PAY RAISE VETO RALLY WILL BE HELD JULY 7 ON CAPITOL STEPS
by Stephen Sabludowsky (excerpt)

BAYOU BUZZ

An organization is being formed for this rally and it appears the rally will be held July 7 at 2 to 4 p.m. so please save that date. A website has already been completed to help educate the public and that site will launch in the next few days. Details will follow.

When Bobby Jindal won the Louisiana Gubernatorial election and a mandate from the people of the state, we immediately felt that Louisiana had the smartest, most able individual taking the helm of state government.

When he promised us that he would make Louisiana government the most transparent in its history, our hearts raced with pride with hope of a new day dawning where government would open up its doors and allow the citizens to take control of its own destiny.

However, something happened over the past five months that has put a dark shroud over the truth concerning an issue of significant importance to the Louisiana people. At some point in time, Governor Jindal’s administration made a deal with Louisiana legislature leaders pledging he would not oppose a pay raise for the legislators. When the people of Louisiana discovered that the raise would treble the salaries of the legislators the citizens rebelled. When they discovered that Jindal had also made a campaign promise that he would not allow the current crop of legislators to benefit from the raise, the people’s anger turned to outrage. Thus, "Pay Raise Gate."

Since making the rally announcement, I have been overwhelmed by the anger, the frustration, the deep-rooted outrage of the people who have emailed me wanting to help anyway they could to ensure that their “will be done”.

The enormous outpouring of support for the rally cannot be described in words. People want action, are deeply disappointed in Governor Jindal and in the leaders of Louisiana legislators for this stark unfortunate act of secrecy.

(A)fter the close of the legislative session occurs this afternoon, Governor Jindal will decide if he wants to pay raise law to go into effect as he has pledged.

Louisiana citizens can make a difference and have control over their own destiny. While the legislature will enjoy a rest from their public duties after this afternoon, many people in Louisiana will not rest until they know justice has been done. How this justice is defined is in the minds and eyes of the individual citizens, but judging from the emails and communications I have received, the voices of the people will be heard even if the details of a secret pledge will be not..

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP IN ANY WAY WITH THE RALLY EMAIL US BY CLICKING ON THE 'CONTACT US' BUTTON IN THE LEFT HAND COLUMN OF THIS PAGE. WE WILL PASS IT ON TO THE ORGANIZERS.