Louisiana Lawmakers Eye 36% Pay Raise As Residents Face Rising Costs

Louisiana elected officials are seeking salary increases. Louisiana House Bill 1201 is currently advancing through the Louisiana Legislature, and this legislation proposes tying the compensation of the Governor and other statewide officials to the average base pay of university system presidents. The proposal has already cleared a House committee...and is moving toward a full legislative vote.

Proponents of the measure argue that salaries for these positions have remained stagnant for two decades. They suggest the legislation is necessary to attract qualified individuals to public service while preventing turnover among lawmakers.

The Specific Financial Raises

Under the current legislative analysis, the Governor's annual salary would increase from $130,000 to approximately $182,000 in 2028. Compensation for other statewide officials would rise from $115,000 to over $156,000.

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The bill also introduces new benefits for officials other than the Governor. These additions include a $30,000 annual housing allowance, and a $12,000 annual vehicle allowance. Not to mention state legislators would be eligible to collect their $178 daily stipend for up to ten days per month outside of active lawmaking sessions.

Minimum Wage Disparity In Louisiana

Louisiana remains one of five states without an established minimum wage law. Workers in the state operate under the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, a rate that has not changed since 2009. Just this year, an attempt to move the minimum wage to $12 an hour (which would still be under the minimum living wage in Louisiana, which is $20.37 an hour for a single person with zero kids) was shot down by these exact same elected officials.

Critics of the 'elected official pay raise' point to this legislative track record...they question the optics of lawmakers approving substantial personal benefits while refusing to adjust the baseline compensation for residents in the face of rising costs. Inflation has not slowed. Since the start of 2021, Louisiana's inflation has had a cumulative rise of 26.58%...meaning $100 in groceries will now cost $126.58 per week. Over a year, that increase would be an extra $1,382.16 for your groceries (if you were spending $100 in January of 2021).

Push that inflation number across all household costs for the average Louisiana resident, and it gets worse. In January of 2021, the average cost of goods and services for a Louisiana household was $42,353. Which means a cumulative inflation of 26.58% adds $11,257.43 to Louisiana residents' monthly needs.

That means if you work in Louisiana, and haven't had a raise of 26.58% over the last 5 years, you've taken a pay cut...and the people responsible are asking you for a raise.