Sen. Bob Kostelka, R-Monroe, wants people to know he’s serious.
He has already pre-filed SB 41, which calls for a constitutional amendment to be placed on the ballot which, if approved, would make the state superintendent of education and elective position as opposed to the current appointive one.
Kostelka also wants it understood that he wants current Superintendent John White to go.
He says he has seen enough of bloated contracts granted to politically-connected firms. He has seen his fill of contracts like the one that teaches kids how to play at recess. He has heard quite enough about contracts awarded to PR hacks to work out of their homes in other states for outlandish figures like $12,000 per month.
Most of all though he has grown weary of trying to obtain information and records from the secretive Louisiana Department of Education—and repeatedly encountering a brick wall of resistance.
And he is more than a little concerned about the approval of vouchers for schools which have no classrooms, no teachers and no desks—like New Living Word in Ruston.
And while he didn’t say so, he seemed to take some bit of pleasure in knowing that his bill has come under fire from Gov. Bobby Jindal’s chief apologist, Jeff Sadow.
Kostelka claim that the bill would make the superintendent answerable to the people instead of a rubber-stamp Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) was described by Sadow as a “curious mix of ignorance and illogic.”
Sadow chose to fall back on the argument that most of the BESE members are already elected and “answerable to the people,” apparently choosing to ignore the fact that most of the elected members’ seats were bought by out of state contributions from such people as Michael Bloomberg, Bill Gates, the Walton family and K-12.
Sadow also says Kostelka seems to have forgotten the “policy-making mess” that existed under the elected superintendent structure that existed prior to 1988. In saying that, Sadow appears to be overlooking the ever-evolving “policy-making mess” that is indicative of today’s DOE under a superintendent who doesn’t seem to have a clue where he intends to go or what he intends to do when he gets there.
“People like Mr. Sadow say I want to return to old-time politics,” Kostelka said. “To that, I would have them look at the political contributions to the BESE members and then explain to me what has changed under the present system.”
“They say my bill would cost the state the expense of another election, but it wouldn’t. I’m calling for the election to be held in the fall of 2014 at the same time as the Congressional elections, so there would be no additional costs. If approved, the elected superintendent would take effect with the 2015 gubernatorial election and White could leave with Jindal,” he said.
Kostelka is well aware that he has run afoul of the petulant Jindal and is certain to incur the governor’s wrath. His punishment could range from a loss of committee assignments to vetoes of key projects in Kostelka’s senate district. All one has to do is harken back to last year’s session when Jindal vetoed a major construction project in Livingston Parish after Rep. Rogers Pope and Sen. Dale Erdy had the temerity to buck Jindal on legislative matters important to the governor.
If that isn’t old-time politics, we don’t know what is.
But Jindal has proved beyond any doubt that he is not above such tactics.
But, at long last, those tactics appear to be coming back to bit him in the backside.
He has demoted legislators, fired a BESE member, an LSU president, doctors, various department and agency heads, appointed legislator buddies (Noble Ellington, Troy Hebert, et al) to six-figure deadhead jobs and in at least one case—that of Hebert—that appointment appears to be a major embarrassment to the administration.
But even after all of that, nothing compares to the damage done to his political stock as the recent dust-up with the Board of Regents.
Send in the clowns
As is his M.O., Jindal attempted to distance himself from the action—perhaps as a means of attempting to maintain deniability, a ploy that has consistently served him badly—by dispatching an emissary to do his dirty work. In this case, it was Taylor Teepell, brother of Timmy Teepell who seems to be running his OnMessage political consulting operation from the governor’s fourth-floor offices in the State Capitol.
What was Taylor’s mission? Nothing less than to demand the firing of Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. James Purcell. Purcell, you see, committed the unpardonable sin of criticizing Jindal’s repeated cuts to higher education. There is no run for dissention on Team Jindal.
But Taylor Teepell got a major surprise. Regents Chairman W. Clinton “Bubba” Rasberry, Jr. sent Teepell back to Jindal with a message: “Dr. Purcell works for the Regents.”
Whoa. Herr Jindal is not accustomed to such spunk from his subordinates. The governor does, after all, appoint the Regents members and he expects all appointees to toe the line, not draw a line in the sand.
Of course, Jindal could fire the entire board and replace the recalcitrant members with more compliant sycophants. But his brazen attempt to oust Purcell for the sin of independent thinking probably did more harm to Jindal than anything else he has done in his five-plus years in office. This attempt, coming as it did on the heels of three major court reversals of his education and retirement reforms and the word last week of a federal investigation into a contract with the Department of Health and Human Resources, has left him politically crippled.
And his blatant, quixotic pursuit of the presidency would be laughable were it not such a pathetic sight to behold. It somehow makes him look even smaller, more the little boy, in his ill-fitting suits.
Seeing his presidential aspirations slip away raises yet another spectacle that he would probably rather no one would know about. When he encountered occasional crises during his tenure as head of the University of Louisiana System, rather than facing the problems head-on, his solution of choice was to retreat to his office where he is said to have played video games virtually non-stop.
One must be wondering what video games he prefers these days. League of Legends, perhaps?
As one observer recently said, the Jindal waters appear to be circling the drain.
Louisiana Voice 
Now that’s good journalism right there!
Look like we have finally had enough of this mess they call new reforms.I plan on sharing this one with my parish news.
Hope the legislative group is ready to take up the concerns.
We can only hope.
Must be the toilet drain as jindal’s bunch is so full of crap!!!! Good journalism with the right perspective on our governor’s manic depressive behavior. His treatment of some of our elected officials has scared so many officials that they refuse to clean the bowl and flush the toilet. The elected officials better wake up or they will end up in the sewage ditch, too.
Jindal is still reading exclusively from the Koch brothers’ playbook and none of it serves the interests of Louisianans. He’s sold out and is beyond redemption. All the chasing around the country bailing out other Koch stooges has just helped him look even more ridiculous.
Normally I would say NO to an elected superintendent. But with Jindal and the possibility that other conservative extremists could get into his position, I think and elected superintendent might be the only safe option. Just make sure that the criteria for running are strong, much like the criteria for Coroner requires a physician. That is THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT MUST BE A CERTIFIED or RETIRED CERTIFIED TEACHER WITH AT LEAST A MASTERS DEGREE IN EDUCATION AND 10 OR MORE YEARS OF K-12 CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE. That would solve a lot of the problems the schools are having, reduce political influence, increase morale, and reduce the incidence of experienced teachers taking early retirement or leaving the state. Plus a veteran teacher knows how to put a self serving governor firmly in his place with a look!
Kostelka is right. We need an elected State Superintendent of Education. This state has gone to hell in a hand basket, and public education is headed by an incompetent twit, and his overpaid minions. I have never seen such disregard for the law and our state’s constitution. John White is not qualified to be the CEO of a garbage dump. Most of the members of BESE are a disgrace, assisting Jindal and his buddy White in dismantling public education at the expense of our children. The most experienced teachers are leaving our classrooms in droves choosing to retire rather than exist within a chaotic education system headed by a dim wit and a liar. It will take at least a decade to restore our public education system after Jindal leaves in hot pursuit of his holy grail.
I did not vote for Jindal. Saw him in action while working in the legislature during the Foster administration when Jindal headed DHHR. I was repelled by his inhumanity. Jindal is all about Jindal, particularly his national aspirations. He will leave this state in shambles, and the voters who elected him are to blame. Jindal is shameless, and runs rough shod over anyone who stands in his way, crushing them to ensure his dictator status. Our legislators cower in his presence, and permit this tyranny to continue. It is they who have given Jindal his power to corrupt and destroy.
Go for it Kostelka. It is high time that legislators develop a backbone, and take Jindal on. Perhaps our lawmakers should hit the history books to discover that there are three branches of government. One is the legislative branch that has been hijacked by a hypocritical, egoistical governor. When will our legislators summon up the courage to beat him at his game? Perhaps the first step might be in electing their own leaders – then making the right decisions for the citizenry of Louisiana rather than capitulating to a man that could care less about most of us.
What a wonderful couple of words there.
I would have to agree, great journalism there Tom. Way to keep the politicans peering around the corner. Hopefully, Jindal and his sycophants will someday disappear from the terrain, moving back to their perspective states or on to more lucrative states that can afford them. Sadly, Louisiana may be bankrupt prior to their departure. Your work is pure. Thank you.
Senator and former Judge Kostelka is a former colleague of mine. Bob was one of the few indendent Republicans who freely voted with his heart and his brain. Never a favorite of Jindal he is popular among his fellow senators for his honesty always advancing what is best for our state. I’m with Bob on an elected Commissioner of Education.
Butch, that’s great to hear. I hope he will vote that way this session. Too many have been voting, not the “party” line, but the “Bobby” line.
Tom it is heartening to see that at least one of the fourth estate has taken their job seriously. The bully usually cannot handle his own medicine. Perhaps now the legislators will realize this and begin to take back their jobs of representing their constituents. Hopefully they have realized that they have a significant say in the conduct of government in this state.
Excellent work as usual Tom.
But did you have to mention Sadow?
Excellent! May I call you DRANO? Pour in some more and maybe we can get this clog gone.
I sent out an email to every senator asking for their support of SB41 below. It is time for the people of LA to hold our elected legislators responsible and let them know we are aware of their actions. They have participated in the destruction of our state by cowering at the feet of the governor who would be king, (I mean president). It is important for us to contact them in droves and speak up. Here is my email below.
I am writing to encourage you to support Sen. Kleckley in advancing Senate Bill 41 which will allow voters to elect our state superintendent of education who would answer to the voters of our state and not to be a puppet of the governor who advances harmful agendas that are detrimental to our state. I am also concerned about the harmful education policies that were passed last year and I hope that you and your colleagues will do what you can to remove these harmful mandates that are stripping educators and students of their rights to a quality public education. Public education belongs to the public and not to private enterprises that strip our tax dollars for their own profits. Please do what you can to support public education and public school educators. Sincerely,
I realize I assigned the bill to the wrong person, but I hope they get the message.
Wow, such passion. Now if we could only get people to expose the President of the United States the same way. Hopefully the authors of this site will.
Yep! Chuck Kleckley is a Republican Rep., made Speaker of the House last year so he could ram Jindal’s agenda down LA throats. At that time one could easily access a written bill, its digest and how every state legislator voted. Now the Legislature website has been changed so it is no longer user friendly. An individual legislator’s vote now seems unavailable.
Curious, I tried to find how Senator Kostelka voted on the whole range of destructive Jindal bills, what campaign contributions were made to him and by whom, but the information was unavailable. Part of Jindal’s promised transparency and accountability evidenced by the new legislative website?
Most (R) legislators and a few (D) were paid hundreds of thousands in campaign contributions to pass the most egregious set of laws pushed by corporate interests in LA’s history. The same interests also spent millions stacking BESE, the Jefferson School Board and a few other boards around the state with Jindalmen.
Qualified certified teachers are resigning in record numbers across the state so that the TRSL is behind several months. Teachers are replaced by Teach For America 5 week wonders. Such a man is Super. White. Those stalwart teachers still in public schools have adjusted curriculum, Student Learning Targets and retrained to focus on NEW Common Core Standards now pushed by corporate interests which will make money writing “NEW” textbooks and testing instruments.
The scam and scandal that are Jindal’s “reform” are epic. The list of abuses endless. The fact is that EVERY LEGISLATOR paid or veto-whipped into voting Jindal’s agenda are complicit.
In addition to SB41 we should also consider the senator’s voting record. So, I’m asking, Sir, how did you vote on SB 597, SB 603, SB969 and a host of other bills designed to divert tax dollars from the state treasury to church, private and corporate interests, to undermine public education and to rob the treasury of desperately needed funds?
And, in addition to SB41, in the other 4 bills at your disposal, will you introduce a bill eliminating the line item veto power of the fascist in charge?
For a quick check on Kostelka’s voting record, you could look at:
http://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/35458/robert-kostelka/27/education
or
http://neworleanscitybusiness.com/blog/2012/04/04/senate-approves-jindal-teacher-tenure-bill/
Butch Gautreaux is exactly correct to call him independent and not a Jindal favorite. Wikipedia has some pretty disagreeable quotes from him about Clinton and marriage, but hey, he’s an octogenarian north Louisiana Republican–honest, independent, free thinker is good enough for government work and better than our state usually gets.
Butch Gautreaux is right. Kostelka is an independent and not a Jindal favorite. Wikipedia has some offensive comments about Clinton and marriage, but for an octogenarian north Louisiana republican, he is good enough for governement work and better than what we have come to expect in our state. For a glance at his voting record, see:
http://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/35458/robert-kostelka/27/education
or
http://neworleanscitybusiness.com/blog/2012/04/04/senate-approves-jindal-teacher-tenure-bill/
Jindal is elected. 8 of the 11 BESE members are elected. And the answer is somehow making the State Supt elected.
Houston, we have a problem.
We have met the enemy and it is us.
You’re mistaken about BESE.
Three members were appointed.
Two members were elected.
Six members were purchased.
I want to thank Independent Thinker in taking time to send out letters to legislators in support of bill SB41. The irony of accidentally giving credit to House Speaker Kleckley for writing the bill is more likely a Freudian slip. Representative Kleckley has not presented any bills that I know of. He is busy supporting the 11 bills Governor Jindal has not yet filed. Our Governor didn’t get the memo that in our state we frown upon lack of consideration by not giving the elected officials time to review and make careful and thoughtful decisions which seriously affect their constituents. In Louisiana we have a history of following one of former President Reagan’s rules to,”Trust but verify.” I believe the verification is in and we have absolutely no reason to trust our present administration. Time to support only leaders who have proven records of trust, transparency, voting records and political campaign contributors. If there is anyone left to lead with these qualifications. Thanks Tom for your honest reporting.
We would like to thank Representative Rogers Pope and Senator Dale Erdey for looking out for the best interest of the people of Livingston Parish. They know who put them in office and also what the people in their Districts want. Some others don’t know nor care what the people want, but these leaders are strong and well respected and strictly for their constituents. Some of us are blessed while some are blessed out, but the future is pretty clear for what integrity is, some got it, some not!!!
The sites tlsO provided yield quotes from Senator Kostelka and others such as “You’re holding the teacher responsible for the whole problem,” but they do not provide a link to Kostelka’s voting record. That information seems “disappeared” in LALA Land courtesy of the Legislative webmaster. Voting records by which a legislator may be judged (“independent” or not) seem unavailable. One senatorial remark does not a vote make.
The State Legislature website has been changed enormously. There apparently are no links for legislators’ voting records, past or future. Also, now one must set up a username and password and supply personal identifying information in order to access any information. So far my attempts have not been successful. When clicking to submit required information the blank input screen reappears.
Having freely used the legislative website to access information, without having to set up an account, during last year’s legislative session, I believe “updates” to the site are another way to prevent citizens’ access to information. All public business is required by law to be PUBLIC. But the Jindal et al have made subterfuge a fine art in his 5 years.
One has to wonder if the same person/people who “improved” the LDoE website also tinkered with the leges’ site.
Thanks to Tom whose advice helped me find voting records, not as easy as in the past. Senator Kostelka has my vote.
He voted NAY on SB603, NAY on SB597 which authorizes state-wide charters, diverts MFP funds to them and requires no certification of teachers or accountability, and most important, NAY on HB969. It allows unlimited contributions of money for scholarships to private and parochial schools from corporations and individuals who then get (bottom line) tax credits from federal and state taxes.Then the state of LA is required to “reimburse” 90% of the contribution back to the contributor. A more dastardly scheme to rob the treasury while paying kick-backs that circumvent the law has never been seen!
http://votesmart.org/bill/votes/19738
In 2008, he voted yea for school vouchers. He must have seen the writing on the wall when the courts ruled them unconstitutional. In political terms, it’s called “walking back”! In this case, “voting and walking back”!
Thanks for setting Kostelka’s record straight. He is not my senator, but how I wish the 2012 votes from my area were like his. Public schools are closing across the state. The Jefferson Parish School Board closed 7 last year and John White has offered that parish $200,000 per year for 6 years for every charter they open.
In a meeting with St. Tammany area legislators last week the 3 legislators in attendance were walking back too, not inclined to talk about SB969 in particular (which all voted for), and vowing to curtail Jindal’s absolute power. Like Kostelka, they were touting bills they are sponsoring in 2013.
Unfortunately Jindal’s havoc is already upon us. The blame belongs squarely with the legislators who voted for his illegal and unconstitutional agenda as well as voters who bought slick talking points instead of looking at the records.
Follow the money.
Feds will follow the money, but more important, they will find it. If it’s not there, and should be, somebody will start to sing like a bird;)