You think I’m going to leave my money down here with you?” It could be any taxpayer talking to any politician.

But it’s not. It’s Alabama Senator Charles Bishop complaining about a 62 percent legislative pay raise . Bishop opposed the hike and so higher-up hoodlums in the legislature suggested he just leave the extra dollars in the general fund, just forgo the big pay boost.

When grabbing more pay, legislators play at the top of their game. In Alabama, they snuck the latest pay raise onto the floor and passed it without even a recorded vote. Why? So no one would know who voted yes and who voted no.

Legislative rules say that a vote must be recorded when three or more members request it. Somehow the presiding officer didn’t see all the people raising their hands and yelling to be recognized.

Governor Bob Riley had the good sense to veto the hefty legislative heist, but legislators quickly and easily overrode the governor’s veto.

One state representative said legislators need not fear the wrath of ‘Bama voters: Voters “hate us together but they love us as individuals.”

That love may be fickle. At Flashpointblog.com Brian LeCompte says he’ll work to make voters remember the culprits. He writes , “This display of arrogance shows us why we need Initiative and Referendum in this state . . . [to] allow Alabama’s citizens to bypass our legislature. . . .”

Roll citizens!

This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.