If you will take the time to read the story below the Notable Quotables post, you will be able to see for yourself why our fight with the Division of Administration (DOA) and Bobby Jindal over access to public records is far from over after three separate lawsuits (one against the Department of Education and the other two against DOA).
As the reader can see, DOA has no intentions of timely compliance with our requests—or ever, if they can get away with it. Winning one case against them outright and taking three of four in the most recent courtroom battle will only embolden Kristy Nichols to dig in her heels and continue to withhold records indefinitely.
That’s why your contributions to LouisianaVoice are so important. Unfortunately, justice is not only not free, but downright unaffordable for the average person. One can file pro se but unless he or she is familiar with legal terms and tactics, that is a foolhardy endeavor.
Please do whatever you can to help us defray the growing costs of litigation in these efforts to see to it that records to which you have every right are provided completely and on a timely basis.
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Louisiana Voice 
I sent this letter to local papers. Please consider posting it.
On May 12 the Louisiana Legislature is scheduled to vote on House Bill 418 that will outlaw payroll deductions for union and professional organization dues.
Those pushing the legislation tell the public it is a waste of governmental personnel and time to allow the payroll union and professional organization deductions. But that is not the truth. A LABI video surfaced that tells the real purpose. The real purpose is to be ”a fatal spear to the heart” of unions. Corporate interest wants to destroy the voice of the middle-class working person.
Payroll deductions for insurance and United Way will be allowed. If you are going to disallow a payroll deduction, then disallow all of them.
LABI and the legislative buddies of Washington based Grover Norquist hope to kill unions. They are using innuendo to flim-flam the public. If they succeed who will be their next target. Everyone who receives a paycheck should be concerned.
Like big corporations, unions have their faults. Anytime a person is running a big outfit, there will eventually be problems. But if not for unions, a collective voice of the people who are doing the job, what would be state of the working place today?
Prior to unions, working conditions in factories were terrible. Prior to unions there was no 40 hour work week. Prior to unions, there was no sick leave. Prior to unions, there was no vacation pay. With the advent of unions, the working man got a little more money.
My dad, who is my hero, was a proud member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Our lives as children were better because of the benefits dad’s union negotiated with the company.
When my dad was working in plants, the CEOs of the companies made approximately 40 times what the workers made. Today, that CEO makes 300 times what the workers make. That’s a problem we should be examining.
Our legislature has displayed more loyalty to the corporate interests who fund campaigns and elections than the middle class. If HB 418 passes life will get worse for the working man. Rhetoric can inflame. At the risk of doing that, the poem by Pastor Niemoller comes to mind.
First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me.
Please contact your state representative. Tell them to vote no on HB 418. Tomorrow for the middle class will be better if this bill is defeated.
Charley Vance
Amite, LA