• By MARK BALLARD
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Dec 23, 2009 - Page: 5A

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About 100 people showed up Tuesday at the federal courthouse in Baton Rouge to protest U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu’s support of the Democratic health-care bill being debated in the U.S. Senate.

Supporters of the Family Research Council and the Baton Rouge Tea Party marched along the Florida Street sidewalk, many carrying signs provided by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, others waving poster board with hand-lettered messages, all criticizing the legislation that would overhaul the way health care is delivered nationwide.

Carrying his 2-year-old son, Tony Perkins, who is president of the Family Research Council, was turned away at the courthouse door by federal security officers who said Landrieu’s Baton Rouge office was closed this week.

“I had a personal letter written to her asking her to reconsider her stance,” Perkins said a few minutes later. “Why she and her staff are not working this week, it’s certainly irresponsible.”

The Family Research Council is a Washington, D.C.-based lobbying group that claims it wants to shape public policy “as it pertains to families” from what Perkins calls “a Christian perspective.”

“We were stunned to learn that so many phone calls to Sen. Landrieu have been unanswered and met with continuous busy signals,” Perkins said. “We asked them to call their senators. They could get through to Sen. Vitter, but not Sen. Landrieu.”

“Our lines have been jammed for weeks, and I apologize,” Landrieu said in interview after giving a speech on the Senate floor Tuesday. “But no amount of jamming is going to keep me from supporting a good work for Louisiana and the nation.”

Dwight Hudson of Central said many of his fellow Baton Rouge Tea Party members had phoned Landrieu’s office unsuccessfully for weeks. “The point is they’re not getting their opinion heard. Maybe that’s why they’re out here today,” he said.

“People are upset and scared,” said Jennifer Madsen, of Plaquemine, president of the Baton Rouge Tea Party. All the wheeling and dealing, such as Landrieu winning a concession on Medicaid that amounts to $300 million for the state raises questions, she said.

“Maybe the bill is right and maybe it’s not. But the way it has been handled gives the appearance of impropriety,” Madsen said.

Tommy Schiro, an LSU student from Baton Rouge, said he prefers a system where health-care coverage is decided individually by states and supported by grants from the federal government. “Obama’s plan will move us toward socialism,” he said.

Ashley Black, 15, a student from Denham Springs, wore a red tape across her mouth with “Life” written on it, to object that the bill does not specifically forbid coverage for abortions.

“I’m not doing a protest, I’m doing a prayer and hoping that changes hearts,” she said.

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