The raise received final legislative passage on Monday, despite a slew of complaints on political blogs, radio call-in shows and newspaper pages. Gov. Bobby Jindal said he's opposed to the pay raise but he won't veto it, so it will take law without his signature.

Louisiana legislators currently are paid a salary of $16,800 per year plus a per diem when they are in session. The pay raise proposal will increase that base salary to $37,500 per year. It will rise with inflation, so lawmakers can get increases in pay without having to take additional votes in later years.

Sixty-three of the 142 lawmakers in the Legislature voted against the salary boost.

From The Associated Press