Salary Wars

[stoutfellow]

Oh, this is hilarious. Another way to knock off the political competition before it even gets off the ground...

Hat tip to The Carpetbagger.

Comments

[filkferengi]

It's definitely a good first step.

[cynthia1960.livejournal.com]

I went to college with Gov. Napolitano; she was a senior when I was a freshman, and was a rising star even then. Good on you, Jan!

[hornedhopper.livejournal.com]

Janet Napolitano is awesome! She makes moderate but humane decisions and has the support of Dems as well as a lot of Reublicans. Not a Steady Freddy; I can say that I *did* vote for her (g)!

Hmmm...

[carbonelle.livejournal.com]

While I've often thought it would be amusing if state representatives were salary capped at their state's median income for a family of four, and I also have no arguments about Governor Napolitano's virtues (I don't know her from Adam's off-ox), I do have one question: Does she actually live off her salary? Or is she like Der Terminator in Sacramento? And what are the housing cost (say) in Phoenix?

Because it's not wise to set salaries for government positions so that only the independently wealthy or economically... creative... are willing to take the job.

Re: Hmmm...

[hornedhopper.livejournal.com]

I believe that she does live within her salary. If you are interested in knowing a little more about her, I found an article (of course it's going to be positive! It's her alma mater) that gave a good sketch of her background at:

http://www.law.virginia.edu/home2002/html/news/2003_spr/napolitano_ps.htm

The housing costs in Phoenix used to be *fairly* low, but the median cost for a resale house in the Greater Phoenix area is now @$220,000, which is scaring a lot of real estate people.

I actually agree with you on the issue of not *penalizing* people for going from the private sector to the public sector, with its markedly lower salary ranges. It is usual that good attorneys in private practice make a ver good, three-figure salary. Public sector attorneys, OTOH, often have salaries to start that are not always as good as top paralegal salaries in private practice. And I *want* good people in the public sector, so I invariably do vote *yes* when there is a vote to increase legislators' salaries, fr'instance, for the reason that you stated above. Sadly, my fellow Republicans here generally vote *no* on the issue.

Re: Hmmm...

[carbonelle.livejournal.com]

Well, being a fellow (albeit strongly libertarian-leaning) Republican, I'm afraid I base my vote less on need than on the perception that said public servants are legislating strong free market (e.g. positive economic growth) policies. Otherwise, let 'em live with the consequences of their half-@rsed policie like everyone else.

Thanks for the link, btw, she sounds cool.