Louisiana Voice

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.

Platitudes R Us

Communication is oh, so important

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.

Have you seen this man?

You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to talk to a lawyer for advice before we ask you any questions. You have the right to have a lawyer with you during questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be appointed for you before any questioning if you wish. If you decide to answer questions now without a lawyer present, you have the right to stop answering at any time.

Those are the words law enforcement officers are required to recite to any person they arrest for any offense. The words are enshrined in what has become known as the Miranda Rights, as defined by the U.S. Supreme Court in the 1966 case of Miranda v State of Arizona.

In 2022, the Supreme Court weakened Miranda somewhat in a 6-3 ruling that said an individual who is denied Miranda warns and whose compelled statements are introduced against then in a criminal trail cannot sue the police officer who violated those rights.

It did not, however, change the critical assurance that the defendant is guaranteed legal counsel and that if he was unable to afford an attorney, “one will be appointed for you before any questioning if you wish.”

Thus was born the indigent defender board, aka the public defender board, which employs attorneys (at ridiculously low salaries) who are given bare-bones resource such as access to experts to refute prosecutions’ experts and are so overloaded with cases because of lean staffs that they are physically unable to conduct the research needed to aid the defendant.

And that is a major reason I was able to write about 101 WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS IN LOUISIANA.

In my book, I cite examples of public defenders who performed minimal work on behalf of defendants who were ultimately convicted of crimes they did not commit and sentenced to prison where some remained for decades before being exonerated.

There were cases cited in the book where public defenders literally did not meet their clients until the day of their trials.

Public defenders, for the most part, are individuals dedicated to the rights of the accused, whomever they may be and for whatever offense they are charged. But the reality is that public defenders are disgracefully underpaid and grossly overworked. Louisiana Illuminator pointed out that “Public defenders represent nearly every criminal defendant in the state. In the fiscal year 2022-23, 88% of people charged with crimes relied on a public defender, according to a state public defender financial report. Collectively, they had approximately 142,000 clients during that budget cycle. “

So, why are they so pitifully underpaid and understaffed? God knows there are plenty of lawyers in the state and hundreds more entering and graduating from law schools.

The answer to that is that every single politician running for any office in this state – including judges, who I feel should not articulate any position regarding the sentencing phase or being “tough on crime” – necessarily campaign on their allegiance to law and order and coming down hard on criminals. You never (and I do mean never) here a candidate for any office pontificate on the need for adequate staffing of public defenders or of paying them a decent, livable salary.

All this is written to call your attention to today’s Louisiana Illuminator story that FIVE PUBLIC DEFENDERS ARE TOLD THEY WILL LOSE JOBS FOLLOWING A TAKEOVER OF THE BOARD by Jeff Landry, who is itching to install an express lane to the Angola execution chamber.

Landry, first as attorney general, and now as governor, has no regard for the rights of defendants. As far as he is concerned, any arrested is guilty. We know for certain that many are arrested or at least questioned relentlessly for crimes in which they had no part. Such incidents are disruptive and embarrassing to the individuals involved.

And now we have a U.S. Supreme Court that says a person so treated has no recourse for damage to property, improper detainment or strongarmed questioning.

What’s worse, according the Illuminator story, State Public Defender Remy Starns, who is chief of the local public defenders in Baton Rouge and is fighting to control two other local boards, has taken the position that the standardized compensation plan put in place for district defenders in 2023 is too generous. After board members voted to increase the pay, Starns was instrumental in pushing legislation that dissolved the first public defender board and set up a new board.

In other words, Starns believes public defenders are already paid too much since a pay plan he has endorsed would cut some district defenders’ pay by tens of thousands of dollars per year.

Public defenders in Louisiana have not received a pay increase or even a cot of living adjustment in 16 years during which time legislators’ salaries have increased and during which time the salary of the LSU president, who is little more than a sycophant for Landry, pulls in $750,000 per annum.

Meanwhile, innocent defends who happen to be unable to afford legal representation are shortchanged by having their fate placed in the hands of often inexperienced, underpaid, overworked public defenders.

I may be trying to see the world through rose-colored glasses, but I’m convinced, by all that’s holy, that we can do better than this in Louisiana.