The hot-button issue in LA is the pay raise the state legislature just awarded themselves. Many folks are up in arms about this, and plan to make their voices heard on the next round of elections.

Initially, LA Senate Bill 672 would have tripled the pay of state legislatures. The final version, however, doubles the pay from $16,800 to $37,500. Additionally, legislators get a daily per diem of $143 (while in session) and a $6,000 expense (those didn't change). All in all, for part time (about 6 mos.) work legislators in LA will now make about $52,000/year.

The rationale, according to some, is that they (legislators) actually do more than part-time work, and a pay raise hasn't occurred in over 20 years. One part that hasn't been publicized a lot is that, from this point forward, legislative pay raises will automatically occur (they are tied to the Consumer Price Index).

The governor could veto the bill as he states that he is against it. But, he is not going to veto it (he states) for fear of retribution on his own initiatives.

Generally, the public is not happy abou this.
http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/20004904.html?showAll=y&c=y

Sent by ernise | 12:21 PM ET | 06-18-2008

I wonder why the election 2008 has no love for technology discussion on the competitiveness bills which failed in one key area.THE science
and mathematics bills left out the
fact that the United States is far
behind in the new supremacy in mathematics and physics.THE only major topic banned from election 2008.THE power of mass media is weaken from tiny words of truth among tons of denial.

Sent by jerry a. Myers | 3:07 PM ET | 06-18-2008

I would like to know why the media of a nation at war (two+ to be accurate) does not act like it. During the intial assualt and the coming months of trouble for US and coalition forces, every failure or set back made news. Now that the post-Rumsfield stratagies appear to be turning the tide very little is reported on. It seems as if all media eyes have turned to the receding economy.
Is negative news just more interesting, or is the media (majority, not the whole) influenced by its poor relations with the Bush administration?
We like to think that our media coverage is above subjective biased reporting. But, shouldn't it be noted that with the news media being polerized to the point of some left leaning journalists using MoveOn.org as a legitimate news agency and inversely Rupert Murdoch's relentess buy-outs of any news organization he can get his hands on, is affecting what the population is being given information on? Is it impossible to find truely "fair and balanced" (to steal a phrase) news?

Sent by Chad W. Smith | 12:38 AM ET | 06-19-2008

I would like to comment on the segment on Barack Obama's comments on fatherhood in the African American community. Tony Cox and Lyn Toler admitted that they were having a tough time discussing absentee fatherhood in the black community in a public forum. Well, I think it is a good thing that Mr. Obama was comfortable doing so. While it is an unpleasant topic, it's time that we address this head on. Mr. Obama has openly discussed the fact that his own father was not very present in own life. The absence of my own father in my life has led me to believe that this is something that impacts an individual in a deep and profound way for a life time, no matter who he/she is and no matter where life may take him/her. I do not know where Mr. Obama's heart was politically, but I do have a clue about some of what may be in his heart. And based on that shared experience, I am somewhat encouraged by Mr. Obama's willingness to speak on the matter publicly and am willing to lend him some license. I have found that very, very few people, including my own mother, are willing to explore this matter openly. I have found that far too often, most African Americans are quick to wash over the matter with the old "but Mama made it somehow" line. I certainly respect my mother and all others who do, but it's time to more beyond this line. Yes, there will be blame, guilt, and pain for all, both men and women; individuals and society; and parents and children alike. But we need to deal with it. Life is grand, but living is messy and complex.

Sent by Lee Willis | 1:59 PM ET | 06-19-2008

The rampant investment in the futures market is driving the price of oil. My question is; "What law or legal ofr the futures prices to be translated into instant price increases?" I mean look at the futures market. For example when the price of oil goes up on the futures market there is an instant price increase. Why? The oil we are using now was contracted months ago in most cases. However we don't pay the contract "futures" price. This fact alone will drive the market up because when future profits can be realized and made even before the future gets here. This looks like the greatest sacm I ever saw .....

Sent by Mitchell Bupp | 11:59 PM ET | 06-19-2008

A hot button issue for me tonight is the MSM's blind support for Senator John McCain.

I was utterly disgusted by AP writer LIZ
SIDOTI'S unbelievably biased slam, or "analysis" against Senator Obama
today:

http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1816604,00.html

It was a particularly disturbing piece of "objective" political reporting,
given the fact that Ms. Sidoti failed to mention Senator McCain's own
"flip-flops" on campaign financing this year. Americablog's Joe Sudbay
mentions it here:

http://www.americablog.com/2008/06/aps-liz-sidoti-also-ignores-mccains.html

To make matters worse, she is the same reporter who (gushingly) gave
Senator McCain donuts and his favorite coffee at an AP luncheon in April.
Here is the video and Dana Milbank's original report of the event:

http://www.jedreport.com/2008/06/ap-scribe-who-s.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/14/AR2008041402633_pf.html

I think many NPR listeners would prefer the MSM to just report the facts without commentary, bias, or personal friendships with the candidates getting in the way.

Sent by NW | 1:09 AM ET | 06-20-2008

A hot topic for me is.......the lack of "responsibility/accountability" of Black elected officials. This email stems from Farai Chideya's show today, June 23, 2008, talking about the backlash he is getting from the bloggers/pollsters.....In my opinion, the esteem and prestige of representing the public seems to create
egos larger than life,abuse of a system that is already in trouble (in the case of Detroit's and Baltimore's debacles)and an ignorance of the promises made to get elected.
Any elected official, of any race, should realize his/her role and ultimate duty...but even moreso, the Black elected officials ARE the "new Underground Railroad" conductors; they should see themselves as groundbreakers/glass ceiling breaking pioneers. Instead, the trend seems to be that we,Blacks elected to office, get power hungry and seem to forget that WE are carrying the torch for our descendants who died/suffered to pave the way for us. In theory, America should have evolved into a more sophisticated society, accepting and embracing all diversity.
In reality, there is still racism, old biases, perceptions(about us) and an evil undertone in America. With this in mind,why wouldn't our Black elected officials stay in the mindset of proving that we/Blacks are trustworthy, hard working,deserving people?
Answer: Greed overpowers humility.....in almost every case. Certainly, corruption happens in every race,but in our culture, we need to keep in mind the old adage, "Blacks have to work 3 times as hard as anyone else"........to prove ourselves worthy.
An unfortunate and unfair burden to bear, but it IS ours until the end of time. I am optimistic about Barack and his destiny. But....he can't singlehandedly change the minds/hearts of those distrusting voters. The main point: we all must rise above what was learned, reinvent ourselves and do things differently. CHANGE is coming, but we have to be willing to change as well............our Black Gen-EXers and NEXTERS are depending on us.

Sent by Daena Spencer | 11:16 PM ET | 06-23-2008