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December 07, 2005
Doug LaMalfa Sets Example for Political Integrity
Our political hero of the month is Assemblyman Doug LaMalfa-R, from Butte County. He refused to accept the 12% pay raise that goes into effect January. LaMalfa says he is going to donate the raise to local charity.
That gesture says a lot about the farmer from Richvale and the 16 others who also refused the raise. So far, 103 Senators and Assembly members accepted the raise, including our own Assemblyman Rick Keene-R from Chico and Sen. Sam Aanestead-R from Grass Valley.
Our lawmakers were already the highest paid in the nation and this latest raise extends their lead by more than $30,000. In addition to their lavish pay they also receive about $27,000 in cushy benefits.
What do we (the voters) get in return? Not much. It seems that every attempt by the republicans and independants to fix problems, from fiscal responsibility to improving our failing educational system, has been met by incredibly stiff resistance by democratic partisans who would rather complain than compromise. The performance of this democratic controlled legislature has been the worst in decades, with zero fixes and zero cooperation with the minority party. And for those zero's they all get a 12% raise? That's like saying my kid got all F's and now he's on the honor roll.
Our elected government was never designed to be a career move, rather it was designed for citizens to step forward, do their patriotic duty in public service and leave. Thanks in part to the high cost of running for office and political opportunists seeking a lucrative career, we've slowly devolved our [electorial system] into a [special club for the rich and powerful], and a whole new class of professional politicians has emerged; albeit for a very few, like Doug LaMalfa, who have choosen a different path.
I suppose we can take some consolation that at least one local lawmaker has taken a stand for personal ethics, even though it's going to cost him a fat 12% raise. Kudos' to Asssemblyman Doug LaMalfa!
Those other lawmakers have until Dec. 16th to follow Doug's lead.
Posted by Post Scripts at December 7, 2005 10:06 AM
Comments
If I was receiving $126k per year from US taxpayers not to grow rice on top of the salary paid an Assemblyman like Doug, I could afford to be a "hero" too. Don’t get me wrong. I believe that La Malfa is a great man and he is. But donating that money doesn’t make a “hero�, although it is better than a lesser man might do.
Posted by: pypr at December 8, 2005 12:23 PM
To Pypr: I guess when we've come to expect so little from politicians that such jestures as giving up a pay raise does seem almost heroic.
We're on the same page because we both agree Doug LaMalfa did set a high standard for the others to follow and I think it's highly commendable. If only the rest had as much conviction.
Posted by: Jack Lee at December 8, 2005 03:09 PM
You Rock you are soo amazing Daddy!!!!
Love,
Allie,Sophia,Natalie and Kyle
Posted by: Allison at September 16, 2007 07:15 PM
You Rock you are soo amazing Daddy/ Mr.Doug LaMalfa!!!!
Love,
Allie,Sophia,Natalie and Kyle
Posted by: Allison at September 16, 2007 07:18 PM