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Legislators barely sworn in for new term but already warrant a not-so-gentle reminder of why they were elected to office

Posted in Campaign Contributions, Governor's Office, House, Senate, Legislature, Legislators, Lobbyist, Politicians, Transparency on January 13, 2016| 36 Comments »

Gov. John Bel Edwards hasn’t even issued the call yet for a special legislative session to deal with the state’s budgetary woes and already state lawmakers appear to have the collective attention span of a gypsy moth.

A couple of years ago, a person who knows me well (my wife) commented that after Bobby Jindal leaves office, I would have nothing to write about. She’s dead-on with most of her evaluations but with this one, she failed to take into account we still have a legislature.

That’s the body that allowed Bobby Jindal to run roughshod over this state for eight long years with hardly a peep of protest. And that’s the body that must, in the final analysis, be held accountable for the damage inflicted by Bobby.

The legislature allowed Jindal to rape higher education. It looked the other way when he gave away the state hospitals. It was shamefully mute when he closed or privatized mental health hospitals and cut funding for the developmentally disadvantaged.

No questions were asked when it was revealed on this blog that Department of Public Safety Undersecretary Jill Boudreaux picked up an extra $46,000 in spare change by taking advantage of a retirement incentive offer (along with an additional $13,000 in unused leave) in April of 2010 only to return to work the next day—at a promotion from deputy secretary to undersecretary (Funny, when Sally Clausen did that at the University of Louisiana System, the mainstream media was apoplectic).

Lawmakers blindly went along with a last-minute amendment to a bill in the closing hours of the 2014 session that would have given State Police Superintendent Mike Edmonson an additional $50,000 or so in retirement income in violation of an irrevocable decision he had voluntarily made years before that locked in his retirement. Only when LouisianaVoice stumbled upon the amendment and publicized it was action taken to rescind the amendment.

So now here we are in January of 2016, staring down the barrel of a $2 billion-plus budgetary shortfall for next fiscal year and about $700 million just to make it to the end of this fiscal year (June 30).

I’m about to make citizens angry at legislators’ lack of focus. I’m going to make women furious at lawmakers’ lack of sensitivity towards equal pay for them. I’m about to make those struggling to feed a family on minimum wage wonder (actually, they’ve never stopped wondering) if anyone in elective office even cares. And I’m about to send state employees who have gone for years without a pay raise into orbit.

And no matter which group you fall into, you can look to the legislature as the cause of your continued struggles.

And just so you don’t forget, I want to remind you that it is legislators like Senate President John Alario (R-Westwego) who use not their own money, but campaign contributions to dine at the finest New Orleans restaurants, purchase season tickets to LSU athletic events and to Saints and Pelicans pro football and basketball games, and to lease luxury vehicles like BMWs and Mercedes. Others use funds to pay fines for campaign violations (the ultimate irony) and to even pay personal federal income taxes as well as to purchase season tickets to athletic events.

The Baton Rouge Advocate on Wednesday (January 13) ran a front page story about Legislative Fiscal Officer John Carpenter’s attempt to convey to House members just how severe the state’s financial plight really is.

So the House members were riveted to Carpenter’s presentation, hanging onto every word, right?

Wrong. Elizabeth Crisp, writing for The Advocate, said the budget talk was “met with mild interest” from members “who mingled about and talked throughout the more than two hours of presentations.” http://theadvocate.com/news/14553820-123/state-house-members-hear-gloomy-budget-outlook

The chamber was called to order, she said, in an attempt to quiet the “loud chatter” and some members posed questions in an attempt to get fellow members’ attention, “though it had little effect,” she wrote.

What the hell? I mean, WHAT THE HELL?

Did we send a bunch of juvenile delinquent dumbasses to Baton Rouge to party and have a good time at taxpayer expense? Apparently so.

If these legislators had kids who got their hands on dad’s credit cards and maxed them out and the kids started chattering and laughing during the lecture on fiscal responsibility that followed, dad would—and should—jerk a half-hitch in them. We, in our parental roles, should remind these jerks, these spoiled brats in no uncertain terms why they were elected.

Remember State Sen. Neil Riser (R-Columbia)? He’s the one who slipped the infamous Edmonson Amendment in during the closing hours of the 2014 session. That was the amendment that would’ve kicked Edmonson’s retirement up by some $50,000.

Well, guess what? Though he was frothing at the mouth to get Edmonson his money in 2014, he went on record today (January 13, 2016) as opposing any increase in the minimum wage. Greg Hilburn, writing for the Monroe News-Star, quoted the incoming chairman of the Senate Labor Committee as justifying his opposition to an increase: “The Louisiana economy is struggling,” he sniffed.

Well, DUH!

Yes, Senator, the economy is struggling. When you have people trying to exist on $7.25 an hour, they’re going to struggle. They won’t be able to purchase appliances, cars, or homes, the very consumer products that drive the economy. Where did you get your economics degree, Senator? Oh, that’s right, I forgot. You run a couple of mortuaries. Do they teach economics in embalming school? I bet you don’t pass up an opportunity to increase prices on those shiny coffins, do you? How much do you charge for a funeral today as compared to say, ten years ago? Five years ago? One year? Betcha a dollar to a doughnut those rates haven’t remained stagnant.

There was no one in Louisiana more skilled than C.B. Forgotston at chronicling the antics of those he referred to as the leges. C.B. sadly is no longer with us, so it falls to those of us who can only aspire to his observational skills to keep Louisiana’s citizens abreast of the shenanigans of the 144 members of the Louisiana House and Senate.

With that said, here’s another reason the economy in Louisiana is struggling: Women in Louisiana, on average, make 66 cents for every dollar paid a man for the same job. Where is the equity in that, Senator?

Here’s a news flash for you. Politico Magazine has just issued its annual “States of our Union” report. Any guesses as to where Louisiana ranks?

If you said 50th, you would incorrect. We’re 51st. It seems the District of Columbia was also included in the rankings (coming in at 39th overall).

There’s a thing called the Gini coefficient, or Gini index, factored into the rankings. The Gini coefficient is a measure of statistical dispersion intended to represent income distribution, or more accurately, to reflect income disparity (the gap between the haves and the have-nots).

In that measure, the District of Columbia is the worst but we’re not far behind. We have the nation’s fourth-worst income inequality. But Neil Riser doesn’t want to increase the minimum wage.

Here are a few other rankings that contributed to the state’s overall anchor position:

  • Per capital income: 11th worst at $24,775;
  • Unemployment rate: 6th worst at 6.3 percent;
  • Percentage of population living below poverty level: 3rd worst at 19.8 percent;
  • Percentage of high school graduates: 3rd worst at 83.6 percent;
  • Life expectancy at birth: 4th worst at 75.7 years;
  • Infant deaths per 1,000 births: 5th worst at 7.49.

And just for good measure, another survey shows that Louisiana is the sixth most violent state in America with 514.7 violent crimes per 100,000 population. The state’s murder rate (10.3 per every 100,000 residents) is the highest in the nation and more than double the national rate (4.5 per 100,000 people). http://247wallst.com/special-report/2016/01/12/the-10-most-dangerous-states/2/

Statistics provided by the U.S. Department of Justice show a direct correlation between poverty and crime. http://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=pbdetail&iid=5137

But let’s not raise the minimum wage, Senator.

Here’s the real irony with Riser: he represents one of the poorest senatorial districts in the state which means he is undermining the interests of his own constituents. Could it be he does not want to pay his employees more?

At least Edwards has signed an executive order expanding Medicaid which will provide health care to some 300,000 citizens who were denied it under the Jindal administration.

And finally, for those state employees who have gone without raises, I’m sure by now you are well aware that state troopers received back-to-back raises totaling some 30 percent over a six-month period last year. http://theadvocate.com/news/legislature/12940806-123/state-troopers-get-hefty-back-to-back

But did you know that Edmonson is working quietly behind the scenes to implement an automatic annual pay increase for state troopers in addition to the usual merit raises (which, we need not remind you, have been denied other state employees)?

That’s right. He calls it a “longevity” increase and if he is successful, it will give state troopers, many of whom already make six-figure incomes, automatic raises each and every year, merit be damned. Longevity means by virtue of hanging onto one’s job, troopers get automatic raises.

While state employees may belong to a union (The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees—AFSCME—is the main player), state civil service rules prohibit state employees from striking. But why not a state employee association? That’s a pretty benign term. We have RSEA, the Retired State Employees Association of Louisiana. Members pay their own dues and a state employee association could be set up in the same manner. No one has the authority to ban an employee association—especially if there is no payroll deductions for dues. And for the more sensitive types, it removes the stigma of the word union from the discussion. (People forget, however, that it was unions’ efforts that ended child labor in oppressive sweat shops. Unions gave us the 40-hour work week. They fought for a minimum wage and for our retirement and medical benefits. And it was unions that led the fight for equal rights for women and minorities. We should never lose sight of those facts because unions, like ’em or not, were instrumental in creating America’s middle class that Republicans seem hell-bent on eliminating.)

An association, after all, would only be a large social club—sort of like that other organization…what’s it called? Oh, yeah, the Association of Louisiana Lobbyists. Or maybe the Fraternal Order of Police.

And such an association would never call for a widespread sickout of state employees in order to make a point (wink, wink) on an issue like say, longevity pay increases for state police while civil service employees continue without even cost of living increases for years on end.

Seriously, if leges (with apologies to C.B.) don’t get their collective heads out of… (and we’re not talking about sand here), they will end up creating just such an organization. People (teachers, state employees, women, minorities—all voters, mind you) are tired of being dumped on. They’re tired of patchwork budgets, tired of legislators turning deaf ears on their problems, tired of the elitist attitudes and campaign-funded perks of the power structure.

They want solutions and the leges would be wise to pay attention in class and to take their jobs seriously—or get out so someone else will.

 

 

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Ethics Board has feet of clay; withdraws opinion on Kristy Nichols lobbying questions; re-schedules for Feb. meeting

Posted in Boards, DOA, Ethics, Governor's Office, Health Care, Legislature, Legislators, Lobbyist, LSU, Privatization, Public Records, Transparency on December 21, 2015| 13 Comments »

It looks as though Bobby Jindal’s former commissioner of administration Kristy Nichols will finally have to comply with state regulations. Or maybe not.

The Louisiana Board of Ethics, in typical fashion first put the kibosh on any effort by Kristy Kreme to lobby state government on behalf of her new employer—and then promptly withdrew the opinion.

The board was essentially neutered by Jindal during his rush for ethics “reform” in his first days in office back in 2008. Because of those “reforms,” the board lost considerable steam and all its enforcement powers and it now appears it is missing a spine.

And one has to wonder if the Jindalistas had any influence on the decision to withdraw the unfavorable opinion.

Nichols served as Jindal’s commissioner of administration for three years, from October 2012 to October 2015. Those years were marked by consistent budgetary shortfalls, cuts to higher education and health care, the contentious revamping of premiums and benefits for state employees, retirees and dependents through the Office of Group Benefits and the equally controversial privatization of the state charity hospital system.

She also was sued twice by LouisianaVoice over her failure to produce public records in a timely manner. It was in that area that she enjoyed her greatest success by breaking even. She prevailed in the first lawsuit but lost the second one. She still owes a judgment of $800, plus attorney fees and court costs. She chose to spend even more state money in appealing the decision to the First Circuit Court of Appeal.

She announced in September that she would be going to work for Ochsner Health System as a lobbyist. Well, technically, her new title is vice president of government and corporate affairs. While state law precludes her lobbying the legislative or executive branches for two years, there appears to be no prohibition to her lobbying local governments (parishes and municipalities) on the part of Ochsner.

She contacted the ethics board on Nov. 5 through attorney Kimberly Robinson of the Baton Rouge law firm Jones Walker.

Robinson was recently named by Gov-elect John Bel Edwards to be the new secretary of the Department of Revenue and Taxation.

The board last Thursday (Dec. 17) addressed six specific areas about which Robinson sought opinions. The board shot down four of those and took no position on the remaining two because of what it termed insufficient information, according to Walter Pierce of the INDReporter Web site. http://theind.com/article-22377-Ethics-Board-blocks-Nichols.html

A spokesman for the ethics board, however, told LouisianaVoice on Monday that the opinion has been “withdrawn” and the entire matter re-scheduled for the board’s Feb. 19, 2016, meeting.

The opinion initially would have barred Nichols for two years from:

  • Direct transactions or communications with the Division of Administration;
  • Participating in any transaction, researching or preparing materials for use in or in support of a direct act or communication with a legislator;
  • Communicating or having a transaction with the Department of Health and Hospitals, and
  • Assisting Ochsner in communications or transactions with LSU. The LSU Board of Supervisors currently oversees the public-private partnerships between the state-run hospitals and private health care providers.

There was no immediate explanation of what the remaining two questions from Robinson concerned.

There are several areas of concern in allowing Nichols to lobby state government on behalf of Ochsner, not the least of which is the agreement between the state and Ochsner during her term that allowed Ochsner to partner with the state in running the Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center in Houma.

In 2013, the LSU Board of Supervisors signed off on the contract containing 50 blank pages. That contract handed over operation of state-owned hospitals in Lake Charles, Houma, Shreveport and Monroe. The blank pages were supposed to have contained lease terms. Instead, the LSU board left those details to the Jindal administration (read Commissioner of Administration Kristy Nichols).

Eventually details emerged about the contracts, including that of the Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center in Houma. And, thanks to the Louisiana Public Affairs Research Council, the picture began to come into focus.

Leonard Chabert Medical Center was opened in 1978 as a 96-bed facility with 802 employees but by the time it was privatized, it was down to 63 beds.

In 2008, a hospital-based accredited Internal Medicine residency program was begun. In 2011, the hospital’s revenue was 47 percent uncompensated care for the uninsured, 29.5 percent Medicaid, 13 percent Medicare, 5.5 percent state general fund and 6 percent interagency transfer from other departments with only 1 percent being self-generated.

When the Jindal administration moved to unload state hospitals, Chabert was partnered with Southern Regional Medical Corp., a nonprofit entity whose only member is Terrebonne General Medical Center (TGMC).

TGMC is slated to manage Chabert with assistance from a company affiliated with Ochsner Health System, Louisiana’s largest private not-for-profit health system with eight hospitals and forty health centers statewide. Terms of the agreement call for a five-year lease with an automatic renewal after the first year in one-year increments to create a rolling five-year term.

Though Southern Regional is not required to pay rent under terms of the agreement, the Terrebonne Parish Hospital Service District No. 1 is required to make annual intergovernmental transfers of $17.6 million to the Medicaid program for Southern Regional and its affiliates.

The cooperative endeavor agreement (CEA) calls for supplemental payments of $31 million to Ochsner. Small wonder then that the Houma Daily Courier described the deal as “a valuable asset to Ochsner’s network of hospitals” and that the deal expands Ochsner’s business profile.

Between 2009 and 2013, Ochsner’s revenue doubled from $900 million to $1.8 billion and the deal would mean more revenue for Ochsner, the Daily Courier said. http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20140325/articles/140329692?p=3&tc=pg

There has never been a reasonable explanation as to why the LSU Board signed off on a blank contract that the Jindal administration would fill in after the fact. Was it just by chance that Nichols, as Commissioner of Administration, was responsible for that task? And was it just happenstance that two years after Ochsner received that $31 million, it saw the need to bring Nichols aboard just as her employment with the Jindal administration was winding down?

LSU Board of Supervisors handed over University Medical Center in Shreveport and E.A. Conway Medical Center in Monroe to the Biomedical Research Foundation (BRF) even though the CEO of BRF was a sitting member of the LSU board at the time.

Within two years, that deal fell apart and the board and BRF are now involved in complicated litigation.

Meanwhile, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services has yet to approve the Jindal/Nichols privatization plan.

 

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More than $45,000 in campaign cash is funneled through Executive Director by Louisiana State Troopers Association

Posted in Campaign Contributions, Ethics, Governor's Office, Legislature, Legislators, Lobbyist, State Police on December 9, 2015| 13 Comments »

LouisianaVoice has learned that The Louisiana State Troopers Association (LSTA) has funneled more than $45,000 in political campaign contributions through LSTA Executive Director David T. Young since 2003 without the knowledge of the organization’s rank and file membership.

Much of that amount ($23,750) was given to Bobby Jindal ($10,250) and to three of the four major candidates for governor in the 2015 election ($13,500).

This follows the LSTA’s endorsement of Governor-elect John Bel Edwards in his runoff election against U.S. Sen. David Vitter which also was done without consulting or polling LSTA membership.

Following revelations by LouisianaVoice, the LSTA board has taken action to ensure that no future candidates will be endorsed by the organization without first polling its membership. The board also declined to forward a letter to Edwards asking that State Police Superintendent Mike Edmonson be reappointed for another four-year term. Edmonson denied that he asked for the letter but LSTA Interim President Stephen LaFargue twice confirmed that Edmonson did make the request.

It was LaFargue who made the motion at the board’s November 30 meeting to not send the letter. The 11-member board voted unanimously to not send it.

The LSTA, according to information contained on its website, is “a fraternal organization representing the men and women of the Louisiana State Police” and represents approximately 97 percent of the commissioned officers “as well as a substantial portion of State Police Retirees.”

Organized under Section 501(c)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code, LSTA is a non-profit organization founded in 1969 to represent the interests of its members and to “improve the public services provided by our members to our community.”

Besides membership dues of $30 per month for about 950 active members and $15 per month for retirees under 60 (there are no dues for retires over 60), LSTA also relies on individual and corporate contributions to sustain its activities. It also sells decals, wearables, shirts, caps, glasses, mugs, flashlights, and miscellaneous clothing, according to information contained on the Secretary of State’s corporate records for LSTA Enterprises, LLC.

A member who spoke to LouisianaVoice on condition of anonymity said the board sets aside $25,000 per year for political contributions. Later, when candidates for office become known, the decision is made on whom to contribute money. “The problem with that is,” he said, “is that the membership has never been told of this. They knew nothing about it. David (Young) writes a check and then invoices the board for that amount.”

Another member, when shown the numbers said simply, “Holy s–t! We had no idea this was going on.”

A 501(c)(5) is allowed under IRS rules to make “unlimited corporate, individual or union contributions, so it was not immediately clear why the contributions were made through Young.

The same source said he was incensed by the action. “LSTA wasn’t set up for this kind of activity. Its main purpose is to provide support for trooper who have suffered misfortune, such as when a child has a major illness or when a trooper’s home burns down. We’re not supposed to get all involved in politics.”

Another source said it was not Young’s idea for the LSTA endorsement of Edwards or to make the political contributions and that in fact, he advised against the endorsement. “He (Young) has tried his best to keep Edmonson out of the LSTA’s operations. He and Frank (former President Frank Besson) butted heads constantly over that issue (the endorsement). But when it came down to it, Frank was President and David did as instructed. David has been dedicated and loyal to the LSTA for more than 15 years.”

Besson was recently promoted to captain’s rank and was forced to relinquish his presidency since no one with a rank higher than lieutenant may serve as an LSTA officer. LaFargue was elevated to the position on an interim basis until newly-elected President James “Jay” O’quinn takes office.

Following is a printout from the Board of Ethics Campaign Finance report on contributions made by LSTA through Young. Blank spaces represent the contributions of different David Youngs which were removed by LouisianaVoice.

Alario PAC, F202 : ANN  – LA-41156 CONTRIB DAVID T YOUNG 1548 OAKDALE BATON ROUGE, LA CC 12/21/2011 $1,000.00
Angelle, Scott A. F102 : 10P  – LA-52247 CONTRIB DAVID T YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Drive Baton Rouge, LA   9/30/2015 $2,500.00
Broadwater, Chris F102 : 30P  – LA-50384 CONTRIB DAVID T YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Drive Baton Rouge, LA 70810   2/26/2015 $1,000.00
Broadwater, Chris F102 : 10P  – LA-25704 CONTRIB DAVID T YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Drive Baton Rouge, LA Contribution. 9/16/2011 $250.00
Clark, Cloyce F102 : 30P  – LA-50765 CONTRIB DAVID T YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Drive Baton Rouge, LA   6/26/2015 $500.00
Clark, Cloyce F102 : 30P  – LA-50765 CONTRIB DAVID T YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Drive Baton Rouge, LA   3/27/2015 $500.00
             
Clark, Cloyce F102 : 10G  – LA-54484 CONTRIB DAVID T YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Drive Baton Rouge, LA   10/14/2015 $500.00
Dardenne, John L. (Jay) F102 : ANN  – LA-47554 CONTRIB DAVID YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Drive Baton Rouge, LA 70810-3107   12/11/2014 $1,000.00
Davis, Paula F102 : 10P  – LA-52147 CONTRIB DAVID YOUNG 1548 OAKDALE BATON ROUGE, LA 70810   10/1/2015 $250.00
Downer, Hunt F102 : 90P  – LA-4445 CONTRIB DAVID T YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Drive Baton Rouge, LA   5/29/2003 $250.00
Edwards, John Bel F102 : 10G  – LA-54393 CONTRIB DAVID T YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Dr Baton Rouge, LA   10/26/2015 $5,000.00
Edwards, John Bel F102 : 30P  – LA-50798 CONTRIB DAVID T YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Dr Baton Rouge, LA   8/10/2015 $2,000.00
Edwards, John Bel F102 : ANN  – LA-48840 CONTRIB DAVID T YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Dr Baton Rouge, LA 70810-3107   7/16/2014 $1,000.00
Edwards, John Bel F102 : 90P  – LA-49688 CONTRIB DAVID T YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Dr Baton Rouge, LA   7/2/2015 $1,000.00
Edwards, John Bel F102 : ANN  – LA-39161 CONTRIB DAVID T YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Drive Baton Rouge, LA   7/14/2013 $500.00
Edwards, John Bel F102 : ANN  – LA-48840 CONTRIB DAVID T YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Dr Baton Rouge, LA   10/30/2014 $500.00
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
Gautreaux, Dudley A. (Butch) F102 : 30P  – LA-20558 CONTRIB DAVID YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Dr Baton Rouge, LA   7/26/2010 $1,000.00
Gautreaux, Dudley A. (Butch) F102 : SUP  – LA-23092 CONTRIB DAVID T YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Dr Baton Rouge, LA   10/25/2010 $500.00
Gautreaux, Dudley A. (Butch) F102 : 30P  – LA-20558 CONTRIB DAVID YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Dr Baton Rouge, LA   2/26/2010 $500.00
Gautreaux, Nick F102 : SUP  – LA-11398 CONTRIB DAVID YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Drive Baton Rouge, LA   3/22/2006 $250.00
             
Guillory, Elbert F102 : 30P  – LA-16780 CONTRIB DAVID T YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Drive Baton Rouge, LA   2/11/2009 $500.00
Guillory, Elbert F102 : 10P  – LA-25573 CONTRIB DAVID T YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Drive Baton Rouge, LA   9/16/2011 $500.00
Guillory, Elbert F102 : 10G  – LA-27857 CONTRIB DAVID T YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Drive Baton Rouge, LA   10/29/2011 $500.00
Guillory, Elbert F102 : ANN  – LA-35616 CONTRIB DAVID T YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Drive Baton Rouge, LA   3/9/2012 $500.00
Guillory, Elbert F102 : ANN  – LA-39781 CONTRIB DAVID T YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Drive Baton Rouge, LA   3/26/2013 $500.00
Guinn, John F102 : ANN  – LA-20241 CONTRIB DAVID YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Dr. Baton Rouge, LA   10/5/2009 $250.00
Heitmeier, David F102 : SUP  – LA-16593 CONTRIB DAVID T. YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Drive Baton Rouge, LA   2/20/2008 $500.00
Hoffmann, Frank A. F102 : 10P  – LA-25000 CONTRIB DAVID T YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Dr Baton Rouge, LA   9/21/2011 $250.00
Hoffmann, Frank A. F102 : 30P  – LA-50146 CONTRIB DAVID T YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Dr Baton Rouge, LA   4/10/2015 $250.00
House Democratic Campaign Committee of LA, F202 : 30P  – LA-24567 CONTRIB DAVID T. YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Drive Baton Rouge, LA   6/8/2011 $500.00
House Democratic Campaign Committee of LA, F202 : ANN  – LA-34684 CONTRIB DAVID T. YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Drive Baton Rouge, LA   5/17/2012 $500.00
House Democratic Campaign Committee of LA, F202 : ANN  – LA-39740 CONTRIB DAVID T. YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Drive Baton Rouge, LA   5/9/2013 $500.00
House Democratic Campaign Committee of LA, F202 : ANN  – LA-47440 CONTRIB DAVID T. YOUNG 8120 Jefferson Hwy Baton Rouge, LA   3/25/2014 $500.00
House Democratic Campaign Committee of LA, F202 : 30P  – LA-51260 CONTRIB DAVID T. YOUNG 8120 Jefferson Hwy Baton Rouge, LA   5/31/2015 $500.00
             
Jackson, Michael L. F102 : ANN  – LA-11231 CONTRIB DAVID T. YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Drive Baton Rouge, LA   3/22/2006 $250.00
Jindal, Bobby F102 : 90P  – LA-24239 CONTRIB DAVID YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Dr. Baton Rouge, LA   4/21/2011 $5,000.00
Jindal, Bobby F102 : 180P  – LA-11626 CONTRIB DAVID T. YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Dr. Baton Rouge, LA   2/26/2007 $2,500.00
Jindal, Bobby F102 : 30P  – LA-12153 CONTRIB DAVID YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Dr Baton Rouge, LA   8/18/2007 $2,500.00
Jindal, Bobby F102 : ANN  – LA-10037 CONTRIB DAVID T. YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Drive Baton Rouge, LA   9/30/2003 $250.00
             
             
LaBruzzo, John F102 : ANN  – LA-22748 CONTRIB DAVID T YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Dr Baton Rouge, LA   12/3/2010 $500.00
LaFonta, Juan F102 : ANN  – LA-18988 CONTRIB DAVID T YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Drive Baton Rouge, LA   10/15/2009 $500.00
Landry, Nancy F102 : ANN  – LA-17887 CONTRIB DAVID YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Drive Baton Rouge, LA   4/2/2009 $250.00
Leadership for Louisiana, F202 : ANN  – LA-34933 CONTRIB DAVID YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Drive Baton Rouge, LA   3/6/2012 $250.00
Leadership for Louisiana, F202 : ANN  – LA-39180 CONTRIB DAVID YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Drive Baton Rouge, LA   2/14/2013 $250.00
Martiny, Daniel R. F102 : 30P  – LA-12096 CONTRIB DAVID T YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Drive Baton Rouge, LA   4/19/2007 $500.00
Michot, Mike F102 : ANN  – LA-17198 CONTRIB DAVID YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Drive Baton Rouge, LA   3/31/2008 $500.00
Mills, Fred F102 : 30P  – LA-24540 CONTRIB DAVID YOUNG 1548 OAKDALE DRIVE BATON ROUGE, LA   4/25/2011 $500.00
Montoucet, Jack F102 : ANN  – LA-24151 CONTRIB DAVID YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Dr. Baton Rouge, LA Golf Tournament Fundraiser 11-12-2010 11/11/2010 $500.00
Montoucet, Jack F102 : 10P  – LA-31755 CONTRIB DAVID T. YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Drive Baton Rouge, LA Golf Tournament 9/26/2011 $250.00
Montoucet, Jack F102 : ANN  – LA-38808 CONTRIB DAVID T. YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Drive Baton Rouge, LA Campaign Contribution 3/21/2013 $250.00
Montoucet, Jack F102 : ANN  – LA-24150 CONTRIB DAVID YOUNG 1545 OAKDALE DR BATON ROUGE, LA   10/4/2009 $250.00
Nevers, Sr., Ben W. F102 : 90P  – LA-24091 CONTRIB DAVID T YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Dr Baton Rouge, LA donation 4/20/2011 $1,000.00
Nevers, Sr., Ben W. F102 : 10P  – LA-31700 CONTRIB DAVID T YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Dr Baton Rouge, LA   9/15/2011 $500.00
             
             
Perry, Jonathan F102 : SUP  – LA-41161 CONTRIB DAVID T YOUNG 1548 OAKDALE DRIVE BATON ROUGE, LA   9/22/2011 $500.00
             
             
Robideaux, Joel F102 : ANN  – LA-47422 CONTRIB DAVID T YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Drive Baton Rouge, LA   10/28/2014 $500.00
Robideaux, Joel F102 : ANN  – LA-47422 CONTRIB DAVID T YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Drive Baton Rouge, LA   1/24/2014 $500.00
Robideaux, Joel F102 : ANN  – LA-47422 CONTRIB DAVID T YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Drive Baton Rouge, LA   8/11/2014 $250.00
Robideaux, Joel F102 : 10P  – LA-25466 CONTRIB DAVID YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Drive Baton Rouge, LA   9/20/2011 $250.00
Schneider III, M. P. “Pete” F102 : 30P  – LA-50707 CONTRIB DAVID T YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Drive Baton Rouge, LA   7/16/2015 $250.00
Schroder, John F102 : ANN  – LA-38807 CONTRIB DAVID T. YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Dr Baton Rouge, LA   4/3/2013 $250.00
Smith, Patricia Haynes F102 : SUP  – LA-35365 CONTRIB DAVID YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Dr Baton Rouge, LA   10/24/2011 $500.00
             
St. Germain, Karen F102 : ANN  – LA-18774 CONTRIB DAVID T YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Dr Baton Rouge, LA   2/25/2009 $500.00
St. Germain, Karen F102 : 10P  – LA-25903 CONTRIB DAVID T YOUNG 1548 Oakdale Dr Baton Rouge, LA   9/21/2011 $500.00
             

 

 

 

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LSTA proposes asking Edwards to reappoint Edmonson; Troop I members demand LSTA president’s resignation

Posted in Elections, Ethics, Governor's Office, Lobbyist, Politicians, State Police on November 25, 2015| 18 Comments »

The fallout from the Louisiana State Troopers’ Association’s (LTSA) endorsement of John Bel Edwards for governor continues with a succession of late-breaking developments, LouisianaVoice has learned.

An undetermined number of troopers from Troop I have reportedly demanded the resignation of LTSA president Jay O’Quinn and David Young, the organization’s executive director, over the endorsement.

Troop I, headquartered in Lafayette, encompasses 5,686 square miles and 8,586 highway miles in eight parishes: Lafayette, Evangeline, St. Landry, Acadia, St. Martin, Vermilion, Iberia and St. Mary.

“It’s not that I don’t support Edwards, because I do,” said one state trooper following last week’s endorsement shortly before the general election that pitted Republican U.S. Sen. David Vitter against Democrat State Rep. John Bel Edwards. “I’ve never seen the state police turned into such a political machine,” he added.

As evidence of the LSTA’s morphing into a “political machine,” LouisianaVoice has obtained an email from O’Quinn to select state troopers in which he asked the membership to vote on a proposal that the LSTA write a letter to Edwards requesting that State Police Commander Mike Edmonson be retained in the new administration.

Such a letter would clearly fall under the description of lobbying, something state civil service employees are strictly forbidden from doing.

Edwards easily defeated Vitter by a 56-44 percentage point vote and will be inaugurated governor on Jan. 11.

Meanwhile, LouisianaVoice has learned that the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association is also supporting Edmonson’s reappointment as head of state police.

O’Quinn only recently was elevated to the LSTA presidency after past president Frank Besson was promoted to captain’s rank. No one with a rank above lieutenant may serve as president of the association.

As executive director of the organization, Young essentially serves a paid lobbyist for state police, a perk not afforded state civil service employees. He called the endorsement of Edwards “rare” for the organization, but others are calling it a precedent.

A separate source said that Young had nothing to do with the email and in fact was opposed to and advised against the earlier endorsement of Edwards.

And while state police are not civil service employees in the strictest sense of the term, there is a well-defined list of activities in which they are prohibited from participating. These include:

  • Soliciting votes or contributions for any political candidate, organization or cause.
  • Making political contributions.
  • Making a public political statement or address.
  • Wearing a campaign badge, ribbon, or insignia.
  • Distributing political campaign cards, posters or buttons.
  • Attending a social function which is designed as a fund raiser where a contribution or ticket is required, even if a ticket is offered to the employee free of charge.
  • Becoming a candidate for office, serving as a member of any political committee or taking part in the management of a political party or organization.
  • Publicly displaying political literature, placards, bumper stickers or signs in or on any personal property (except by non-civil service employed spouse on community property).
  • Actively participating in an effort to recall from office an elected official (other than by signing a recall petition).
  • Becoming a candidate for any state, parish, municipal or other political office (other than position of classified employee serving on state civil service commission).

 

O’Quinn, in his email to the membership, wrote:

As we move forward, I would like your input on a potential issue. We have a board meeting next week, and this topic may be on the table since it has been discussed before. Please reply via email and let me know how you vote. Also, please spread the word to other affiliate members so they can vote if they choose. My email is jayoquinn@bellsouth.net. I will take votes until next Sunday, December 6. I will then let you know the results and vote accordingly if this issue arises.

Here is the question. Are you in favor or opposed to the LSTA writing a letter to Governor-elect John Bel Edwards asking Governor Edwards to retain Colonel Edmonson in his current position? Put another way for clarification: Do you want the LSTA to write a letter to the Governor asking that we retain our current Colonel?

I prefer email because it’s easier to keep track, but I won’t disclose how any single individual voted, nor are you required to vote at all. Please respond. Thanks.

Jay

 

“I am hearing that 85 percent of the troopers do not want Edmonson to stay,” our source, who asked to remain anonymous, said. “I am also hearing (that) Edmonson asked for the LSTA to send the letter,” he added. (Edmonson recently was reported to have said those who speak to or comment on LouisianaVoice anonymously were “cowards,” but with several examples of reprisals already being reported, anonymity is understandable.)

The second source said the email, which was sent mostly to members of Troop L in Mandeville, was not composed by O’Quinn but that it originated with Edmonson and came down through the chain of command to be sent out over his name.

Edmonson, for his part, denied that he had anything to do with the LSTA endorsement of Edwards or that he initiated the effort to send the letter. He also said he had never called anyone a coward. “It’s no secret that I would like another four years at my job,” he said, “but I would never ask someone to write a letter like that or to do anything on my behalf. This has to be the governor’s decision and I would never attempt to influence him in such a way.”

“As for O’Quinn saying he won’t disclose how anyone votes, that’s a joke and it’s precisely the reason that very few troopers will even respond,” the first source said. “They know full well if they vote ‘no,’ it will come back to bite them.

“I hope Edwards won’t buckle to pressure in his decision on a state police commander,” he added. “Politics does not need to be a consideration in this process and this solicitation of a vote to send the proposed letter is blatant politics at its very worst.”

 

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TV ad costs for governor’s election staggering but not a word uttered by any candidate about solutions to state’s problems

Posted in Campaign Contributions, Coastal Erosion, Economy, Education, Elections, Finances, Governor's Office, Health Care, Higher Education, Legislature, Legislators, Lobbyist, Media, Politicians on November 20, 2015| 15 Comments »

The numbers just don’t add up.

  • $130,000: The annual salary for the Louisiana governor;
  • 48,014: The number of broadcast TV ads for the four major candidates for governor through Nov. 16, 2015;
  • 24,007: The number of minutes of TV ads we were subjected to through Nov. 16 (at an average length of 30 seconds per ad);
  • 400: The total number of hours of TV ads for governor through Nov. 16;
  • 16.67: The number of days it would have taken you to watch every single ad through Nov. 16;
  • $17,333,920: The total cost of the 48,014 TV ads for the four major gubernatorial candidates (No wonder that Baton Rouge TV station fired the reporter who dared ask Vitter about his prostitution scandal; the station stood to lose lucrative ad revenue from the Vitter camp);
  • 13,654: The number ads purchased directly by David Vitter’s campaign (6,827 minutes, 113.8 hours, 4.7 full days of ads;
  • $3,816,660: Total cost of TV ads purchased by Vitter’s campaign;
  • 6,771: Number of ads purchased by Fund for Louisiana’s Future on behalf of Vitter (and make no mistake, while super PACs are prohibited from planning strategy or even consulting with a candidate, they can trash opponents freely and FLF trashed everyone but Vitter—3,385 minutes, 56 hours, 2.4 days);
  • $3,185,640: The cost of TV ads purchased by FLF through Nov. 16;
  • 9,259: Number of ads purchased by John Bel Edwards campaign (4,629 minutes, 77 hours, 3.2 days)
  • $2,675,600: Cost of TV ads purchased by John Bel Edwards;
  • 2,315: Number of TV ads purchased by Gumbo PAC on behalf of Edwards (1,157 minutes, 19.3 hours, .8 days)
  • $1,204,010: Cost of TV ads purchased by Gumbo PAC, the bulk of which was purchased after the Oct. 24 open primary;
  • 4,679: Number of TV ads purchased by Scott Angelle through Oct. 24 (2,340 minutes, 39 hours, 1.6 days)
  • $1,528,340: Cost of TV ads purchased by Scott Angelle;
  • 3,968: Number of TV ads purchased by Jay Dardenne through Oct. 24 (1,984 minutes, 33 hours, 1.4 days)
  • $1,285,380: Total cost of TV ads purchased by Jay Dardenne;
  • 7,368: Total number of TV ads purchased by smaller PACs (3,684 minutes, 61.4 hours, 2.6 days)
  • 0: The number of ads, the minutes, hours and days and the cost of TV ads in which any of the four candidates actually discussed their plans for resolving the multitude of problems facing Louisiana in public education, higher education, health care, prison reform, employment, coastal restoration and preservation, the environment, the economy, the state budget, or infrastructure.

And therein lies the real shame of the 2015 gubernatorial election.

With so much at stake for the state and with more than 16 full days of TV ad time in which to address our problems, not a word was said by any candidate about what he intended to do to turn this state around after eight years of the amateurish experimental governance of one Bobby Jindal that has brought us to the brink of ruin.

I repeat. Not a single word.

Instead, we were treated to a never-ending barrage of:

  • David Vitter is a snake for his tryst(s) with one or more hookers and is not only despised in the U.S. Senate but is largely an ineffective senator;
  • David Vitter betrayed his family 15 years ago but has been forgiven by his wife and has fought valiantly in the U.S. Senate on behalf of Louisiana’s citizens;
  • John Bel Edwards is joined at the hip with President Obama and desires to turn 5,500 hardened Angola convicts loose to prey on our citizenry;
  • John Bell Edwards has an unblemished record of achievement as evidenced by his graduation from West Point and his subsequent leadership role in the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne and has fought Bobby Jindal’s disastrous programs for eight years.

As the voters of this state who have to make a decision tomorrow (Saturday, Nov. 21), we are tired—tired of the negative campaigning, tired of the distortions of records and outright lies about opposing candidates, tired of the endless succession of robocalls that give us not a live person with whom we can debate issues, but a recording that pitches one candidate’s positives over another’s negatives. (It’s just not the same when we curse and scream our frustrations at a recording.) We deserved better from all the candidates. We got a campaign long on accusations, name-calling and finger-pointing and one woefully short on solutions.

And lest readers think I am directing all of my disdain at the gubernatorial candidates, let me assure you I am not. I have equal contempt for the legislature, PACs and corporate power brokers.

Consider for a moment how approximately $31 million (that’s the total cost of this year’s governor’s race when all media advertising—radio, newspaper, robocalls and mail-outs, along with campaign staff and assorted expenses—are factored in) could have been put to better use. http://theadvocate.com/news/acadiana/13971699-123/louisiana-governor-race-spending-close

True, $31 million isn’t much when the state is looking at yet another $500 million budgetary shortfall, but every little bit helps. These donors, so concerned about the governor’s race, could, for example, feed a lot of homeless people or purchase quite a few text books for our schools. I’m just sayin’….

Most of that money, of course, is from PACs, the single worst plague ever visited upon a democratic society. PACs, with their unrestricted advertising expenditures, along with large corporate donors who also manage to circumvent the campaign contribution ceilings, remove the small contributors and the average citizen from the representation equation.

And why do they pour money into these campaigns? For benevolence, for the advancement of good, clean, honest government.

You can check that box no. It’s for the same reason they pay millions of dollars to lobbyists.

If you really want to know their motivation, just take a look at the list of state contracts http://wwwprd.doa.louisiana.gov/latrac/contracts/contractSearch.cfm or the impressive list of appointments to state boards and commissions.

Our thanks to the Center for Public Integrity for providing us with the television advertising cost breakdowns for the candidates and the various PACs. http://www.publicintegrity.org/2015/10/01/18101/2015-state-ad-wars-tracker

 

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