The best thing about blogging is that we are not bound by the constraints of pseudo-objectivity as are the reporters for your local daily. Every post for us is an op-ed piece in which we are free to express our disgust with or enthusiasm for people and events.
At this stage of the 2014 legislative session in Baton Rouge, we tend to get a little confused so excuse us if we can’t quite remember if it was Billy Wayne Shakespeare or Forrest Gump who said, “Stupid is as stupid does.” Despite the rapid onset of CRS Syndrome, we have no trouble or hesitancy in calling something—or someone—stupid if that is the way we perceive it.
And sometimes we are willing to go a step further in injecting words like “corruption,” “duplicity,” “sleaze” (we especially like that one), or even “malfeasance.”
And so it is that after receiving a heads-up from our friend and fellow blogger C.B. Forgotston, we employ each of these adjectives in describing the actions of the Senate Finance Committee on Sunday after 10 of its 11 members (Sen. Dan Claitor was the lone member to cling to his principles) discarded their oaths of office—their sworn duty to protect the interests of the people of Louisiana—in favor of political expedience of the very lowest sort by ripping $4.5 million from the budget for Louisiana’s developmentally disabled and allocating the money for a Verizon IndyCar Series race at the NOLA Motorsports Park in Jefferson Parish.
It’s bad enough that this state, thanks to the idiotic fiscal foolishness of Gov. Bobby Jindal, is so deep into the financial dumpster but still places a priority to lavishing millions of dollars on things like something called an IndyCar Series race, but to take that money from developmentally disabled citizens who so desperately need state services just to survive is nothing short of criminal.
Jindal, while traipsing all over the country with his goofy grin, rejects expansion of Medicaid that might alleviate some of the suffering, and after vetoing last year’s appropriation of extra funding to help shorten the waiting list for services for the developmentally disabled, now displays the sheer callousness, or stupidity, of committing to find the money for facility and track improvements. http://www.auctioneer-la.org/Disable_to_Racetrack.mp3
That’s correct. He made a commitment to the owners of the facility to drop $4.5 million on them. And who benefits from this largesse? The state? Teachers? Health care? State employees?
You can check those boxes no, no, no and no. A privately owned auto racetrack would be the correct answer.
Our first impulse was to plunge into the campaign contributions of campaign fund abuse poster boy Republican Sen. John Alario of Westwego in Jefferson Parish, president of the Senate. The whole deal just had that smell to it.
But, no, that was not the connection. His contributions from the principals were negligible in the overall scheme of things—something in the area of $3,500. That’s not enough to pay for one of Alario’s legendary meals at a fancy New Orleans eatery or to pay for one of his luxury boxes at the Superdome.
Nor were there any contributions to any of the Finance Committee members from NOLA Motor Club, LLC., operators of the raceway.
Our next step was to check in with the Secretary of State’s web page and conduct a corporations search for NOLA Motor Club, LLC. Voila! Whose name should pop up as one of the principals? Laney Chouest, that’s who.
So, who is Laney Chouest, you ask?
Well, he also showed up as an officer in a few other corporations run by the politically active Chouest family of Galliano. Their main business is in shipbuilding and marine transportation and Laney Chouest was listed as an officer in Edison Chouest Offshore, Inc., Alpha Marine Service Holdings, LLC., and Beta Marine Services, LLC., to name only three.
So, armed with that information we did a campaign contribution search of only the last name of Chouest and we hit the mother lode.
Between 2007 and 2010, members of the Chouest family and their various businesses contributed a whopping $106,500 to Jindal.
Laney Chouest was active in the political arena during that same period, contributing tens of thousands of dollars to minor candidates, but he was smart—or lucky—enough to stay away from Jindal and members of the Senate Finance Committee, thus making the direct link difficult.
The question then becomes why the hell is the state bailing out this family, which can well afford to make its own updates and repairs to the racetrack? Why indeed.
To take money from Louisiana’s very most unfortunate citizens and hand it to the Chouest family on a silver platter is not only unconscionable, reprehensible, irresponsible, immoral, or whatever other appropriate word you may wish to invoke in condemning this classic example of political corruption, it should be criminal and should carry the same penalties as embezzlement, public bribery or child abuse.
Instead of retreating to reality TV, those of us fortunate enough to have mentally and physically healthy children, siblings, parents and spouses should take a few minutes and consider the plight of our neighbors who are not so fortunate. They are the ones who can never enjoy dining out in a restaurant, going to a movie, taking family vacations or watching your reality shows because providing care to family members in dire need is a full time job without the downtime of cheering for LSU, Southeastern or ULL in this year’s regionals, super regionals or College World Series.
Extreme? Strident? Outraged? Damn right, hell yeah on all three.
The oath of office our elected officials take comes with a huge responsibility to place the welfare of our citizens uppermost above all else. Jindal and 10 members of the Senate Finance Committee have turned their backs on that promise by once again knuckling under to our absentee governor (and demanding this appropriation on his part) and in so doing, have committed the most disgraceful form of malfeasance.
Accordingly, here are the names of the 11 members of the Senate Finance Committee, how they voted on the amendment to take the $4.5 million away from the developmentally disabled, and their email addresses—just in case you might have something to add to what’s already been said here.
| Sen. Jack Donahue (Chairman) (YES)R-Mandeville donahuej@legis.la.gov |
| Senator Norbèrt N. “Norby” Chabert (Vice-Chairman) (YES) R-Houma chabertn@legis.la.gov |
| Senator R.L. “Bret” Allain, II (YES) R-Franklin allainb@legis.la.gov |
| Senator Sherri Smith Buffington (YES) R-Keithville smithbuffington@legis.la.gov |
| Senator Dan Claitor (NO) R-Baton Rouge claitord@legis.la.gov |
| Senator Ronnie Johns (YES) R-Lake Charles johnsr@legis.la.gov |
| Senator Eric LaFleur (YES) D-Ville Platte lafleure@legis.la.gov |
| Senator Fred H. Mills, Jr. (YES) R-New Iberia millsf@legis.la.gov |
| Senator Edwin R. Murray (YES) D-New Orleans murraye@legis.la.gov |
| Senator Gregory Tarver (YES) D-Shreveport tarverg@legis.la.gov |
| Senator Mack “Bodi” White (YES) R-Baton Rouge whitem@legis.la.gov |
Louisiana Voice 
And supposedly Donahue whined that the governor “promised” the 4.5 million to Indy-whatever. He could have just as easily told Nola Motor Club, “Well, the governor lied.” Works for me.
Mr. Aswell, I admire and respect you. I love your blog and the work that you do enlightening us on the depravity of our elected officials. I forward your work along to my Republican friends and relatives in other states and encourage them to stay away from Piyush as a presidential candidate.
My step-daughter works with the developmentally disabled so I understand the difficutlies that they have and am flabbergasted to read about how they have been stiffed.
I sat on a panel at LPB when the topic was redistricting. Jack Donahue was also there. He singled me out to talk to after the discussion as I had made it known that I was not a Republican. I respect him for that.
So, before I write him to tell him to tell him there was a pile of dog crap in my yard that looked exactly like him I feel that I should ask you.
How exactly did these legislators justify this decision? Ken
Jindal wanted it and the committee members trembled and said, “Yes, Master.”
That is pretty despicable.
Can it be that simple? Yes, mein Fuhrer, end of discussion?
I must be delirious. How can the money be taken fom assistance to developmentally disabled and given to promote a race car track? I hope the voters in the districts of the senators who voted to allow this will wake up and send these ******* packing. Where is the US attorney?
Jindal is despicable. His actions are despicable. He exhibits sociopathic behavior and no one will stand up and put a stop to this madness. Just when I thought he had done his worst, it gets even “worser.” I wonder what level of hell awaits Jindal – and his enablers in the legislature.
Solid investgative reporting and deftly presented as usual. More proof that big biz owns this state and most of its (sleazy) elected officials.
I saw a YouTube video of the meeting. Still shaking my head.
The Donahue D is for DISINGENUOUS now as when he pretended the closing of Southeast Hospital was a surprise. How about a D for DUMP HIM and the rest of Jindal’s PUPPETS. The Yes votes from committee Democrats are astounding. The third-world fascist still vetoing legislation from any who cross him?
The feckless legislators never looked so impotent. And never has Piyush looked more ugly or careless.
There is no place in heaven for jindal and his “yes men” therefore they should all give themselves to the devil because God don’t like ugly. I cannot understand how elected officials can do this to individuals who cannot defend themselves. Wonder if they sleep at night?? Better enjoy the air conditioning cause hell is gonna to be really hot!!!
Thanks Tom for your digging and truthfulness.
All politicians applaud Capitalism, yet they practice Socialism. When a private business is given money by the government to operate a for-profit business where all of the gain goes to the private sector, that’s Socialism–or something other than Free Market Capitalism. For now, let’s call it Socialism. Therefore, any legislator that votes to spend state public funds to assist a privately owned enterprise is nothing less than a Socialist. So now, hang that sign around your neck you gaggle of misguided Legislative sleazebags!
Just when you think these son of a bit#£<s cannot stoop any lower they find a way to get lower then ant shi$.
I will be calling each and every one of these spineless heartless bottom of the barrel so called human beings until I give each and every one of them a piece of my mind.
As for contacting our so called govener, I won't waste a second of my time on that worthless waste of our air. He could care less about this state or anyone in it!! That is unless you put $$$$$ in his pocket.
I also enjoy auto racing, if I spend one red cent at that race track, I hope the good Lord strikes me down where I stand.
Thanks Tom for again shedding light where others don't DARE!
What a horrible thing we have done to ourselves, electing this man to office.
Change man to men and preface with heartless and cowardly. Don’t always agree with Claitor but I applaud his actions on this one.
Thank you for bringing this to the public’s attention. This is one of the most outrageous and just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse!
Our entire country is wrapped up in idiots and crooks in politics !! Louisiana is definitely near the top,, Greed is taking over ;( pray for our state and country !
Tom, this is the response I got from Senator Fred Mills:
Thank you for emailing me your thoughts. Tomorrow on the Senate floor there will be amendments to restore the funding. I will support those amendments to HB 1.
The saddest thing about this is it is what we have come to accept. I’ve not seen a lot of outrage about this anywhere but here.
This is so typical…but when is the last time one of the senators or Gov. Jindal had to take a disabled child to play at the park…chuck e cheese etc.? Life in itself will not be easy for these kids…mine included….so why take from them instead of helping them…..precious kids with great attitudes that are better people altogether than those a-hole politicians!!! So sad! Put yourself in their shoes for a day, Gov. Jindal!!!
There is no justice or righteousness in this world. NONE. We are all victims of the giant scam to benefit the Oligarchs running the show of Amerika from behind the curtain of OZ! Politicans are the puppets being controlled by the tribal cabal puppetmasters who own everything and benefit no one but each other!
Tom, I have sent each of the 11 yes voters an email letting them know how I felt about there vote. I offered each my phone number and also offered to meet them face to face.
To no surprise I have not heard from any of them. Go figure!
Sometimes there’s nothing like hearing what happened first-hand. For those who may wish to do so, here’s a 2-minute audio clip of the proceeding: http://www.auctioneer-la.org/Disable_to_Racetrack.mp3. Incredible, huh? It’s emphasized that the State has made a COMMITMENT of $4.5 million to the Racetrack, so they HAD to find the funding somewhere. Incredible where they chose to find it!!!
All who voted for it should not be relected ever again. All the homeless should be placed on their door steps. Ooh let’s not forget the governor’s mansion.
[…] What best illustrates the arrogance of that fiscally irresponsible appropriation, the thing that pushed it to the status of virtual malfeasance, is the fact that the Senate Finance Committee, taking its cue from Jindal, ripped $4.5 million from the budget for Louisiana’s developmentally disabled in order to free up the money for the racetrack. The lone dissenting vote was that of State Sen. Dan Claitor (R-Baton Rouge). https://louisianavoice.com/2014/05/26/senate-finance-committee-craters-to-jindal-rips-4-5-million-fro… […]