Napolitano nixing raise could pay dividends

[Rose Siding]

When Gov. Janet Napolitano holds a Cabinet meeting, she's the lowest-paid person in the room.

And she apparently wants to keep it that way, turning down a $65,000 pay raise last year in what could be one of the shrewdest political moves she ever made.

Political insiders say Napolitano's decision to reject the hefty salary increase already has had an impact on the 2006 political scene. Republicans are having trouble recruiting a gubernatorial candidate, and some say the salary and the lack of a governor's mansion are part of the problem.

"I think it clearly has kept some Republicans from running," GOP strategist Nathan Sproul said. "No question about it. We exclude an entire population of people who would make excellent governors, simply because the salary is too low."

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0725guvpay25.html

I adore a frugal Democrat :)

[hobbit709]

1. It used to be called

"Public Service" not enrichment at the public's expense. Our founding fathers saw it as a duty not an entitlement to feed at the public trough..

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

4. That's a poor attitude to take.

Yes, it is public service, but this is a job.

Like it or not, unless you pay quality money, you're either only going to get the rich and power hungry to take it, or you're going to get people that are woefully qualified.

Furthermore, the work is easily on par with that of CEO's with seven figure salaries. $100-150k for a governor or Congressman really isn't all that much, nor is it really enough to qualify someone as being very rich.

[hobbit709]

5. I'll change my attitude

when "public servants' start serving the public instead of special interests. Take a look at the retirement deal the Texas legislature just gave themselves.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

6. Here's a short tip for you

"special interests" are groups that are part of the public. They're made of people like you and me. Are you a member of any group, like ACLU, a union, or NARAL? Then you ARE a special interest.

[hobbit709]

7. Have you seen

any of those groups get the time of day from most politicians(especially republicans)?

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

8. Yes, constantly.

That consumes the better part of their days. And it's true for both sides of the aisle.

[MurrayDelph]

9. Haven't you noticed?

"Special Interests" are those groups who favor THE OTHER SIDE
(whichever side the speaker is on, those are just normal people.
i.e. We have "consistuents", they have "special interests")

[LeighAnn]

10. $95,000 Not Chump Change

I don't think that "low" of a salary would have kept Mr. Smith from going to Washington. What qualifies one to be a governor, anyway? Big muscles? Willingness to kick thousands of children off of Medicaid? $95,000 is good dough, knowing what the salary for governor in NJ is makes me want to move there and run.

[msongs]

11. gee, I could live on $70Ka year with all those perks....especially

since all you do is sit around and yak, and everything else is done for you like having transportation, secretaries and support staff etc and so on.

Msongs
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

12. what a gross misunderstanding of politics.

Do yourself a favor. Come to Washington DC and just walk around the office buildings. You will not see anyone just sitting around and "yakking".

[marbuc]

14. Candidates never run for public office to get rich

but to put them in position to get rich upon returning to the private sector in a cushy lobbying gig.

[blondeatlast]

20. State employees went years without raises. Napolitano stated

last year that she wouldn't take a raise until they got one, which they have.

She's a popular guv, not easy for a Democrat.

[blondeatlast]

21. The article also pointed out that the median income in AZ is

[kentuck]

2. If only the Democrats in Congress had been so smart..

That is the best populist move that can be made at this time, but their greed and a little extra money made them go along ith the Repubs. About the only thing they can agree upon...

[Neshanic]

3. Lets make it more republican friendly...just to be fair.

A 5 million dollar mansion, unlimited expense accounts, numerous slattern men/women that are around for affairs and sex scandals, a gay remora press secretary that loves having his sex life described in animal terms by his potential boss, power companies that want to have secret meetings,with bags of cash at hand, and oh yes...a batphone to the head batshit Uncy Karl.

[leQ]

22. that was delish! (eom)

[1932]

13. I have two opinions about this and a compromise:

I like what Napolitano is doing, but I also agree with the argument that these are hard jobs and you want to pay people who work hard at them high salaries so that talented people without a lot of money will decide to run for office.

So, here's what I think should happen: legislatures should pass laws that specify a salary range for public offices, allowing the recipient to decide for him or herself what salary they'll take within that range.

Wealthy people who want to sacrifice for the sake of their state's budget can choose to receive a salary at the bottom end of the range.

Poor people who have no assets and have children they're trying to put through college can pick the salary at the high end of the range.

[Rose Siding]

15. I'd think 95K would be attractive

...to the poor in that compromise :shrug:

[saracat]

16. For the record, we have NO governor's mansion in Arizona and

Janet lives in a modest condo that she owns. Just so you know, she doesn't have a great many perks.

[hippiegranny]

17. I LOVE Janet

I will be attending a Valley Partnership breakfast this Friday morning whee she is the speaker. Can't wait!

[JusticeForAll]

18. Janet Rocks! We Love our Gov

Who cares what Nathan "I Trashed Democratic Voter Registrations" Sproul thinks!! Whatta Jerk!!

It's sad, our Legislators gets paid like 27,000 per year for their services. Guess what happens? Only the rich RETHUGS can run for office because the salary is so low.

His argument is just more BS in our hated Arizona Politics.

Speed Onward Janet, Roll them in the desert dust!

[Miss Chybil]

19. You exclude an entire population of greedy bastards who want nothing

more than to aquire political office in order to not only make a fancy salary, but reap corporate dividends as well.

You go, Janet!

[WhiteTara]

23. No pomp and ceremony? I'll take my toys

and go home! Petty little repukes. :puke:

[dsc]

24. I have no idea what her circumstances are

but there is some merit to the argument that too low of a salary can keep people away from that kind of job. It also helps create the dynamic of people cashing in from public service. I would much rather pay my governor a million a year if in return he couldn't be hired by anyone who had conducted any state business after he left office.

[UrbScotty]

25. Good for her!

Nominated for Janet.

[salin]

26. Why does anyone quote Sproul?

His involvement in fraudulent voter registration schemes should exclude this man from being a "spokesperson" for anything. Ugh.

Back to the main point of the story - kudos to the Governor.