Norby dumps Demos

Louisiana State Sen. Norby Chabert of Houma announced Monday afternoon that he will drop his affiliation with the Democratic Party and join the Republican majority in the state capitol.

Chabert is serving his first term as a state senator and said his decision to change party membership came after a great deal of thought and deliberation.

“It is increasingly clear that the national Democratic Party is completely out of line with the values and priorities of the people of [state] senate District 20 and all of Louisiana,” Chabert said in a printed news release.

“Time after time President Obama, his administration and the National Democratic Party have proven that they have no understanding of the needs of Louisiana business, industry and every day people,” Chabert said.

The new GOP lawmaker said his decision was made after he saw a “woefully inadequate if not derelict response,” to the BP Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill that took place on April 20, 2010.

Chabert added his dissatisfaction regarding a moratorium on offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, and a failure on the part of the federal government to provide funding for the Morganza to the Gulf project. “I can no longer in good conscious [sic] affiliate myself with such actions or philosophies,” he said.

“We are glad to have him,” said Republican Party of Louisiana Chairman Roger Villere. “I think it shows how the Democratic Party has moved away from the conservative movement.”

The state GOP chairman noted that Chabert comes from a background and district where legislators have served as conservative Democrats. “But nationally the party has moved so liberal and has moved away from the values of what the average person in Louisiana has, the party has left them,” Villere said.

Louisiana is beginning to follow a national trend of elected officials changing affiliation. “In 2005 there was not one statewide Republican elected,” Villere said. “Since 2005 we now have seven out of seven statewide elected officials that are Republicans. Just last year, both [state] houses were controlled by the Democrats. Today, both of are controlled by the Republicans.”

Villere noted that with Chabert’s switch the state Senate now has a Republican majority of 21-17 while the House has a GOP membership edge of 54-51.

Political survival might be part of Chabert’s motivation along with his opposition to the Democratic Party philosophies. Such a prospect did not surprise Vallere.

“Everyone always calculates what is best for them in their winning reelection. But when you look at sitting legislators and their serving … unless there is a huge change in the demographics … [Chabert] was just elected in a special election last year … so I think what he looked at what was happening on the national level and seeing it filter down to the state and wasn’t happy with the party itself and the direction they were going,” Villere said.

“I think it is great,” said state Rep. Gordon Dove, R-Houma, on Chabert changing party affiliation. “Norby has shown to be pro-business and pro-oil. The issues that we have come up with I’ve found him to be conservative. We’ve worked together and I’m really glad to see him join the party. I think he will be a big addition to the Republican Party.”

“I look forward to continuing my work for the people of … District 20 in the Louisiana State Senate and will not give up on my on-going efforts to improve the quality of life for all of our citizens,” Chabert said.

Chabert’s party change announcement came on the first full day of a special session for the state legislature to address redistricting and reapportionment.