As a state representative, John Bel Edwards was once a harsh critic of Bobby Jindal.
That was then. Now appears to be quite different.
Edwards the legislator was often a lonely voice in the legislature, speaking out in opposition to Jindal’s destruction of the Office of Group Benefits and the raiding of OGB’s $500 million surplus from which it paid medical claims for state employees. Then.
Edwards opposed Jindal’s attempts to privatize governmental services, including prisons. Then.
Edwards the legislator was the leading critic—sometimes the only critic—of Jindal’s destruction of the state hospital system. Then.
Edwards the legislator openly challenged Jindal’s constant budgetary cuts, often asking pointed questions of Jindal or his lackeys during committee hearings. Then.
Edwards the legislator said that he was fooled into voting in favor of an amendment at the end of the 2014 legislative session that would have given a hefty—but illegal—boost in retirement income for then-State Police Superintendent Mike Edmonson. Edwards, in fact, led the call for an investigation into the maneuver by State Sen. Neil Riser of Columbia. Then
But when John Bel Edwards was elected governor he suddenly began to morph into Bobby Jindal 2.0.
The first indication that the more things change the more they remain the same was when he reappointed Mike Edmonson as State Police Superintendent and Secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections Jimmy LeBlanc at the behest of the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association.
The sheriffs’ association is a powerful lobby and anyone who desires to be governor must pass in review before the association and receive its blessing. The local sheriff, after all, is the single most powerful political figure at the parish level. And when you multiply that local power by 64, the number of parishes, you have a formidable political force to overcome if you don’t have their collective endorsement.
Edwards’s brother is a sheriff. So was his father and his grandfather before that. So, it was no surprise when Edwards received the association’s seal of approval.
JINDAL was joined at the hip by the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry and he showed it by his penchant for tax relief for big business at the expense of public and higher education and health care.
Remember when people could actually afford to send their kids to college?
Remember when there were facilities available to those in need of mental health care?
Remember when the state budget reflected some degree of sanity?
Remember when teachers could count on a pay raise every decade or so?
I can remember when there were real Democrats in Louisiana politics and not pretenders who bend with whichever direction the wind blows (see John Alario, John Kennedy, et al).
Well, thanks to the abetting of compliant legislators beholden to corporate campaign contributors, those are now just fond memories.
But when John Bel was elected, there was hope.
Instead, he has cozied up to business and industry and rather than confronting legislators, he tried to get along with them without offending them. Apparently, he didn’t learn from Dave Treen, a Republican governor who tried unsuccessfully to get along with a Democratic legislature.
And now, today, he is in New Orleans to address, of all people, delegates to the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). On a lesser scale, that’s the moral equivalent to Trump colluding with…well, never mind.
ALEC is, or should be, everything a real Democrat (as opposed to a DINO) should shun like the plague. A real Democrat truly interested in promoting what is best for Louisiana’s citizens would never set foot inside an ALEC Annual Meeting, much less appear as a speaker at one.
Retired State Budget Director Stephen Winham said as much when was quoted by a Baton Rouge Advocate EDITORIAL yesterday.
ALEC is a conglomerate of BUSINESS INTERESTS that promotes a Republican agenda exclusively. Members converge on a city (like New Orleans) for their Annual Conference, sit down in highly secretive meetings (no press allowed, thank you very much), and draft “model legislation” for member lawmakers in attendance to take back home and introduce as new bills, quite often without bothering to change so much as a comma.
That’s it. Legislative members of ALEC attend these meetings so lobbyists for corporations from other states can tell them what’s best for Louisiana citizens.
In 2011, when then-State Rep. Noble Ellington of Winnsboro was its national president, Jindal was the featured speaker and received the organization’s Thomas Jefferson Freedom Award.
Now, ALEC is back and so is Jindal 2.0 John Bel Edwards.
Louisiana Voice 
As Lanny Keller points out in his editorial, linked above, the governor has attempted to triangulate himself for appeal to voters across the political spectrum. In my opinion, he has done so from day 1 in office as a re-election tactic. He seems to not acknowledge that a Republican candidate, in the mold of our President, can draw significant support, regardless of what JBE does or does not do. The President proves this theory on a daily basis. JBE will be relentlessly attacked by such a candidate for his few accomplishments and it will have an appeal he must not underestimate.
Rather than attempt to be all things to all people, I would always have preferred JBE take a strong stand on issues of importance to people like me and fully engage in winning battles over them. Pragmatism is necessary, but it can be perceived as weakness when carried too far. I am quite confident the Republicans in our legislature will claim full credit for the limited number of what JBE considers his accomplishments.
I am very concerned about the next election and I sincerely hope JBE accomplishes his goal of re-election. I am also concerned about what he can expect to accomplish as a lame duck. Regardless, his re-election will be of greater benefit to our state than any of the known alternatives, including Kennedy and Landry.
I think the race would be Kennedy’s to lose should he run, but I truly hope he will stay where he is and where he can do us the most good. I have no faith Landry would lead our state in the direction I would like to see it go. Kennedy is a chameleon and it is hard to predict where he would lead us. Landry has shown himself to be divisive, like the POTUS, and I do not see that as a positive in any respect.
Soulless, despicable crooks & prostitutes, all! So, it doesn’t matter who you think you’re voting into office, they’re most likely going to drink the poison and cave.
When sleeping with dogs, you get fleas. In every state in the United States, there is corruption to some degree. In Louisiana, every parish is corrupt. It doesn’t matter anymore which party you are with. Democrats have gone to the proverbial “HELL IN A HAND BASKET” and Republicans don’t know whose yard they want to play in. We have spineless jellyfish running this state. Whether it is because one doesn’t know his opinion until a special interest group tells him or if he should have kept his ignorance to himself and remained a quiet do nothing as he had been, the outcome is the same. Louisiana’s “mere” citizens continue to suffer. This most likely will not change in my lifetime, as for the last 60 years, we continue to have, “The best politicians money can buy.” Just ask any other state and watch them gladly agree while laughing in your face. It might take all of ten fingers to name those politicians who actually do what is best for La. Note: I SAID “MIGHT”.
While I agree with most of your observations, the folks in New Jersey and Illinois might not be so quick to laugh at us. They can’t very well throw stones lest they break some glass.
JBE sucks, but I’d bet he isn’t dumb enough to still think Trump colluded with..well, never mind. Edwards is a one-time governor that sold us on the honor code but turned out to be another Democratic fraud that lied to get elected.
Ben, keep hanging your hat on Trump. Everyone needs something to believe in, but I’m afraid you’re in for a HUGE disappointment….bigly. I would suggest you pick up a copy of Russian Roulette at your favorite book store and read it but that would be asking that you have an open mind. (Also, by the way, the earth really is round.)
Anyone who thinks John Bel Edwards is as bad as Jindal has a very short memory. The guy has to get re-elected to continue trying to level the playing field that Jindal, his Legislature, & LABI have distorted to favor only those who pay to play. I am very disappointed in the attacks on JBE. As a state employee, public school teacher, prospective retiree, citizen, ….I would certainly prefer JBE to Jeff Landry or John Kennedy. Think, people!
Tom great article and good job to solicit thoughts, from the know it alls. I totally disagree that JBE is Jindal 2.0., you sound ….well, like a republican. ALEC is a necessary evil I know JBE is smart enough and will do good for all of us not just the business interest. Remember they have all of the money.I agree with PSchwarz. thanks and love always ron thompson
I wish we could get a governor who would concentrate his efforts on fixing our problems and not on getting re-elected. But alas, it doesn’t seem that’s possible anymore. But we can hope!
As long as Edwards doesn’t start introducing ALEC Cookie Cutter Legislation in our State Capitol, I’ll keep an open mind on this.
“…ALEC Cookie Cutter Legislation…” Good one Trixxie. During my time on staff at the House, I saw quite a bit of it. Legislators would send these model drafts upstairs to staff and we would have to determine if the proposed draft was workable in our schemes of law. Often we would suggest changes, but the legislator would tell us not to change a word. Tom, it’s funny that you mention Noble Ellington. One year he sent up 3 drafts of proposed ALEC legislation. I assigned one of the 3 to myself. After carefully scrutinizing the draft, I talked Noble out of introducing that one, at least. I am going along with Trixxie. As long as JBE does not ask any of his floor leaders to carry ALEC legislation, I;ll keep an open mind. .