[StBernard] Voters Launch Web Sites To Voice Pay Raise Complaints

[Westley Annis]

Voters Launch Web Sites To Voice Pay Raise Complaints
TheNewOrleansChannel.com
updated 11:04 p.m. CT, Fri., June. 20, 2008
BATON ROUGE, La. - Another pay raise bill is making its way through Baton
Rouge. House Bill 1063 would allow lawmakers to pay their aides more money:
an additional $900 a year. Some lawmakers said they think it's needed. 

"Legislative assistants, they work full-time every month during the year,
even though some people say we're part-time," said Rep. Austin Badon of New
Orleans. "The state pays us to have an office 12 months out of the year,
which is a full-time office. They pay for us to have a staff 12 months out
of the year." 

This week, voters expressed their outrage over the bill to double lawmakers'
salaries. Several new Web sites let voters voice their complaints. 

"He promised one thing in his campaign, and he hasn't delivered it when it
really matters," said political analyst Stephen Sabludowsky. 

Sabludowsky said he isn't afraid to criticize Gov. Bobby Jindal on his Web
site BayouBuzz.com. 

"I don't want him to be vice president," Sabludowsky said. "I want him to be
governor. I want him to stand up for the people." 

Sabludowsky said there's no reason why Jindal can't veto the legislative pay
raise. 

"He has sidestepped questions about it all week," he said. "That really
tends to get people angry." 

To make their point, some Web sites are making a statement. LegeWatch.com
launched this week and has already received hundreds of responses. 

The pay raise issue has angered Jindal's staunchest supporters, and the
outrage goes beyond the governor. 

"I was upset and decided to do something about it," John Roberts said. 

John Roberts is a Republican businessman from Gretna, who started
RecallPayRaiseTucker.com. It targets Jim Tucker, one of the authors of the
pay raise bill in the House. 

"The Web site just started Tuesday night, and I've gotten an overwhelming
response -- more than I can handle myself really," Roberts said. 

At last count, Roberts said he had close to 500 names and addresses of
constituents who want to join the recall effort. 

"I know recall elections are tough, but a House seat in a district is only
about 25,000 registered voters," he said. "So even with some cushion, 9,000
signatures would do it." 

"What is beautiful is that there has been a tremendous sense of democracy,"
Sabludowsky said. "People feel like they've got to take action." 

Hundreds of people are expected to take action soon. Sources said a huge
rally is in the works. Pay raise protesters plan to hold the rally at the
state Capitol in Baton Rouge.