Posted on 08/24/2005 11:32:58 AM PDT by Born Conservative
Lamar Advertising refuses billboards it says are critical of public officials.
A group of conservative political activists has raised nearly $7,500 for its planned advertising blitz against state legislative leaders, including Senate Democratic Leader Robert J. Mellow, who helped engineer 16-to-34-percent pay raises for themselves.
Now, it just needs to find a way to spend it.
The group, called Young Conservatives of Pennsylvania, announced last week that it planned to target legislative leaders – including Mellow, who represents the boroughs of Avoca, Dupont and Duryea in Luzerne County – in a statewide anti-pay raise ad campaign on billboards and in radio spots.
So far, though, the group has managed just one billboard – against Senate President Pro Tempore Robert Jubelirer, R-Altoona, in his legislative district.
Chris Lilik, chairman of the Young Conservatives of Pennsylvania, said the biggest hurdle they’ve faced is in dealing with Lamar Advertising Co., which touts itself as one of the nation’s largest owners and operators of outdoor advertising structures. Lilik said the company would not accept his group’s ads, because they were considered negative political ads.
“The problem with the billboard company was a major problem,” he said.
Mary Ellen Coleman, vice president and general manager of Lamar Advertising of Northeastern Pennsylvania, said the group had not requested a billboard from her office. Still, she said she would reject an ad that reflects negatively on a public official.
“I don’t like to use our medium as a negative advertisement,” she said. “We try to be positive.”
Lilik said his group is “disappointed” by Lamar’s refusal to run their ads, but they are moving forward, trying to find smaller, independent billboard companies. The Jubelirer billboard is owned by an independent company, he said.
“We’re inspired by the generosity of donations we’ve received, and we know we’re on the right side of this issue,” he said.
Through their Web site, www.informedpa.com, the Young Conservatives have solicited donations from other Pennsylvanians outraged about the pay hike. A $5 donation will get you a “REMEMBER THE PAY RAISE!” bumper sticker, while $500 will help sponsor a billboard for a month.
Lilik said group members hope to raise $10,000 in 10 days, and they’re confident they’ll meet that goal by midnight tonight.
“This isn’t a Republican issue, and it’s not a Democrat issue,” he said. “It’s a matter of trust. These legislators violated that trust when they voted themselves a pay raise in the dead of night …”
Mellow, the Senate Democratic leader, voted for the pay hike and has been a vocal supporter of the raises. Lilik said his group plans to target Mellow in its ad campaign and is in talks for a radio spot, as well as a billboard.
A prototype of the Mellow billboard is posted on the group’s Web site. The ad features a black-and-white photo of a smiling Mellow alongside this message: “Tax hikes, spending increases and a 32% pay raise. That’s our Bob Mellow.”
The controversial pay raise law approved by lawmakers in the early morning hours of July 7 boosted the new base salary for state lawmakers to $81,051 from the previous base of $69,700. Legislative leaders and committee heads saw even greater increases in their paychecks.
Locally, Mellow received the largest pay hike, rising to $134,771 from his previous salary of $100,911.
Mellow spokesman Charlie Tocci said the senator is not worried about the planned ad blitz by the Young Conservatives of Pennsylvania.
“Senator Mellow has been a state senator for many years, and he is proud of his many legislative accomplishments, as well as his constituent service,” Tocci said Tuesday. “This is a free country, and this organization is free to express itself.
“Like any political challenge or question, the senator will respond as he always has. That’s honestly, frankly, and always with his constituents’ best interests at heart.”
Ping
I find a 16-to-34% pay increase negative. I got a 2% last year, first raise since my 4% in 2002.
I wonder if they could ask a property owner if they could put a billboard on their property, and make their own?
If you can't go thur the mountain, try going around it.
“We try to be positive.”
May be the ads should say "We're positive these guys are crooks!"
Intimidation and censorship by liberal scum politicians.
Abortion billboards are just fine however. /s
38,000 signatures and counting on the "Petition of Rejection" at whp580.com. "Circling the wagons" at the capitol on Sept. 26.
big ping
Trust our Pubs to take a bad situation and make it worse.
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