By Mrs. Snoop

Wanted – People who have tiny brains, very flexible back-bones, and no personal integrity, to spend a lot of time talking at each other 6-9 months out of each year, pose for pictures, give interviews, kiss babies, pretend to understand written information that they haven’t even read, and do all they can to feather their own nests and serve their own personal interests, all the while making rules that everyone else – but not them - must follow. Pay, $82,000+ per year plus $200 per day extra for every day you actually show up for work. No experience needed. In fact, the more you know about real life, the less qualified for the job you will be. To apply, simply run a campaign (with the help of special interest groups) and win office to become a Kansas State Senator or Representative.

http://www.kssos.org/forms/communication/legis.pdf

Check this link out. Page 17 lists the salaries and extra payments for Kansas state lawmakers. No wonder the Legislative session lasts longer and longer every year. We give the legislators almost $200 a day EXTRA pay for every day they are in session! That’s over and above their already grossly over-inflated yearly salary over $82,000 per year.

They aren’t earning this salary. Not even close. Most of the real “work” is done by Legislative staff; they draft the bills language (according the wishes of the people who support a particular bill). They keep track of meeting times and following procedures. They come to work on time and don’t leave until after the bosses do. And the vast bulk of them are not paid as much as the politicians who barely understand what is going on around them (if at all). In addition, each year there is an increase in the number of “resolutions” – do nothing statements of policy supported by the members of a particular house (or both). Do we really want to pay people $82,000 per year to re-name highways, tell the US Congress how we feel about illegal immigration, and pass laws that allow them to by-pass the laws that apply to all other branches of government (e.g. state surplus laws, state open government laws, state conflict of interest laws…etc.)? I sure don’t.

But apparently we are so used to being bilked and buffaloed by our lawmakers that the majority of voters don’t care that these well paid Legislators are spending many millions to improve the looks of the place they work and increasing the number and value of the perks they get for having their titles, while the rest of the state budget requests are in limbo and in danger of more cuts.* While many Kansans struggle to keep their lights turned on, the state house is now lit with hand-cut, hand-blown Austrian Crystal globes. While many Kansans are cutting back on the days they eat meat, so they can afford the gas it takes to drive to work, the Legislators have given themselves a break from the state surplus laws, so they can purchase their “old” (2 years) laptops at Goodwill prices. While most Kansas employees must pay for parking if they work in Topeka, the Legislators spent millions to tunnel under the state house and give themselves free parking.

I know I’ve said it before, but I will say it again – anyone who wants to pass laws that apply to other people should only be allowed to do so if and when the laws they pass apply to them too!

Now, I want to add one more thing; anyone who works for the people should never get paid for more for work then they would pay their constituents for their jobs, and no pay at all for anything that does not actually benefit their employer (the public).

I think those yahoos across the street owe me, and every Kansan, a big fat apology for all of our time and money that they waste annually. In addition to an apology, I want a big refund. Now. How about they pay each of us for all the time they waste giving themselves extra perks or doing nothing?

There are currently 40 state senators and 125 state representatives. That is 165 people who run the state and are paid $82,000+ per year ($200 per day extra when they are actually at work). That is $13,530,000 (not counting the $200 per day bonuses). The US Census office ** reports that there are approximately 2,764,075 residents in Kansas, as of 2006. Divide that 2,764, 075 into the $13,530,00 and that means that each year we all (man woman and child) pay about $5 a year to support them.

I could use an extra $5 per year in income. Couldn’t you? I’d have a whole lot more to show for it then I get from my state representatives!

 *http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2007/dec/04/capitol_renovation_costs_keep_going/   for more information on the capital building renovation project.    

** http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/20000.html

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008 at 2:56 pm and is filed under Greedy Bastards, Government Crooks!, Government Idiots.
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