Once again, the citizens of Louisiana are dependent upon the whims of our state’s legislators.
Currently, legislators are deciding whether they want to veto their own presumption of a recall session.If that veto session were to occur, it would take place in early August.
In a statement by the chairs of the GOP legislative delegation — Sen. Danny Martiny, R-Kenner, and Rep. Jane Smith, R-BossierCity, "It is our opinion that it would be costly, unproductive, and not in the best interests of the citizens of this state".
That statement was just circulated by the Louisiana GOP over the Internet.The LaGOP frequently circulates statements singing the praise of Republican Governor Bobby Jindal.
In the past few days, I have had an opportunity to take room temperature of a number of legislators in the state concerning this issue.Their comments to me were off the record.As I have mentioned before, I often make certain that those comments are off of the record so I can obtain honest feedback from the people with whom I talk.
I have already explained to this audience my honest feelings about the need to go back into a short session and review their own legislation and the vetoes by Governor Bobby Jindal.Since I have written about this extensively, I am supplying the links but the focus of this column is on the process.I believe our elected officials should hear from our public no matter their views on the override session.
From my conversations with a number of legislators, I believe we are looking a tired and very hurt group of public officials.
Now, the legislators must decide if they want to spend another batch of days in Baton Rouge to override Jindal’s vetoes on a variety of bills and on the legislation some are claiming to be pork.
This is what I have heard from our government leaders:
“Why should I go back to the Capitol, work my head off and not get paid.Why should I help the people if they don’t appreciate what I have done for them”
“I am tired. I need a vacation”.
“If we go back into session, we are going to have problems obtain a two-thirds majority on the veto legislation.Then, we will really look bad in the eyes of the public for wasting their time and money.”
“I am really angry that Bobby Jindal has vetoed legislation that was important to the people to the people.The Governor needs to explain himself on the reasons for the veto.So far, his reasons are not credible”
In general, I believe the Governor’s relationship with the legislature is “spent”. I am fearful that he will not be able to get key legislation through that body in the future. I believe they do not believe what he says.That is not a good sign for Louisiana.
I can understand the hurt feelings, the frustrations, and the fatigue by our elected officials.
But, if they don’t want to serve the public, they should quit.If their main reasons for not wanting to engage in a veto override session is because they fear a public relations mess from their efforts, or because they are tired, it is time for them to resign.
Whether they are making the money they want, they signed on as public servants.To his credit, Bobby Jindal works tirelessly and so do many members of his staff.The issue is whether the legislators’ bills were right and if the Governor’s vetoes were correct.If they are satisfied with the full explanations given by the Governor, then by all means, the veto session would be a waste for those individuals.
However, if they believe that the Governor erred in some of the legislation, they should clear the air with the Governor and let the public engage in civic action and help guide this state on important issues.
In the age of the Internet, Louisiana is tired of backroom deals.The public wants to be informed about matters important to them.If the legislators cannot put their hurt feelings away, if they cannot put aside their fear of failings, if they rather engage in party politics, if they vote for what they think is political rather what they think is right, then, again, they do not deserve to serve the public.Above all, whatever their decisions, they should and must be honest with themselves over the merits of the legislation and must fight for the people no matter the political fallout or public relations shortcomings.
The cost of an override session is minimal compared to the overall budget of over thirty billion dollars.That cost question of an veto override session is almost laughable.
We live in a representative democracy.If we do not receive representation, our democracy is taxed with cowardice and selfishness.I think and hope our legislators look at the bills that were vetoed and judge them on their worth and not on any other political or personal criteria.Otherwise, they are serving their own self interests and perhaps party interests again and not the interests of Louisiana.
How many zeros in a billion? ……….This is too true to be funny. …..The next time you hear a politician use the word 'billion' in a casual manner, think about whether you want the 'politicians' spending YOUR tax money……………. A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but one advertising agency did a good job of putting that figure into some perspective in one of it's releases………………… [A.] - A billion seconds ago it was 1959….. [B.] - A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive……. [C.] - A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age…… [D.] - A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet…… [E.] - A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes, at the rate our government is spending it……… While this thought is still fresh in your brain... let's take a look at New Orleans .... It's amazing what you can learn with some simple division……………. Louisiana Senator, Mary Landrieu (D) is presently asking Congress for 250 BILLION DOLLARS to rebuild New Orleans ………. Interesting number... What does it mean? ……… [A.] - Well... if you are one of the 484,674 residents of New Orleans (every man, woman, and child ‘supposedly as a result of a recent ‘census’) you each get $516,528………… [B.] -Or... if you have one of the 188,251 homes in New Orleans , your home gets $1,329,787……….. [C.] - Or... if you are a family of four... your family gets $2,066,012………. Louisiana, Washington, D. C. ….. < HELLO! >…….. Are all your calculators broken?? ………………… Consider…………… Accounts Receivable Tax…. Building Permit Tax… CDL License Tax … Cigarette Tax… Corporate Income Tax… Dog License Tax… Federal Income Tax … Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)… Fishing License Tax … Food License Tax … Fuel Permit Tax … Gasoline Tax … Hunting License Tax… Inheritance Tax… Inventory Tax… IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax)… IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)… Luxury Tax… Marriage License Tax … Medicare Tax … Property Tax … Real Estate Tax… Service charge taxes … Social Security Tax … Road Usage Tax (Truckers) … Sales Taxes… Recreational Vehicle Tax … School Tax … State Income Tax … State Unemployment Tax (SUTA) … Telephone Federal Excise Tax… Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax … Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Tax… Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax… Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax… Telephone State and Local Tax… Telephone Usage Charge Tax… Utility Tax… Vehicle License Registration Tax … Vehicle Sales Tax … Liquor Tax..... Watercraft Registration Tax… Well Permit Tax… Workers Compensation Tax…. STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?......... Most of these taxes existed 100 years ago... and our nation was the most prosperous in the world…….. We had absolutely no national debt... We had the largest middle class in the world... and Mom stayed home to raise the kids…….. What happened? …… Can you spell 'politicians!' …….. And NOW I have to press '1' for English.???????????????......I hope this goes around the USA at least 100 times……… What the heck happened?????
Written by .............NGO's.............???????
on 7/21/2008
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Below post is not directed at anyone in partcular - just a general sentiment I get when I talk to people lately about our legislature. Written by EJB
on 7/20/2008
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With all respect, I do not understand how people who claim that the legislature does nothing during session but waste taxpayers' time and money can now be hollering to send them back into one. We know the facts: it will take 70 members of the House and 26 members of the Senate to override any veto by the Governor. NO BILL HAS THAT MUCH SUPPORT - it would take a serious fallout of the Republican Caucus and unanimous Democratic support. Case in point: HB 231 by Rep. Doerge. This bill made perfect sense to someone who understands State Retirement and passed with over 2/3 of the House and unanimous Senate approval. The Governor vetoed it for largely symbolic reasons trying to prove he was "tough on terror" even though the bill had nothing to do with terrorism. The motion to override fell two votes short and was never considered again becaus the Governor sent out his minions to strong-arm House members into falling in line.
What would happen in this veto session is that the membes would arrive, take the first vote, and see only about 50-60 green lights come up in the House, and maybe 20-25 in the Senate. This pattern would continue for the first day and then, exasperated, each house would adjourn sine die and go home. Minutes later, it would be splattered all over the news and political commetary: "Louisiana Legislature accomplishes NOTHING in one-day session." Figures would start to come out as to how much money was wasted on this useless one-day session, and nothing would change except an increase in the public's hatred of their legislators. While I agree that some of the vetoes should be overridden, it isn't going to happen. Written by EJB
on 7/20/2008
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I think it is fantastic that we private citizens are having a knock-down drag-out fight on the issue of the vetoes. But it would be a lot better if we had public officials -- read "legislators" -- who were willing to do more than express their opposition to the vetoes "off the record" and instead join in the fight along with the rest of us. These are the guys I want to go after because they are angry that everyone will be watching should they try to spend our precious tax dollars on veto-overrides. If the projects are really worth the money, why won't they come out into the open and make their case? I think this new climate of transparency will take some getting used to among our legislators. This is real democracy at work. We are voters. Fear Us! Spend our money wisely or we will call you back home come next election. Written by Jacob Sulzbach, Lafayette, La.
on 7/19/2008
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I have never heard so much whining and poor mouthing by our politicians yet no one has quit. It is too good a deal. Written by Bobby
on 7/18/2008
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http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/25628899.html Written by Ain't Happening
on 7/18/2008
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NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Merrill Lynch booked its fourth-straight quarterly loss Thursday, this time losing nearly $5 billion, as the nation's largest brokerage was forced to once again take massive writedowns. Merrill said it lost $4.9 billion overall. On a continuing operations basis, it lost $4.6 billion, or $4.95 a share, down from a profit of $2.01 billion, or $2.24 a share a year ago. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters were expecting the company to report a loss of just over $1.8 billion, or $1.91 a share on this basis. The company has now lost more than $19.2 billion in the past twelve months, making it one of the hardest hit companies during the credit crisis roiling the nation's big financial services firms. Written by
on 7/18/2008
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(1)"The cost of an override session is minimal compared to the overall budget of over thirty billion dollars. That cost question of an veto override session is almost laughable." An override session would not deal with the $30 billion budget, only with those $16 million in vetoes. (2)"I am really angry that Bobby Jindal has vetoed legislation that was important to the people to the people. The Governor needs to explain himself on the reasons for the veto. So far, his reasons are not credible" Since you live in the New Orleans area (heavily hit by vetoes), perhaps you are frustrated that your favorite NGO was cut. (3)Abramson's bill can be taken up in next year's session. THE 2008 LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN OVER! MOVE ON! Written by Because I Read This
on 7/18/2008
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Bill, get a life. Steve is saying there should be disclosure and openess. Why did JIndal veto a bill that passed the legislature unanimously that called for elected officials to disclose their contributions and jobs granted. What happened to Jindal's ethics reforms there. When they apply to him, he punts. These are the issues that should be discussed. If Jindal was against NGO's why did he fund some? Where was he reasons for not funding others? If you can read, that is clearly what Steve is saying. Be open. Be honest. Tell us why some NGO's were acceptable and others not. He is obviously saying to the legislature if they have other reasons for not engaging in a veto session other than discussing the merits of the legislation, they should outed. If they can't stand behind their own bills on the merits, what can they stand behind? Written by Hank
on 7/18/2008
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EVERYONE I've talked to since the pork was vetoed are applauding the Gov.
EXCEPT YOU,STEVE, AND A few malcontents. It should have been more, but it is a wonderful start--$16 million out of $39...For too long we have whined about the "slush funds" Hers's a Gov. with the guts to challenge them and you're still not happy.
UNLIKE THE CALLS FROM PEOPLE ON PAY RAISES---
lEG.'S ARE FINALLY LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE, except a few yellow dog Dem. and 1 guy(Steve) who wants the Gov. to be at his feet answering every ?, a if he is God or his feelings are hurt, Written by Bill
on 7/18/2008
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How many zeros in a billion? ……….This is too true to be funny. …..The next time you hear a politician use the word 'billion' in a casual manner, think about whether you want the 'politicians' spending YOUR tax money……………. A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but one advertising agency did a good job of putting that figure into some perspective in one of it's releases………………… [A.] - A billion seconds ago it was 1959….. [B.] - A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive……. [C.] - A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age…… [D.] - A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet…… [E.] - A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes, at the rate our government is spending it……… While this thought is still fresh in your brain... let's take a look at New Orleans .... It's amazing what you can learn with some simple division……………. Louisiana Senator, Mary Landrieu (D) is presently asking Congress for 250 BILLION DOLLARS to rebuild New Orleans ………. Interesting number... What does it mean? ……… [A.] - Well... if you are one of the 484,674 residents of New Orleans (every man, woman, and child ‘supposedly as a result of a recent ‘census’) you each get $516,528………… [B.] -Or... if you have one of the 188,251 homes in New Orleans , your home gets $1,329,787……….. [C.] - Or... if you are a family of four... your family gets $2,066,012………. Louisiana, Washington, D. C. ….. < HELLO! >…….. Are all your calculators broken?? ………………… Consider…………… Accounts Receivable Tax…. Building Permit Tax… CDL License Tax … Cigarette Tax… Corporate Income Tax… Dog License Tax… Federal Income Tax … Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)… Fishing License Tax … Food License Tax … Fuel Permit Tax … Gasoline Tax … Hunting License Tax… Inheritance Tax… Inventory Tax… IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax)… IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)… Luxury Tax… Marriage License Tax … Medicare Tax … Property Tax … Real Estate Tax… Service charge taxes … Social Security Tax … Road Usage Tax (Truckers) … Sales Taxes… Recreational Vehicle Tax … School Tax … State Income Tax … State Unemployment Tax (SUTA) … Telephone Federal Excise Tax… Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax … Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Tax… Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax… Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax… Telephone State and Local Tax… Telephone Usage Charge Tax… Utility Tax… Vehicle License Registration Tax … Vehicle Sales Tax … Watercraft Registration Tax… Well Permit Tax… Workers Compensation Tax…. STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?......... Most of these taxes existed 100 years ago... and our nation was the most prosperous in the world…….. We had absolutely no national debt... We had the largest middle class in the world... and Mom stayed home to raise the kids…….. What happened? …… Can you spell 'politicians!' …….. And NOW I have to press '1' for English.???????????????......I hope this goes around the USA at least 100 times……… What the heck happened?????
Written by .............STRONGCONCRETE.......................
on 7/18/2008
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I say right on too. Legislators, you had backbones for yourselves. Now, what about the people. Either stand up for your beliefs for the people or sit down and get out. Written by Frankly Speaking
on 7/18/2008
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You said, "If their main reasons for not wanting to engage in a veto override session is because they fear a public relations mess from their efforts, or because they are tired, it is time for them to resign.".......AMEN!...That is spot on.
Written by KjunLady
on 7/18/2008
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Once again, the citizens of 
