Louisiana Voice

It was right there, in the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) PRESS RELEASE dated March 5. More than $7.5 billion in retroactive payments were sent out to 1,127,723 individuals as of March 4, it said.

The payments, the SSA said, are the result of the repeal of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). The WEP and GPO provisions reduced or eliminated the Social Security benefits for over 3.2 million people who receive a pension based on work that was not covered by Social Security (a “non-covered pension”) because they did not pay Social Security taxes.

The average retroactive payment thus far is $6,710, the press release said.

Unless you were lucky enough to receive two checks, as one area reader did. She received two different checks totaling nearly $10,000. “This has to be an error,” said the recipient’s spouse. “Since the SS Administration has already issued [more] a million and a half of these checks, the amount by which people have been overpaid must be massive.”

But Elon Musk and his pet Doge are eliminating waste and inefficiency. He and Agent Orange have said so repeatedly. So, no, there can be no error. Trump has so proclaimed.

“President Trump made it very clear he wanted the Social Security Fairness Act to be implemented as quickly as possible,” said Lee Dudek, Acting Commissioner of Social Security. “We met that challenge head on and are proudly delivering for the American people.”

How many retro checks have you received?

All I can say at this point is I’m pretty sure he can’t lay any overpayments at Biden’s feet, much as he’d love to.

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We tried. We honestly did. We took a day off from monitoring the number of days John Kennedy has gone without meeting face-to-face with the folks back home in one of those town hall meetings.

You see, we were kind of curious if he paid for his visit to Honey Brake Hunting Lodge up near Jonesville or was it comped or did someone else pay for him.

And if it was comped or someone else picked up the tab, did he report it as required?

Honey Brake Hunting Lodge

So, we asked him that. We gave him an extra day to respond.

Crickets.

Nada.

Zilch.

Not so much as a homey bromide.

You’d think he’d respond to a legitimate question.

I guess not.

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For several days now, I’ve been poking John “Foghorn” Kennedy for never having held a town hall meeting since his initial election to the Senate back in 2016.

I decided to send him a daily reminder of that and today, I got my own unpleasant reminder of just how much those inside the Beltway in Washington hold the great unwashed (that would be us) in contempt.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, that family values, Louisiana Family Forum and Christian nationalism ADVOCATE, that law professor for the LAW SCHOOL THAT NEVER OPENED, has called on fellow Repugnant lawmakers to avoid holding town hall meetings lest they encounter some constituents who might be a tad upset at the economy and at some of actions being taken by the Musk/Trump administration.

Shreveport should be so very proud of giving the world such a man as Johnson, the man who feels he must have an anti-porn app on his and his son’s cell phones so that each can monitor the other to ensure neither is accessing online porn.

A few members (from other states) had the courage to hold town hall meetings and caught a lot of flak for their trouble. Folks are legitimately upset at the way things are going. Musk is firing employees by the thousands, gutting agencies and departments that were actually accomplishing positive things for the sick and disabled and protecting consumers from financial fraud.

They were legitimately concerned at the tariffs Agent Orange was tossing out. They knew, even if he could not comprehend the concept, that tariffs are assessed against the buyer, in this case, American businesses who simply pass the increased cost on to the consumer.

That was probably taught at the Penn University’s Wharton School of Business, but IMPOTUS was probably absent on tariff day.

But let’s get back to Johnson, the Shreveport arbiter of good and evil as per the evangelical playbook. Reacting to the hostility encountered at town hall meetings already held, Johnson, sounding oh so very much like Trump his own self, said, without a shred of evidence to back his claim up, that the complaints at the town hall meetings came from “paid troublemakers.”

Johnson said that the disgruntled voters in the representatives’ home districts were “professional protesters.” I don’t know about you, but I suspect it’s fairly difficult to scratch a living out of being a “professional protester.” What’s the going rate these days? Do they pay by the job or by the hour? Time-and-a half-for overtime? Is there a “professional protester” union?

A reader made the best observation yet on the current state of affairs when he summed up the Repugnantcan unique take on history: “Ukraine invaded Russia. Zelensky wasn’t elected by voters. Tariffs are paid by the nations being tariffed. Musk knows that he’s doing because he’s rich. J6ers were political prisoners. Any Black Lives Matter march is a riot and town hall protestors must be paid rabble rousers. It’s a never-ending slide of selling out to whatever excuse gets them to the only thing they really believe in – that they are entitled to wallow in their ignorant prejudices.”

And obviously, the best way to perpetuate those myths is to remain inside the Beltway, insulated from the slings and arrows of discontent. Don’t give the folks back home an opportunity to express themselves. It’s far better to lecture them in sound bites at election time so as to convince them you really are working to make their lives better even as it becomes more and more difficult to buy food, shelter and transportation.

But for God’s sake, don’t go down among them. Maybe Thomas Wolfe was correct when he said you can’t go home again.

Especially if you’re a coward.

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Platitudes R Us

Communication is oh, so important

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Editor’s note: the following is a press release from the office of U.S. Rep. Troy Carter. Carter is the only member of Louisiana’s six-person House delegation, or the state’s two U.S. senators, who regularly issue press releases in order to keep his constituents informed of his activities. The remaining seven are stangely silent. As far as their constituents know, they could be on a resort beach, vacationing with Clarence Thomas or Samuel Alito.

Tomorrow, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA) will be joined by Chanté Powell as his guest to Donald Trump’s Address to a Joint Session of Congress. Ms. Powell was fired from the USDA National Finance Center (USDA-NFC) in New Orleans by the Musk-Trump Administration that has directly harmed federal employees like her across the country.

Chante Powell’s career took an unexpected turn when, after securing an auditor position with the USDA-NFC in her hometown of New Orleans, she was laid off on Valentine’s Day, a devastating blow to her and her family. She was hired to be a watchdog for waste, fraud, and abuse, the very thing Musk and Trump “allegedly” want to root out of government. Their actions are in conflict.

After taking office on January 20, Donald Trump immediately handed the keys of our federal government to Elon Musk. Now, Trump is coming to address a Joint Session of Congress so he can demand the Republican Majority push through his extreme budget proposal to cut Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, and critical programs American families count on.

“I am proud to take Chanté Powell to the Joint Address to Congress to share her story—one of resilience, hard work, and dedication to public service,” said Rep. Carter. “Unfortunately, under the Musk-Trump Administration, many federal employees, like Chanté, have faced unjust hardships. Their decisions have caused widespread instability in the workforce, leading to cruel layoffs and uncertainty for hardworking Americans who contribute to their communities via public service. Democrats are prioritizing policies that protect and uplift federal workers, ensuring they are treated with the respect and fairness they deserve. Clearly, Donald Trump and Elon Musk are not.”

“I sincerely thank Congressman Carter for the invitation to attend the Joint Address. As a recently laid-off federal employee, I hope to shed light on the real impact of job instability on the lives of hardworking and dedicated public servants,” said Chanté Powell. “Witnessing the President speak is a powerful reminder that the decisions made at the highest levels of government directly affect hardworking federal employees and their families. I stand here to represent the thousands facing uncertainty, hoping for solutions that protect those who dedicate their careers to serving this country. I am hopeful that my presence will magnify their voices for the stability and security they deserve.”

Background:

Chanté Powell, an Algiers, Louisiana native born on November 11, 1986, has overcome significant challenges to build a remarkable career dedicated to public service and education. After moving frequently as a child due to her mother’s marriage to a Navy officer, Chanté returned to New Orleans to live with her father and graduated as an honor student from Warren Easton Fundamental High School. She pursued higher education at the University of New Orleans, earning dual bachelor’s degrees in accounting and business administration, followed by an MBA from Florida A&M University.

Chante’s professional journey spans various levels of government, where she has held roles including Accountant, HR Specialist, Auditor, Management Advisor, and Chief Auditor. Her public service efforts include serving on the Board of Trustees under two New Orleans mayors, advocating for city employee raises, and volunteering with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She also worked on public safety initiatives and served on the Parent Advisory Council for the New Orleans Public School Board’s Superintendent. As a Healthcare Regulatory Compliance & Privacy Professional at Ochsner Health, she contributed to one of the largest healthcare providers in the Southeast.

In 2024, Chante joined the Office of Inspector General – General Services Administration as a Performance Auditor, marking a significant achievement in her career, especially given the rarity of such federal opportunities in her hometown. Despite facing adversity, including being unexpectedly laid off from a GS-13 position at USDA-NFC in New Orleans, Chante remains committed to her community, focusing on inspiring young people, advocating for workforce stability, and continuing her personal journey of growth and resilience. Through her experiences, Chante has become a strong advocate for the American Dream, emphasizing the importance of education and career opportunities for all.

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