Pay raise protest planned; recall notice filed

• By MARSHA SHULER
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Jun 25, 2008 - Page: 4A - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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A legislative pay-raise protest is set for July 7 at the State Capitol.

Meanwhile, a pair of Metairie residents filed the first notice of recall with the Secretary of State’s Office as they try to oust first-term state Rep. Joe Lopinto over the pay raise vote.

“We put them there. They work for us … It’s a slap in the face to all the voters,” said Henry Weber, the Lopinto recall chairman.

The activities came Tuesday — the day after legislators returned home after a regular session to face constituents upset by their votes to more than double their base pay.

Voters “really truly feel they have got to do what they can do not just to veto this legislation but get the government back,” protest organizer Stephen Sabludowsky said.

“Everybody’s angry,” Sabludowsky said.

The rally permit request has been approved by legislative officials, a spokesman for the state Office of Building and Grounds said.

Sabludowsky, a lawyer, writer and blogger, sought approval for a 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. event at which rally-goers hope to convince Gov. Bobby Jindal to veto legislation that more than doubles legislators’ base pay.

Jindal has said he would not veto the measure but let it go into effect without his signature. Jindal has until July 8 to act or the pay raise goes into effect.

Legislators pay will increase from $16,800 to $37,500 — boosting the compensation package of rank-and-file legislators to nearly $60,000 a year.

The Secretary of State’s Office has been busy sending out packages of information about recall petition procedures. The number of requests coming in for voter registration information have also increased since lawmakers approved the pay raise — June 16. Petitions must be signed by about one-third of registered voters in a legislative district.

Secretary of State Press Secretary Jacques Berry said the first notice of recall for a legislator was filed Tuesday by Henry Michael Weber and Ira J. Weber of Metairie. Their target is Lopinto, a Metairie Republican who voted for the pay raise measure as did 55 other House members.

The filing of the petition started the 180-day clock on gathering of sufficient signatures of registered voters to force a recall election, Berry said.