Imperial legislature on the way?
Dear Editor:
Did anybody read in the Democrat / Gazette about one of our state Senators saying he did not know if he was ahead or behind money wise by being in the legislature? Does anybody believe this bull? Sen. Jimmy Jeffress states that he has never put pencil and paper to see if he is ahead or behind by being in the Legislature. He is getting $60,000 per year in per diem (non taxable) and $ 15,000 in salary. This is a total of $75,000 per year, of which $60,000 is non taxable. I know a lot of people that make a lot less than $75,000, and drive to Little Rock every day to go to work. The legislatures pay for very few meals, the lobbyists pay for most of them. If they do stay in Little Rock, they get to stay in the legislative playhouse for about $300 per month. When I retired if I had been getting $60,000 per year in per diem, I would have not needed a salary. I fear we are going to get just what we deserve for voting to allow the legislature to meet every year. We are going to have an imperial legislature with no connection with the average working person. This has already happened at the federal level and in California, and now I fear is going to happen here.
Thomas Taylor
Heber springs
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Imperial legislature on the way?
Dear Editor:
Did anybody read in the Democrat / Gazette about one of our state Senators saying he did not know if he was ahead or behind money wise by being in the legislature? Does anybody believe this bull? Sen. Jimmy Jeffress states that he has never put pencil and paper to see if he is ahead or behind by being in the Legislature. He is getting $60,000 per year in per diem (non taxable) and $ 15,000 in salary. This is a total of $75,000 per year, of which $60,000 is non taxable. I know a lot of people that make a lot less than $75,000, and drive to Little Rock every day to go to work. The legislatures pay for very few meals, the lobbyists pay for most of them. If they do stay in Little Rock, they get to stay in the legislative playhouse for about $300 per month. When I retired if I had been getting $60,000 per year in per diem, I would have not needed a salary. I fear we are going to get just what we deserve for voting to allow the legislature to meet every year. We are going to have an imperial legislature with no connection with the average working person. This has already happened at the federal level and in California, and now I fear is going to happen here.
Thomas Taylor
Heber springs
