by Vee Sorenson
I am glad I belong to the Humboldt County Taxpayers‘ League. Through this tax-watchdog organization, I learn a lot about how are taxes are being spent. A recent e-mail sent by Jon Coupal, who represents the state‘s Howard Jarvis Tax Association, revealed some frightening statistics.
He began the article by asking: How would you like to go to work at 9 AM, wave to your boss and say ―Hi, I‘m here. Bye, and then immediately turn around, walk out the door and go home or play a round of golf...and here is the best part, still get a paycheck instead of being fired?
What is so startling is this describes the work of 120 lucky people who routinely assure themselves of $567.843 in additional pay for five minutes of work. If you do the math, that works out to $6,814.08 for a full hour of work. Who are these people? They are none other than elected members of the state Legislature and that includes Wesley Chesbro. Of course, they make their own rules. These people are the highest paid legis- lators in all 50 states.
In addition to their nearly six figure salaries, they receive a tax-free allotment of $141.86 per day that is intended to compensate for the cost of living in Sacramento for performing their jobs.
With so many businesses and families hurting financially, it is disgusting that all of these recycled members of the Assembly and Senate are checking in at work to do nothing but greedily gather to themselves more of our hard-earned tax dollars.
