Short shorts around the State Capitol
Just in case you may have missed it, we found yet another in a long line of examples of Jindal arrogance and hypocrisy from a few days ago:
• Whereas, Louisiana’s retired teachers have devoted their careers to the education and training of literally thousands upon thousands of Louisiana’s youth; and
• Whereas, Louisiana’s retired teachers have provided additional job and social skill training for adults throughout the state; and
• Whereas, Louisiana’s retired teachers have rendered valuable services in diverse leadership roles to their communities and institutions throughout their careers and continue to render such services as retirees; and
• Whereas, Louisiana’s retired teachers represent the profession, which is given the basic responsibility for launching the careers of state and national leaders, and for laying the foundation for the welfare of all members of our society; and
• Whereas, Louisiana’s retired teachers represent a tremendous pool of experience and training which remains dedicated and dependable support to the leaders in our communities, state, and nation; and
• Whereas, Louisiana’s retired teachers represent a loyal, patriotic, and concerned citizenry which provides a dedicated and dependable support to the leaders in our communities, state and nation.
• Now, therefore, I, Bobby Jindal, Governor of the State of Louisiana, do hereby proclaim March 15, 2012 as
Retired Teachers Day in the State of Louisiana.
Other than to question the grammar of the next-to-last whereas (“which remains dedicated and dependable support”—does anyone proofread these things?), we have nothing to add except to observe that even the pickle gets a full week and the rutabaga gets an entire month.
Fear and Loathing on the House Floor
Freshman House member Bob Hensgens (R-Abbeville) reportedly visited a constituent recently and confided that he had no choice other than to vote with the governor on the education bills lest the governor cancel the LA. Highway 14 construction project in his district.
Nice to know, observed the constituent that “my job, (my) retirement and all Louisiana children and teachers are less important than a few miles of highway.”
If true, Hensgens apparently is either sufficiently politically astute to throw up the appropriate smokescreen to detract from the real issue at hand or he is far too naïve to try to swim with the sharks in Baton Rouge.
The word we get is the project is already at or near completion. It would be rather difficult for the governor to undo the work that’s already done.
Such is life these days with this governor. In computer parlance, one might be prone to refer to Jindal as 2012 Nixon Upgrade: like Nixon, he is more than a little paranoid, he is certainly as vindictive as Nixon (see: Teague, Teague, Richie, Manuel, Champagne & Daniel) and he has complete and total disdain for existing law (see the U.S. Constitution position on breaking contracts as regards state retirement contributions and benefits).
But, as a longtime north Louisiana political observer says, “Is the public getting it yet? Do they see?”.
Dissent will not be tolerated, she noted. “The events that transpired on the House Floor on HB 976 and HB 974 finally show the true face of Jindal and his lackeys, as well as the absolute spinelessness of the House members.
“Thank goodness for the Black Caucus. Freshman Rep. Katrina Jackson…repeatedly embarrassed Rep. (Stephen) Carter, the author of the bills and the chairman of the House Education Committee who, as was clearly demonstrated, does not know what is in his own bills.
“He (Carter) finally grew tired of looking like a fool and ‘refused’ to take questions on his own amendments. The Speaker was forced to drag other administration lackeys such as Rep. Ligi to the mike to give equally evasive and/or uninformed answers.
“…These bills are bad for Louisiana. Who ever heard of giving school boards the responsibility to hire and pay a local superintendent, but then tell that same school board that they cannot supervise that superintendent? This is madness. Local superintendents are somehow now answerable (the bill is unclear on how this will actually work) to the State Superintendent, an appointed lackey who is not answerable to the voters or, technically, even to the governor!
“This is the ‘small-government-is-best crowd that is consolidating power at the state level?
” What the hell?”
Louisiana Voice 
Just as we loathe a strong federal government and call for state’s rights, we should also be aware of the danger of a strong centralized state government. It lends itself to easily being “bought off” and without the safeguards of a decentralized local government sector, as the state goes does every local government sector go. Maybe it’s time for a state constitutional convention to reorganize the state and give more power to the local governments……..Oh yeah, I forgot, the guv and legislators like playing God.
The smaller the governmental unit, the cheaper it is to buy off.
Warm fuzzies for us retired teachers. I don’t feel warm! I’m steaming with all his hot air he’s blowing around. It’s worse than a hurricane! We can’t get FEMA in here to help us recover! The “whereases” mean nothing to him! He just read the words!
And, I forgot to say, this was on the day when thousands of active and RETIRED teachers were protesting his ed reform agenda inside the Capitol and on the steps. What a laugh!
His Lowness has also issued a proclamation “honoring” social workers. Gee thanks. That sure makes up for no raises, daily worry about my retirement and fear that my state is now in control of a dictator.
I’m sure civil servant day is around the corner. Probably in the same week the legislature passes the 3% salary surtax to cover state operating expenses. Stalin was a dictator. Piyush is no Stalin. He’s just a small little man playing at being a petty, bureaucratic tyrant–the small head behind the curtain.
The real culprits are the legislators too spineless to represent their constituents. These are the men who need to be pulled out into the sunshine. They are all vampires, mesmerizing and sucking the blood from Louisiana citizens to perpetuate their own long and prosperous political lives. (Why do you think they only vote at night?)
Long memories, people. Long memories.
Will it take a Category 5 type wind to get this right.
In 2007 the governor was campaigning and at the time saw the value in state workers and he talked about preserving the programs in place.
We do have issues, but it looks as though Politics prevails over everything, including our children.
WAKE UP LOUISIANA! Call the people you put in office and ask how much it costs for HONESTY today, though I am sure we can’t afford the price.
I think one can still register a response to Louisiana legislators via phone by pressing 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 0 on the dial-pad during their recorded monologues. Sometimes the key press results in a “vote.” Not sure what the vote response is or what one is voting for, but it vaguely feels like someone is listening…. like representation feels when in word alone.
If Rep. Katrina Jackson would announce her candidacy for governor, I’d be the first one to sign up for her campaign. She’s the only one who is really paying attention to what’s going on, and is the only one who cares about truth in government. Kudos to her!