Legislators Press Each Other's Buttons

You might still be angry about the pay raise legislators gave themselves and another circumstance we've come across may irk you, too. 9NEWS has learned some legislators voted on two, three, or even four machines at a time during this session because other legislators were not in the chamber. Some of them were not even in the state. We want to know what you think about legislators voting on other machines. Send us your comments below.

Comments

[George]

They just got a payraise and they still can't be there to vote? Why are we paying them? They should be brought up on fraud charges and impeached. It's their job to be there.

[Susan]

I am not surprised by this. It is a further indication that we have elected a bunch of greedy, arrogant people who don't believe they have to answer to anyone. I CANNOT WAIT to vote them out of office!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kathie]

How in the world can this be considered OK? This just stinks!!!

[Lucille Howat]

This is pathetic. They give themselves a raise because they work so hard; and then they aren't even there to vote. I believe the Govenor should definitely veto the raise. It is unethical and maybe the law should be changed to cover this aspect of their jobs. I guess we can't trust them to do anything morally and ethically right.

[Kathy Soileau]

How dare they have the audacity to vote other than their own machine! How many machines did they vote when the pay raise came up for a vote? This practice is absolutely a slap in the face to all of the voters of the state of Louisiana. We are not allowed to vote but one time in the voters booth and they should allowed to vote only once for themselves. It is up to each legislator to be in his/her seat for any bill that he/she wants to vote for. If not present, no voting right. This is just another example of the same old politics and the same old regime. Nothing will ever change in this state. We will continue to be the laughing stock of this nation. Too bad all of them can't be just swept out with the trash!

[Julian D. Kent, Jr.]

I think the voting for someone else just adds to the incredible lack of professionalism of our state officials!! It is such a joke to see this sort of thing going on. Think about it and remember this along with the "pay raise show" when election time comes around again.

Julian D. Kent, Jr.

[seve ketcham]

It's OUT OF CONTROL! We no longer have representation in the legislature. They all represent themselves. If we cannot even count on our representatives being in the room when they vote, what is the use of having them at all? Why not just let us all vote on the issues via the internet. We can save the money spent on representatives and have a true voice in our future.

[Bob Soileau]

VOTER FRAUD....Nothing more, nothing less....

I guess they really believe in Voting Early and Voting Often...

Out with the scoundrels...

[Bud]

i think more will be found out about this bunch of snakes. the best thing to do next election is make a clean sweep. see ya'll at the rally

[Gwen]

How sad, lets allow our students to take exit exams when their buddies are absent from school to make sure they get a passing grade. These are our elected leaders and how have they set a poor example for others to look at. These are the samr leaders that will come out and speak to our youth but what can they say? Do we just turn our heads? Its like someone giving you to much money and you turn you head, say nothing but its a great day.

INTEGRITY NOPE.

Why where they absent? Maybe just maybe they did it for this reason not to have to be there to push the no button for fear of isolation or rejection from their peers.

[Teresa]

I'm speechless...what can possibly be next? Now, this is absolutely unethical.

[Teresa]

I'm speechless...what can possibly be next? Now, this is absolutely unethical.

[Sheryl Waltman]

If there isn't a law against this, there should be. This is nothing short of fraud! Why aren't these machines password protected, etc.? Only in Louisiana could something like this happen. Our image will never improve if we don't clean house--literally! Aren't there enough people out there who are sick of business as usual in the "good 'ole boy" network? Double your pay, then ditch work at your part-time job--but have someone else vote for you. Or--is someone else taking the liberty to vote their mind on your machine? Who knows? That wouldn't fly in the real world, and it should be viewed for what it really is--unethical and just plain WRONG.

[Eddie Daigle]

Why should anyone be surprised, you are in Louisiana and we now have a governor that puts is head in the sand and hides. Until the people stand up and force the issue, nothing will change and waiting until the next election is not the answer. Call these people out publically and keep the heat on them now.

[Louisiana]

If they were not present at the time the pay raise was vote on by lawmakers, their vote should not count. This is FRAUD.

[May Daigre]

Now that the voting process has been made public on the raises, I think our Govenor has to VETO the bill,because of the bogus votes from the members that weren't even there. THIS IS JUST WRONG. Those caught on tape casting votes other than their own should be recalled in their districts.

[Michael]

Anyone who thinks that the Government and Governor was different is a fool! I am an educator who has been busting my butt everyday to educate our kids and if we miss work they want to hang us by our toes! Educators have been getting screwed for as long as I can remember, and these people double their salary in one sitting and then vote using other peoples machines, Huh "Louisiana Politics". We are all fools and should oust all of them including the Gov. and start all over again with everyday people from the community!!!!!

[Karen]

Why is it that we find these things out after the fact? Are we suppose to know this kind of information or is it only for the people that we elected to push their own buttons? Where can we learn their rules and regulations or do we need to elect ourselves to learn them? To bad we can't go back to the past with our knowledge of the future, for if we could, I would elect no one and let the people decide.

[SC]

They should be able to vote ONLY their own machine!!! If someone desires to represent a district as their legislator, the least they can do is to be there to vote their own machine, in the best interest of their constituents .

Good ole LA politics at its best...you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours (while you play hooky from school). For that, they needed a hefty raise?! Very little has changed in the Capitol.

I'm afraid that bunch is going to chew Bobby Jindal up and spit him out!

[Linda]

This should be the "icing on the cake" and convince our Governor that things are not just unethical but way past that! Knowing this is reason enough to veto the payraise for the legislators. These "poor, hard working individuals" that NEED all of the money that they can get their grubby hands on. Governmental ethics! Ha!! The laugh is on the citizens. We have a Governor that leaves the state capitol while in session and makes himself unavailable except to tell us how "over the top the payraise is" but not veto it. Get real............it is time to stop all of this nonsense. These so-called grown men/women are robbing us of finances and any chance of cleaning up government. Somebody get a spine and call them on this!

[Kim]

It is FRAUD!!!!! Another reason Jim Tucker should be booted out... Actually they should all get the boot. When there own constituents called and said they there against the payraise, they voted for it anyway!!! What is wrong this bunch of fruitloops.. I think the water at the Capitol has been tained with arrogance, ignorance and greed! They should all be held accountable.... What a slap in the face for us.... We should all march on the steps of the capitol and demand resignations.

[Steve]

Why does this not surprise us? We hope & vote for a better Louisiana, but it looks like somehow we have gotten short changed again. They vote themselves a 150% pay raise, the governor won't veto it because he says he does not want to "anger" them & endanger future needed legislation. Is that the answer of a "LEADER"?

Sure glad he's shutting down the "feeding trough" . . . . what a joke . . .

Well look at the bright side, they are now like congress & our president. . . you know. . spend, spend, spend . . . veto nothing regardless of what the people want . . . Throw the bums out, all of them and our new rubber stamp Governor.

[BHP]

I'm sick about what I saw on the news,legislator voting for others.This is so wrong.So,some have as many as four votes.
They want this raise and can't stick around long enough to vote on the bills before them.
It is very hard to believe all this going on by the people we voted in office.It's a very sad day here in Louisiana.
Just the good old boys,only in LOUISIANA.

[patricia greene]

The governor had better veto this bill. Or have a revote and only the ones present vote. these are a bunch of self center self serving not public serving. Especially the black one with her but to the camera..Did you see them celebrating and saluting they were proud to be cheating and doing it wrong. They wanted it so bad, it should be crime for these people to control their own pay raises and retirement. not only did they give themselves a big good pay raise, they build a yearly automatic payraise, So they don't have to listen to us again.

[Sheri]

I think this is the icing on the corruption cake!!! I was outraged at the pay raise and even more outraged that Governor Jindal would be held hostage by these selfish, self-centered, greedy bunch of so called "representatives". To me, that is treason. How can you threaten the Governor and get away with it. Furthermore, Jindal should just get rid of everyone and start over if he wants ethics reform. Now, we find out they don't even have to be present to cast a vote!!! Why have a vote at all -- they just do what they want and manipulate the system to get what they want passed no matter what. I'll sign whatever recalls anyone wants to put in front of me!!! I think we need TO CLEAN HOUSE AND START OVER, perhaps with regular citizens and NO politicians or former "public servants". Heck, we could do a much better job.