Will Kentucky lawmakers raise their own pay?

A rising star in Republican Party circles appears to be about to give himself a Veepstakes-ectomy when he allows a large state legislator pay increase to become law later this month.

Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana has said he does not support but will not veto a bill which has passed his state's House and Senate that will double state legislator salaries. That means rather than sign it, he will allow the bill to become law without his signature. His constituents' anger doesn't appear to be soothed by the distinction.

Kentucky, in the 2008 legislative session, saw but did not pass a bill that would have removed legislators' fingerprints from their pay increases. But Kentucky legislators like to hide their goodies in pension bills. For example, there was HB 299 in 2005 which allows long-time state lawmakers who accept executive branch appointments to receive a very healthy pension boost. That bill was allowed to become law by former Gov. Ernie Fletcher without his signature.