This is a highly synergistic partnership. It delivers what the US defense, aerospace and homeland security market needs by combining our leading semiconductor laser technology with EM4's US-based high performance packaging capability.

It's not good public policy for anyone in government to give themselves a raise. Your wisdom is compelling, mayor. It would be a good gesture to employees to see how the budget surpluses sort out.

The arguments were that the more money we earn the more respect we'll have. I suggested then that we raise it significantly more so we get significantly more respect.

I don't think it's good public policy to give ourselves raises. We will still work hard regardless of the compensation.

More compensation won't make any of us serve any harder, so in terms of the taxpayer getting more for their dollar, it just won't make a difference.