Louisiana Voice

We’re in the final week of our twice yearly fundraiser and we still need your help. As the country song goes, we “ain’t broke but we’re badly bent” here at LouisianaVoice. We have an active legislative session going on and that’s when the most harm seems to be done to taxpayers.

We attempt to monitor what goes on at the Capitol. Not the formal, stuffed-shirt meetings where politicians pontificate, but by sorting through records, audits, minutes, campaign reports and expenditures.

For instance, we revealed that the former head of the Department of Corrections, Richard Stalder, was simultaneously president of the American Correctional Association (ACA), which was responsible for the accreditation of Louisiana prison facilities his state agency ran.

We also revealed that ACA, while serving as accreditor of prisons also served a trade association, lobbying on behalf of prisons.

We also wrote about how Stalder, back in the day, canceled spending on psychiatric counseling for troubled teens in order that his staff could receive $2.7 million in raises.

Not to pick on the Department of Corrections, but this was just one area that we cover at LouisianaVoice and we do so on a daily basis. It costs money to do so.

So, in these waning days of our fundraiser, anything you could see fit to contribute, large or small, would be greatly appreciated. You may contribute by credit card by clicking on the YELLOW DONATE BUTTON to the right of this colum and following directions. Or you may simply mail a check to me, Tom Aswell, 107 North College West, Denham Springs, Louisiana 70726.

Remember, the largest single contributor will receive a first-edition copy of Huey Long’s autobiography, Every Man a King and all contributions of $50 or more will received a signed copy of my latest book, 101 Wrongful Convictions in Louisiana.

Thanks for 14 great years!