We have much to be stressed about this week. The price of gasoline and its dark cousin, oil. Epic flooding in the heartland. Food prices, up, up and almost away.

During Louisiana summers life is usually a bit more lighthearted. But not this one. The summer of 2008 is roaring at us like a buggy whipping driver out to run everyone over.

Louisianans have enough on their mind without a two-bit legislature voting itself a surprise 127 percent raise. But it is what it is in bayouland. Though the fish may be biting,  they are contaminated with mercury, and legislators toxic to the health of the state have hijacked taxpayer money to feather their vulture nests.

Legislators claim a full-time legislature is needed in Louisiana, that legislators make about $10 an hour based on the all the committee meetings and phone calls they have to make and take away from legislative sessions. Few taxpayers and voters are buying this bunk.

Any legislator who feels he or she is underpaid is free to resign and lose generous office expenses, 50 cents per mile mileage reimbursements, free tickets to the Sugar Bowl, generous taxpayer supported health plans, reduced apartment rental rates at the Pentagon Barracks starting at around $300 when the circus (legislature) is in town, $143 per diems during sessions and for committee meetings, and taxpayer funded retirement benefits for  part-time work.

And, don’t forget free training on how to become a revolving door lobbyist upon retirement, recall from office or defeat on election day.

Louisiana does not want or need a full-time legislature any more than Sen. Ann Duplessis, author of the Senate pay raise measure that would have tripled legislator salaries, needs another taxpayer funded slab of Angus with all the trimmings at Ruth’s Chris steakhouse.

Taxpayers certainly do not want a raise sprung on them by surprise, as Ms. Duplessis’ bill was. In these times of economic uncertainty legislators can bide their time like everyone else when it comes to pay raises.

Or they can tear themselves away from public service and the trough brimming with taxpayer money and go home.

Hopefully, Gov. Bobby Jindal will veto the raise, and legislators will then let the veto stand. Legislators won’t get their money this time, but they will escape with their political futures in tact by acquiescing in this matter. Jindal’s reward will also be escaping major political heartbreak and the demise of a once promising career in elective office.