Assembly Pay Raises

I am appalled at the bias shown by “Assembly GOP Gave Staff Raises in Excess of 30%” (June 10). Buried carefully on the inside pages are the facts:

* Total staff budget remained the same, $42 million.

* Republicans allotted 31% to Democrats whereas Democrats had only allotted 17% to Republicans.

* The Republican raises were needed to equalize salaries--for years dedicated Republicans had worked for minimal salaries to help save the state from Willie Brown and the Democrats.

But instead of a fair report, The Times published a Democratic campaign piece on the front page.

ERNEST E. JOHNSON

Los Angeles

* The GOP Assembly has denounced affirmative action as favoritism, special treatment and the giving of jobs to the least-qualified people (the latter being a complete lie). They now turn around and implement their own form of affirmative action. Raises of 30% to 50% are given to staff personnel at a time when these kinds of raises are unheard of in the private sector. I would like to know the qualifications of a person earning a 30% or 50% pay increase.

The GOP promised to curtail spending, to stop the wasteful ways of the Democrats. So far all they seem to have done is pick up some pretty bad habits. Some have said the GOP became drunk with power. Seems to me they shouldn’t be allowed to drink from the well of victory if they can’t handle it. Maybe they need a 50% reduction in their numbers in the Assembly.

STEPHEN L. BOWLING

Los Angeles

* Shades of Gertrude Stein: A politician is a politician is a politician. The Republican Assembly has shown its true “conservative colors.” It has granted huge pay increases to its staff members, thus proving the spoils system is still alive and well.

HOWARD C. HORN

Pasadena