The legislative pay raise will be heard by the Senate on Monday.

3:42 p.m. Gov. Bobby Jindal reacts to legislative pay raise:

"I still disapprove of this pay raise.  While I'm glad they reduced it, it's still more than a doubling of their pay, which I believe is excessive.  The legislature is a separate branch of government and must manage their own affairs. There is still time for them to turn back. They will have to answer directly to the people.

"One thing is for sure, I will not bail them out on this and do their job for them.  I will not veto this as it is very clear to everyone that the result would be a grinding halt to the tremendous reforms and progress our state is making.  I will give them no excuse to stop doing the people's business, and I will not allow the momentum of our state to stop over this or anything else."

3:40 p.m. Voting tally, according to the AP; Yes (56): Speaker Tucker, Anders, Arnold, Aubert, A.Badon, Baldone, Barrow, Billiot, Burford, T.Burns, Burrell, Carmody, Chaney, Connick, Cromer, Dixon, Downs, Edwards, Ellington, Foil, Franklin, Gallot, Gisclair, Greene, Harrison, Henderson, Hoffmann, Honey, Hutter, G.Jackson, M.Jackson, R.Jones, LaBruzzo, LaFonta, Lambert, Leger, Lopinto, Marchand, McVea, Monica, Morrell, Norton, Nowlin, Peterson, Pugh, Ritchie, Schroder, Simon, Smiley, G.Smith, P.Smith, Templet, White, Williams, Willmott and Wooton.

Voting No (44): Abramson, Armes, B.Badon, Barras, H.Burns, Carter, Champagne, Chandler, Cortez, Danahay, Doerge, Fannin, Geymann, M.Guillory, Guinn, Hardy, Hazel, Henry, Hill, Hines, Howard, Johnson, S.Jones, Katz, Kleckley, LeBas, Ligi, Little, Lorusso, Mills, Montoucet, Perry, Ponti, Pope, Richard, Richardson, Richmond, Robideaux, Roy, J.Smith, St. Germain, Talbot, Trahan and Waddell.

Absent or not voting (4): Dove, E.Guillory, Morris and Pearson.

3:15 p.m. The amended bill now heads to the Senate either Tuesday or Wednesday.

2:26 p.m. Bill passes....55 yeas...39 nays. Needed 53 to pass.

2:21 p.m. Amended bill will be voted on shortly.

2:20 p.m. Future pay will not be tied to percent of congressional pay, but to the consumer price index.

2:18 p.m. Speaker Tucker says he will introduce an amendment that raises legislature pay to $37,500 down from the $50,000 in the original bill.

2:12 p.m. Speaker Tucker says he will offer an amendment, but he hasn't said what it will be yet. But likely it will amend base pay to a lower number.

2:09 p.m. Speaker Tucker continues to clear up "misconceptions" and say why lawmakers deserve a raise.

2:04 p.m. Speaker Tucker is now talking about the misconceptions out there now, including that being a lawmaker is a part-time job.

1:59 p.m. Speaker Tucker says this will be the most polilly contentious bill legislators will see in their career.

He says it's unfortunate there is no other mechanism to decide lawmakers compensation.

1:55 p.m. House Speaker Tucker is at the podium and the bill is up right now.

1:30 p.m. The House of Representatives has reconvened.  House speaker Jim Tucker has returned to the floor.  Sources tell Eyewitness News the speaker is still trying to get enough votes for the original or an amended bill to pass.

An amended bill would likely reduce pay from $50,000 to anywhere between $35,000 and $45,000. 

One amendment proposed by rep. Neil Abramson-D to raise pay to $35,000 has been pulled.  Its unclear if the speaker will introduce a new amendment or if the house will just vote on the original bill.  Sources tell Eyewitness News House members are getting pressure from the Senate to pass some version of the bill today.

1:11 p.m. The House was supposed to reconvene at 1:00 p.m, but at 1:10 p.m. much of the House leadership has not returned to the chamber.  Sources say they are still negotiating behind closed doors. It is unclear if supporters of the pay raise bill have enough votes to get it passed.

Lee Zurik

House Speaker Jim Tucker works the House floor.

11:28 a.m. The House is breaking for lunch at 11:30 a.m. They will reconvene at 1:00 p.m. The vote on the proposed pay increase is expected to take place this afternoon.

10:41 a.m. Speaker of the House Jim Tucker continues figure out where every lawmaker stands on the proposed pay hike. Sources tell Eyewitness News Tucker is asking House members if they are for the proposed hike and/or if they would support an amendment.

Right now, the only amendment on record is by Rep. Neil Abramson-D to lower from 30 percent to 22.5 percent of congressional pay, thus reducing base pay from $50,000 to around $35,000 a year. 

If house members vote on an amended bill, it will have to go back to the Senate for approval.  Some House members worry that bill would not pass if it goes back to the Senate.

9:56 a.m. Speaker of the House Jim Tucker continues to go around the house chamber with a notebook trying to determine who is voting for or against the proposed pay hike.  There is talk among lawmakers that an amendment could be offered today to lower the pay raise, but that means the bill would have to go back to the Senate for another vote, something state Senators don't want to happen...

9:15 a.m. It looks like it is being moved to the last item of the day now, as they figure out votes and possible amendments.  I am hearing one may be to lower the pay some.

8:59 a.m. House is coming to order and opening role call. 101 members present making quorum...

8:42 a.m. The legislature has still not convened.  Speaker of the House Jim Tucker is going around the chamber asking each legislator how he or she plans to vote on the proposed pay raise.  It is expected to be the first item on the agenda...