much.
Former state Rep. Matt Towery, a Republican, said he left the House after four years in the 1990s after his father forced him to make a choice: Run the family's printing company or "play politics."
Towery remembers that during his years at the Capitol, some of his colleagues struggled to make it financially, and some hit him up for jobs and loans. "It's always been my contention that we underpay our legislators, and in this business and life, you get what you pay for," he said.
"We have very good people who are trying very hard but under very difficult financial circumstances."
_______________
Matt Towery is a friend of mine who has been there and done that, and on this topic he knows about what he speaks.
You may recall that now Matt is a nationally syndicated columnist, the Chairman of Insider Advantage, and, as noted in the ajc article, a former politician himself who served in our state legislature (we old-timers enjoy "laughing with him" about some of his "interesting" experiences while in the state legislature).
Additionally, Matt was a candidate for lieutenant governor.
His most recent venture is his launching of James, a magazine targeting politicians and business leaders in the state.
The official selling point for the magazine named after Georgia founder James Oglethorpe is that it touts an insider's view of state politics, as well as edgy business stories.
The unofficial selling point -- which I can report from personal experience Matt Towery loves to hear -- is that it's to be the magazine that Georgia Trend "used to be" (to my knowledge, Matt has not said this, and this is not my assessment, just the unofficial line if you please).
Back to the subject of this post, Matt not only has been a legislator, but he works with legislators day in and day out, year-around. As noted, he knows about what he speaks.
_______________
To the best of my knowledge, Georgia's legislators have not had a raise, at least a meaningful raise, for decades.
We expect our legislators to run for office 365 day (as Cathy Cox said today, "Any elected official is always campaigning." See 01-10-05 ajc's article on the Wild Hog Supper) and then go to Atlanta for 40 days and 40 nights once a year for $16,000 and change.
And for those from the Other Georgia, while in Atlanta buy yourself some Atlanta quarters and food from the $128 per diem.
(Ethics Commissioner Emmett Bowers has said he was troubled that metro Atlanta legislators receive the same per diem as those other lawmakers from outside metro Atlanta and "get to put it in their pocket." This comment was made in the context of the fine levied against former House Majority Leader Jimmy Skipper (D-Americus). Skipper, who retired last year, spent campaign donations for an apartment in Atlanta in 2001 and 2002. See 11-19-04 ajc article.)
I read an article in our State Bar Journal years ago by Speaker Tom Murphy recounting how few attorneys are in the legislature now compared with days gone by because of the stress and strain of keeping their law practices going while the General Assembly is in session.
As noted in the above ajc article, the problem is not unique to the legal profession.
An attorney from Maryland with whom I was sharing the Murphy article years ago told me that the Maryland part-time legislature was over 90% comprised of retired persons and teachers. With regard to the latter profession, Maryland law provided that teachers would be given paid leave while the legislature was in session.
And an most legislators will tell you if you ask them, the heck of it is that many of us don't even appreciate their service and sacrifice, nor thank them for it. Rather we fuss when they do something with which we disagree, never remembering to thank them when they do something "right," meaning obviously with which we agree.
As Mr. Towery says, "It's always been my contention that we underpay our legislators, and in this business and life, you get what you pay for."
Think about it. We are probably getting a heck of a lot more than we are paying for, and an adjustment is not only deserved and in order but way, way overdue.
Lawmakers juggle a variety of livelihoods
State Sen. Jack Hill, a Republican first elected to the Legislature in 1990, is chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, the powerful body that helps decide how state money is spent. When he's not poring over the state's $16 billion budget, he is bagging groceries and checking the balance sheet at the small supermarket he owns in Reidsville.
At times, it's a tough juggling act between running one's business and serving as a part-time legislator. "The daily aggravation of carrying on a business is harder when you're not there," he says.
At the Capitol, Georgia's lawmakers control billions of dollars and make decisions that affect millions of people. They hobnob with corporate big shots and dine with lobbyists in alligator shoes.
But take a look at their day jobs, and it's clear many of Georgia's 180 House members and 56 senators have a lot in common with regular folks.
State Rep. Mack Crawford (R-Zebulon) said legislators must battle a perception they're rolling in money.
"The Legislature is a cross-section of Georgia from an economic and social standpoint," he said. "You do have some people who are independently wealthy and some people who have to leave here to look after their businesses. You've also got a lot of middle class people and some who just barely get by."
State Rep. Brian Thomas (D-Lilburn), a freshman, says "I don't have the luxury of separating myself from work entirely. Quite frankly, I wouldn't be able to pay my bills if I did. I'll just have to use my weekends and nights."
State lawmakers earn $16,524 annually and $128 per diem for their public service.
Thomas can commute from the Capitol to his home daily. Many legislators live several hours away from Atlanta and must come up with innovative ways to work, spend time with their families and serve in the Legislature.
State Rep. Willie Talton (R-Warner Robins), the chief deputy of Houston County, is taking a leave of absence to participate in his first legislative session.
Sometimes the financial strain and time commitment become too much.
Former state Rep. Matt Towery, a Republican, said he left the House after four years in the 1990s after his father forced him to make a choice: Run the family's printing company or "play politics."
Towery remembers that during his years at the Capitol, some of his colleagues struggled to make it financially, and some hit him up for jobs and loans. "It's always been my contention that we underpay our legislators, and in this business and life, you get what you pay for," he said.
"We have very good people who are trying very hard but under very difficult financial circumstances."
_______________
Matt Towery is a friend of mine who has been there and done that, and on this topic he knows about what he speaks.
You may recall that now Matt is a nationally syndicated columnist, the Chairman of Insider Advantage, and, as noted in the ajc article, a former politician himself who served in our state legislature (we old-timers enjoy "laughing with him" about some of his "interesting" experiences while in the state legislature).
Additionally, Matt was a candidate for lieutenant governor.
His most recent venture is his launching of James, a magazine targeting politicians and business leaders in the state.
The official selling point for the magazine named after Georgia founder James Oglethorpe is that it touts an insider's view of state politics, as well as edgy business stories.
The unofficial selling point -- which I can report from personal experience Matt Towery loves to hear -- is that it's to be the magazine that Georgia Trend "used to be" (to my knowledge, Matt has not said this, and this is not my assessment, just the unofficial line if you please).
Back to the subject of this post, Matt not only has been a legislator, but he works with legislators day in and day out, year-around. As noted, he knows about what he speaks.
_______________
To the best of my knowledge, Georgia's legislators have not had a raise, at least a meaningful raise, for decades.
We expect our legislators to run for office 365 day (as Cathy Cox said today, "Any elected official is always campaigning." See 01-10-05 ajc's article on the Wild Hog Supper) and then go to Atlanta for 40 days and 40 nights once a year for $16,000 and change.
And for those from the Other Georgia, while in Atlanta buy yourself some Atlanta quarters and food from the $128 per diem.
(Ethics Commissioner Emmett Bowers has said he was troubled that metro Atlanta legislators receive the same per diem as those other lawmakers from outside metro Atlanta and "get to put it in their pocket." This comment was made in the context of the fine levied against former House Majority Leader Jimmy Skipper (D-Americus). Skipper, who retired last year, spent campaign donations for an apartment in Atlanta in 2001 and 2002. See 11-19-04 ajc article.)
I read an article in our State Bar Journal years ago by Speaker Tom Murphy recounting how few attorneys are in the legislature now compared with days gone by because of the stress and strain of keeping their law practices going while the General Assembly is in session.
As noted in the above ajc article, the problem is not unique to the legal profession.
An attorney from Maryland with whom I was sharing the Murphy article years ago told me that the Maryland part-time legislature was over 90% comprised of retired persons and teachers. With regard to the latter profession, Maryland law provided that teachers would be given paid leave while the legislature was in session.
And an most legislators will tell you if you ask them, the heck of it is that many of us don't even appreciate their service and sacrifice, nor thank them for it. Rather we fuss when they do something with which we disagree, never remembering to thank them when they do something "right," meaning obviously with which we agree.
As Mr. Towery says, "It's always been my contention that we underpay our legislators, and in this business and life, you get what you pay for."
Think about it. We are probably getting a heck of a lot more than we are paying for, and an adjustment is not only deserved and in order but way, way overdue.
posted by Sid Cottingham | 6:15 PM
1 Comments:
Maybe the state should set up dorms where law makers from outside Atlanta could live while the legislature was in session. If they did that, the per diem could be scrapped completely (or greatly reduced). While the legislature wasn't in session, the dorms could be used as a visitor center or hostel or something to recoup costs.
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