Yesterday, the Louisiana House of Representatives passed massive pay raises for statewide elected officials while a House committee approved healthy pay raises for Supreme Court judges, as well as state and district judges. The pay raise measure will also benefit sheriffs because their pay is tied to the salaries of judges.
As pay raises were passed, a measure to make it easier to recall a corrupt or ineffective elected official was defeated in the State Senate. In Louisiana, a recall is practically impossible because it first requires the signatures of one-third of all registered voters on a petition to trigger a recall election. Louisiana has a higher threshold for a recall than any other state in the country. It is ironic that in a state where so many politicians are investigated, indicted and convicted of crimes, it is so difficult for the voters to remove an elected official.
Unfortunately, most of what is getting accomplished in this session of the Louisiana Legislature is ill advised. A budget is being proposed that will increase spending to $29.7 billion, tripling the size of government in only 12 years, giving Louisiana the highest growth of government per capita in the South. The budget also adds another 1,000 employees to state government. Per capita, Louisiana has more state and local employees than any other Southern state.
According to recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are approximately 350,000 individuals employed in state and local government in Louisiana. Among that total, about 110,000 are state employees.
While we grow government and add more people to the state payroll, nothing is being done to improve the private sector, which is contracting in Louisiana. There are no proposals being debated in the legislature to give substantial tax cuts to Louisiana businesses, even though they are overtaxed and being constantly courted to leave the state.
As we continue to grow government in Louisiana, both on the local and state levels, and discourage private enterprise, pretty soon, everyone in our state will either work for government or receive government assistance. We are moving quickly down the road toward socialism in Louisiana, as our tax rates are high, our government is large and our private sector is small and continually hamstrung with high taxes, needless regulations and overbearing government interference.
Instead of following the example of successful Southern states like Texas, Florida or Georgia, who give incentives to their businesses and growing their private sectors, we are following the failed example of Cuba, where the only work is government work. So, when people call Louisiana a banana republic, we should not be offended, because they are only telling the truth.
Jeff Crouere is a native of New Orleans, LA and he is the host of a Louisiana based program, “Ringside Politics,” which airs at 8:30 p.m. Fri. and 10:00 p.m. Sun. on WLAE-TV 32, a PBS station, and Noon till 2 p.m. weekdays on several Louisiana radio stations. For more information, visit his web site at www.ringsidepolitics.com. E-mail him at jeff@ringsidepolitics.com.
I am an hourly blue collar worker with an average income of about 130,000 dollars. I make this money because I work overtime, am not lazy, and my job is protected by a collective bargaining agreement.
By the way, I am a proud democrat. Louisiana has the second highest poverty rate in the nation. We have more children behind bars than any state in the union. Some schools have poverty rates exceeding 80%. Maybe ya'll should listen to Elvis Presley's song,"In the Ghetto". Stop the malice. Stop the "I'm better than the poor" attitude. Ya'll complain about social programs that are intended to help people help themselves but never say anything about the 10's of millions of dollars spent in this state on institutions, jails, prisons, rehabs, crime etc. We have no choice but to continue to find ways to build a foundations for the children in poverty so that the cycle may end.Can you even imagine what type of boom in the Louisiana economy we would have if even a small percentage of these poor children were given a foundation to build their lives.Be part of the solution,not part of the problem.
Written by Matthew
on 6/28/2007
Richard P., Louisiana could use all the "right wing economists" you talk about. The precentage of well educated young people that leave Louisiana for jobs is staggering. Louisiana has one of the highest rates of welfare recipients in the nation. Last I read 27% of the population is on welfare. Who knows how many more are on disability and other government assistance? Louisiana needs private venture capitalists. Louisiana needs private investment. I cannot understand why the left hates success. Most of the people who are on the Fortune 500 worked for their success. That is what this country is all about. If Louisiana is to change it needs to bring in more business, better jobs for young people, and keep its retirees (especially the ones who have investments and money to spend/not export them to Florida). And Louisiana has to build a tax base. You are correct that the homestead exemption hurts local government but the homeowners don't want to pay more, have real assessments of their property, and have those assessments current. They don't want to spend the extra money to build stronger homes nor accept that housing should not go in certain areas. Louisiana needs a different mindset. Changes have to start from the bottom up. The people must insist on a change. Voters need to be more informed not just vote party. Louisiana politicians switch parties more than any I have read about. Surely there are leaders out there who want to make a difference. It can be done but it is going to take WORK. Good Luck.
Written by Sharon
on 6/8/2007
As the next Governor of Louisiana I will submit a budget 10% less than 2007-2008. We're going to cut the fat. The trough will be closed.
We already have 80,000 state employees. We do not need anymore. If there's a need for more services in one department will mangage with the personnel already on the payroll. As employees retire we will spread out the responsibilites. I will pay for performance. I expect flawless execution and as taxpayers you desrve it. There will be no slackers on my time and your dime. I will hold everybody on the state payroll accountable including myself.
If you want business as usual, vote for a frontrunner. You want a change in political philosophy, a change in state management where all will be accountable, where the focus will be on you the citizen? If you want a better day in Louisiana don't be so quick to press the popular button in the booth!
Winning isn't easy. Most times the easy way looks the best and yields no return. In Louisiana we have a habit of choosing the easy way in Politics. It's conveinient. What have we reaped? The incredible bulging budget, erroding coastline, poor educational system, slow to no economic development, ailing infrasctructure, the laughing stock of the politcal world, and the Stelly Plan.
Sometimes you have to take that longshot. Most chance you'll never get to hear what the unknown candidates have to say. You can bet your bottom dollar. The overwhelming majority are in it for the right reason. Better government, better leadership, and a better day for all of our families. Take that chance, you can only win. You and Tony G! that's what's right for Louisiana!
Written by Tony G
on 6/8/2007
Thank you Jarhead for the compliment and for suggesting a way to move forward in rebuilding. I have wondered if a time limit would be set for reclaiming property or how abandoned property be handled. You have an excellent plan. I hope someone is reading. Sad but true that some parts of New Orleans should not be rebuilt and should be allowed to go back to Mother Nature. I saw a documentary after Katrina about the dangers of building next to levees. I believe that it was a town in North Dakota? The people at first were very upset when they were told that they would be paid for their property but would not be able to rebuild. They decided to make it a "green" area. Mother Nature has taken over and it is a beautiful place that all can visit and be happy that they lived through a terrible flood. I hope someday the people in Louisiana so affected will be able to say the same.
Written by Sharon
on 6/8/2007
see Miss Sharon, I knew you were smart and Beautiful!! I, as Governor would also but everyone on unemployment in Louisiana on that work Program! (Again with exceptions for the handicapped and mentally ill.) No work no Check! (Working on the recovery would be an exmemption granted by my office and also not count as work that would get someone taken off unemployment.) Now here is the benefit, EVERYONE that works on the recovery will be eligible to buy into the New Orleans area at pennies on the Dollar. Yes that means that abandoned property will become the property of the state. If your Home was ruined and you haven't been back in two years, haven't picked up one board, or one peice of trash, the property is abandoned, and the state should be able to claim it. Now TW has been working on his Property so his property is not abandoned but many areas are and are festering piles of debris. The 5th and 9th Ward, so DEVASTATED by flooding will sorry to say NOT be rebuilt, But turned back into the wetland area that it orginally was Minus a memorial and a park area comemerating the Victims of Hurricane Katrina, and the Brave men and women that risked their their lives to save others. Just a couple of ideas from an old Jarhead
Written by Ole Jarjead
on 6/8/2007
Jarhead, you have my vote. Your recommendations are sound. On this forum about a week ago, someone who has been living in Mississippi since Katrina when hearing that Louisiana was getting all this grant money inquired if Stephen knew of any programs were available to help him buy a home in BR. I wanted to say, Yes. It is called Work. Get a job in Baton Rouge, save for a down payment, and buy a house. In other words do what the rest of us dumb working stiffss did. This is the mindset that is prevelent. What government assistance is out there for me? No going forward that way. We need to be careful in this country. You have read all the talk on this forum about the greatness of socialism. You hear Hillary saying that all cannot be equal without the government. Our Constitution guarantees the right to "the pursuit of happiness" or success; not the "right to". That is left up to the individual.
Written by Sharon
on 6/8/2007
that was 10 PERCENT NOT 10 people!
Written by Old Jarhead
on 6/8/2007
WOW Ricard P sounds ALOT like TW! First TAX CUTS WORK! I know you libs don't like to hear that you jam your fingers in your ears and scream LA LA LA LA LA LA. The less Taxes people pay the more money they have in their own pockets, that money then can be spent on whatever they want. They pay a tax on the purchase, part of that money goes to the feds part goes back to the state (In Texas a portion of all sales taxes go back to the city the money was spent in) The Federal Government is reporting that Tax revenues are BOOMING they are getting more money in than they thought they would shrinking the deficit The Gap gets bigger Mr. Richard, Because you are measuring apples and oranges. There have always been poor people in our country sad yet true. My question to you is this, should EVERYONE in the United States have 1. The same income? 2. The same Tax rate? and 3. the same sized House? If you think they should then your a SOCIALIST! No where in the Constitution does it say that everyone is entitled to have the same things and be the same, it says LIFE (Don't get me started on abortion) LIBERTY,(Which you enjoy because our Military keeps you free) and the PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS! (which means you find what you like to do pursue it, if it makes you HAPPY FINE if it makes you RICH FINE if you need more money you pursue a different course.) YOU DON'T wait for the government to hand it to you. OK let me be SPECIFIC and TO THE POINT. IF this old Jarhead was Governor,I would require in the 1st 5 days of my term a COMPLETE review of all state wide offices, NO ONE is exempt not even MY OFFICE! Any agency that overlaps another agencies duties will be considered to be on the chopping block. Each State office will be required to present its budgets from the previous 3 years and must be ready to defend expenditures it made. The office that did the best job (NOT based on money but the best job stays everyone else well sorry but we can't afford to have people sitting on their butts collecting a check while the rest o Louisiana is still in recovery mode. I mave many other ideas heres the one that will chap you butt the most. A total review of the State welfare system. If you moved due to Katrina (Two years ago now right)you get no money From Louisiana. If you come back and WORK you get benefits so this is the Policy, IF YOU ARE ON WELFARE... You will report to the City Of New Orleans, there you will be put to work and recieve a fair days pay for a fair days work (This doesn't apply of course to the handicapped or mentally unstable that collect benefits)IF your able bodied, COME WORK, if you left and have no intention of comming back then we are sorry to see you go, but you will collect nothing from us we can't afford to support you, any long please seek bennefits in your new home state. NOW I KNOW some will say they can't get back! I believe that might apply to about 10 of the population but a simple exchange of information will, aleviate most of those problems I have other Ideas if anyone is interested.
Written by Old Jarhead
on 6/8/2007
Jeff: your article is right on target. This is an attempt by Blanco- who is not running- and term limited legislators to saddle the next governor - Jindal- with a 30 billion dollar recurring budget. Its too bad that there are so many RINO's that vote with the DemoRats to destroy the next administation.
Written by Bill
on 6/7/2007
Jeff: Your arguments are only partially effective since you're comparing data from states whose data is not comparable to La. Historically for at least the last 100 years, under both Demo/Republican administrations, Louisiana has assumed more and more responsibilty for what almost all States "assign" to local government, especially because La. limits what local governments can collect in property tax because of our unusually large homestead exemption. Such is not the case in Florida, Georgia, and Texas (the states you use for comparison).
Written by BRguy
on 6/7/2007
Exactly. Louisiana has systematically moved power from local governments and brought more power to Baton Rouge. The people have more say in their parishes. The farther the power is from the people, the closer to socialism the government becomes. Florida has a $25,000 Homestead exemption and no state tax. For the most part the people in Florida are very engaged in government at all levels. I sense a high level disinterest and hopelessness in the electorate in Louisiana. Perhaps many consider BR in charge and that they have no choice beyond their vote on election day. Hopefully this will change.
Written by Sharon
on 6/7/2007
You are right. Why doesn't somebody do something? Who can?
As devastating as Rita and Katrina were, they were no match for the destruction of Kathleen. She is a scorned woman determined to leave her scratch marks in the backs of Louisianians - rich, poor, black, white, north, south-- for years to come. It's a shame. And it's a shame that the Legislators are following her over the cliff just like a herd of mad sheep.
She and her tropical depression leadership would rather blow the house down than leave it for somebody else to live in. One day they'll answer to a higher authority.
Written by miffed
on 6/7/2007
The economic right-wingers' argument always has boiled down to "let the rich get richer (through tax cuts, etc.) and everyone will benefit...." Never mind that what's really happened in practice is that the rich have gotten richer while the gap between the top few and everyone else has just grown and while the quality of life and opportunities for the majority of us has not been appreciably better or more numerous.
Even the definitely right-wing populist former governor who had his shot for two full terms delivered very little for the state.
Also, if the state should be spending less then how about actually specifying exactly what programs, items, etc. on which there should be less spending as opposed to just whining about how high the budget is.
Moreover, is the quality of infrastructure, health care, education and other various services completely satisfactory?
Let's get real.
What's not stated is that Louisiana is totally unlike anywhere else in having the large homestead exemption, something that even the right-wingers see as a sacred cow, which hamstring local government entities from taking care of themselves.
These articles from the right-wingers are just worthless whining instead of realistic, constructive criticisms and alternatives.
Written by Richard P.
on 6/7/2007
Jeff, looks like you have done your homework. You have sturred up a hornet's nest. All your claims can be backed up with documentation. It is the issue of big government and the trend toward Socialism that disturbs me the most. Blanco and those who accompanied her to Cuba must have liked what they saw. If it is so wonderful there, why are so many risking their lives to get to Florida. You are going to be attacked on all sides today but I, for one, hope that your article will make some people mad enough to make a change. But I am an optimist.
Written by Sharon
on 6/7/2007
I am with you BR.Vote them all out and send a real message.
Written by Susan
on 6/7/2007
To Miffed: You are giving Blanco way to much credit. She has proven herself incapable of leading in a crisis, and believe me, having all this money to spend is just as much a crisis for the state as Katrina ever was: It is going to take years, and may eventually be next to impossible to get Washington to take us seriously unless we can clean what is left of our house. This is what the rest of the country sees right now: Fema checks going to pay for gambling and big screen TVs, and Louisiana government spending money on everything BUT effective recovery policies. I don't know who represents YOU in the legislature, but I LIKE my legislators, but I'm still not going to vote for them. Why don't we all do that? Can't we just say no to anyone running for the legislature in 2007 who has ever served in it. I'm willing. What do we have to lose when they vote for a $30 billion budget and then turn around and complain that the Governor is spending too much money? But what do I know, I am just a state worker who can't legally express my opinion about someone running for office without the threat of being fired.
Yesterday, the Louisiana House of Representatives passed massive pay raises for statewide elected officials while a House committee approved healthy pay raises for Supreme Court judges, as well as state and district judges. The pay raise measure will also benefit sheriffs because their pay is tied to the salaries of judges. 
To
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