If you live in Alabama, you gotta love those rascally state legislators. We’ll be reminding you about this come voting time. I expect we could find upwards of 57 more examples just like this from the other states in the union.

Alabama Legislature Pay Raise – Never Forget <come voting time>
<Your Alabama Legislature At Work For You!>

Article from 2009 April 28 by Brian with flashpoint blog.

Back in March 2007 the Alabama legislature laid out a bold challenge to Alabama voters. It was the first year of their four year term. On the second day of the regular session the majority Democrats rammed through the very first piece of legislation of the session with a coordinated effort to get it through both houses on voice votes. The legislation (HJR 29) raised their pay by a whopping 62% effective at the beginning of the session. Governor Riley vetoed the pay raise, but on March 20th both houses voted to override his veto – on recorded votes – and put the pay raise into effect.

The circumstances surrounding the 62% pay raise made it clear that the legislators planned it specifically in a way to minimize the chance of voter retribution.

* Not one single legislator mentioned the pay raise only months before on the campaign trail. Not one.

* It was the very first item to pass that session. They tried to put as much time between the pay raise and the next elections as possible.

* The well orchestrated passage through both houses on voice votes was done to “sneak” it through before anyone would notice. They knew it was wrong and would be unpopular.

* Even after the veto and overwhelming groundswell of public opposition they voted to put the raise into effect anyway.

The bottom line is that they thought we would forget their self serving votes. Prove them wrong.

Here is how each and every legislator voted:

ALABAMA HOUSE:

Votes Tuesday as the Alabama House, on a 57-43 vote, overrode the governor’s veto of a legislative pay raise.

Voting yes were 7 Republicans and 50 Democrats.

Voting no were 34 Republicans and 7 Democrats.

Not voting were 2 Republicans and 2 Democrats.

Abstaining were 0 Republicans and 3 Democrats.

REPUBLICANS VOTING YES

Barton, J. (Mobile); Collier, S. (Bayou La Batre); Faust, J. (Fairhope); Galliher, B. (Rainbow City); Gipson, M. (Prattville); Hill, M. (Columbiana); McClendon, J. (Springville).

REPUBLICANS VOTING NO

Allen, G. (Cottondale); Baker, A. (Brewton); Ball, M. (Madison); Beck, W. (Geneva); Bentley, R. (Tuscaloosa); Bridges, D. (Valley); Canfield, G. (Vestavia Hills); Clouse, S. (Ozark); Davis, R. (Daphne); DeMarco, P. (Homewood); Drake, O. (Leeds); Fincher, C. (Semmes); Gaston, V. (Mobile); Greeson, T. (Ider); Grimes, D. (Montgomery); Hammon, M. (Decatur); Hubbard, M. (Auburn); Ison, J. (Mobile); Johnson, R. (Sylacauga); Lewis, B. (Dothan); Love, J. (Montgomery); Mask, B. (Wetumpka); McClurkin, M.S. (Pelham); McCutcheon, M. (Capshaw); McMillan, S. (Gulf Shores); Oden, J. (Vinemont); Sanderford, H. (Huntsville); Shiver, H. (Bay Minette); Thomas, E. (Oneonta); Treadaway, A. (Morris); Ward, C. (Alabaster), Williams, J. (Vestavia Hills); Wood, R. (Anniston); Wren, G. (Montgomery).

DEMOCRATS VOTING YES

Bandy, G. (Opelika); Beasley, B (Clayton); Black, M. (Tuscumbia); Boothe, A. (Troy); Boyd, B. (Anniston); Buskey, J. (Mobile); Coleman, M. (Midfield); Dukes, B. (Decatur); Dunn, P. (Bessemer); England, C (Tuscaloosa); Fite, L. (Jacksonville); Ford, C. (Gadsden); Gordon, J. (Saraland); Graham, B.C. (Alexander City); Grantland, R. (Hartselle); Guin, K. (Carbon Hill); Hall, L. (Huntsville); Hammett, S. (Andalusia); Hilliard, E. (Birmingham); Hinshaw, R. (Meridianville); Howard, R. (Greensboro); Hurst, S. (Munford); Jackson, T. (Thomasville); Keahey, M. (Grove Hill); Kennedy, Y. (Mobile); Knight, J. (Montgomery); Laird, R. (Roanoke); Lindsey, R. (Centre); Martin, J. (Clanton); McCampbell, A.J. (Linden); McClammy, T. (Montgomery); Millican, M. (Hamilton); Mitchell, J. (Mobile); Moore, M. (Birmingham); Morrow, J.M. (Red Bay); Newton, D. (Birmingham); Page, J. (Gadsden); Robinson, J. (Scottsboro); Robinson, O. (Birmingham); Rogers, J. (Birmingham); Salaam, Y. (Selma); Schmitz, S. (Toney); Scott, R. (Fairfield); Sherer, T. (Jasper); Spicer, T. (Elba); Taylor, B (New Hope); Thomas, J. (Selma); Vance, L. (Phenix City); Warren, P. (Tuskegee); White, H. (Athens).

DEMOCRATS VOTING NO

Baker, L. (Abbeville); Harper, A. (Aliceville); Letson, J. (Hillsboro); Morrison, N. (Cullman); Newton, C. (Greenville); Thigpen, W. (Fayette); Todd, P. (Birmingham).

REPUBLICANS NOT VOTING

Moore, P. (Pleasant Grove)*; Payne, A. (Trussville).

DEMOCRATS NOT VOTING

Holmes, A. (Montgomery)*; McDaniel, F. (Albertville).

REPUBLICANS ABSTAINING

None.

DEMOCRATS ABSTAINING

Curtis, M. (Florence); Irons, T. (Florence); McLaughlin, J. (Guntersville).

*Holmes and Moore both said they attempted to vote, but their voting machines jammed and their votes were not registered. Holmes said he voted “yes” and Moore said she voted “no.”

ALABAMA SENATE:

Votes Tuesday as the Alabama Senate, on a 20-15 vote, overrode the governor’s veto of a legislative pay raise.

Voting yes were 2 Republicans and 18 Democrats.

Voting no were 10 Republicans and 5 Democrats.

Not voting were 0 Republicans and 0 Democrats.

Abstaining were 0 Republicans and 0 Democrats.

REPUBLICANS VOTING YES

Beason, S (Gardendale); Glover, R. (Semmes).

REPUBLICANS VOTING NO

Bishop, C. (Jasper); Brooks, B. (Mobile); Byrne, B. (Montrose); Dixon, L. (Montgomery); Erwin, H. (Montevallo); French, S. (Birmingham); Marsh, D. (Anniston); Orr, A. (Decatur); Smith, H.A. (Slocomb); Waggoner, J. (Vestavia Hills).

DEMOCRATS VOTING YES

Barron, L. (Fyffe); Bedford, R. (Russellville); Coleman, L. (Birmingham); Denton, B. (Muscle Shoals); Figures, V. (Mobile); Griffith, P. (Huntsville); Lindsey, P. (Butler); Little, T. (Auburn); Little, Z. (Cullman); McClain, E.B. (Midfield); Mitchell, W. (Luverne); Mitchem, H. (Union Grove); Penn, M. (Union Springs); Preuitt, J. (Talladega); Ross, Q. (Montgomery); Sanders, H. (Selma); Singleton, B. (Greensboro); Smitherman, R. (Birmingham).

DEMOCRATS VOTING NO

Benefield, K (Woodland); Butler, T. (Madison); Holley, J. (Elba); Means, L. (Attalla); Poole, P. (Moundville).