On Tuesday, Governor Bobby Jindal announced two new appointments to the Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board.
The Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board serves to improve the status of the land surveying profession by maintaining a high quality of standards for those seeking entry into the profession.
James E. Bowie, Jr. and Miles B. Williams were both nominated to the board by the Louisiana Engineering Society.
Appointments to the Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board:
James E. Bowie, Jr., of Duson, has been the owner and president of Water King, Inc.since 2004.
Miles B. Williams, of Baton Rouge, has been the co-owner and president of Sigma Consulting Group, Inc. since 2004.
Road Home
One of the most controversial and political items has been the Road Home.Here are the latest numbers from the program:
Latest Program Statistics
As of March 24, 2008
Total applications recorded:
185,106 (final)
Initial appointments held:
166,093 (final)
Eligible applicants:
155,639
Benefit options selected:
137,147
Option 1 - 118,521
Option 2 - 10,060
Option 3 - 2,799
Decline benefits - 1,733
Delay benefit selection - 3,580
No funding:
3,530
Elevation only:
13,142
Sold home prior to application:
4,772
Closings held:
104,300
Total amount of awards disbursed:
$6.1 billion*
Average award disbursed:
$58,843*
Bill Jefferson
Congressman Jefferson who is embroiled in a criminal trial has released his new book, “Dying Is The Easy Part”.A news release related to the book says, "Faced in 2002 with the prospect of dying at age fifty-five of a heart condition he never knew he had, William Jefferson was forced to reflect on the things that meant the most in his life. So, from his hospital bed, he started to write about the people, surroundings, and situations that raised him. Jefferson grew up in a small town on a farm in the rural South in the fifties and sixties, and recounts those hard times here in short story form. He shares the powerful lessons of family, religion, and generational curses and blessings that flowed from those experiences.
“The stories in this book are about African American, Southern life. But the stories are not just for Southerners, and not just for Black Southerners. They are for people who want to live without fear; for those who want success in life, and also want to keep that success in perspective; for those who want to laugh through situations where others are focused on the negative; and for those who are inspired by the power of simple people, people engaged in daily struggles. The stories are about people who rise above the struggles to pass on life-sustaining lessons to their children and families."
To order copies of Dying Is The Easy Part, visit www.williamjeffersonbooks.com. The self published work by William J. Jefferson is available at $ 18.95 each, plus $ 3.00 for shipping and handling.”
1st Congressional District
With a unanimous vote of the delegates to its 53rd Annual Convention, the Louisiana AFL-CIO has endorsed Gilda Reed in her bid for the 1st Congressional District seat. The organization cited her understanding of “the needs of...workers, veterans, senior citizens, the underprivileged, and our small business owners.”
Since the Democratic party primary where Reed garnered 70 percent of the vote, she also earned the endorsement of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers.
Scalise Poll
Bayoubuzz had requested the poll questions from the Steve Scalise campaign since there were charges and counter charges of “push polls” between Scalise and Tim Burns.Bayoubuzz released a poll from Tim Burns last week showing a close race with Scalise leading by three points.The poll is two weeks old.
Here is the poll questions from the Scalise poll as presented to Bayoubuzz from the Scalise camp.
Louisiana Congressional District One Survey
FINAL
POS #08156 N=300, Likely GOP Primary Voters
Field Dates: 3/12-13/2008 + 5.66% Margin of Error
Hello, I'm ______________________ of ___________, a national research firm. We're talking with
people in your area today, and would like to ask you a few questions using a scientific survey and factual
information on a confidential basis. We are not attempting to sell anything, nor will your participation
result in any calls in the future to sell you anything. (DO NOT PAUSE)
A. Is this____________________(ASK FOR NAME ON FILE)?
YES (CONTINUE TO QUESTION 1)
IF NO, THEN ASK: May I please speak to __________ (ASK FOR NAME ON FILE)?
(REPEAT INTRODUCTION WITH NEW RESPONDENT. IF PERSON NOT HOME,
TERMINATE)
B. As you may know, there will be a special primary run off election to fill the vacant US
Congressional District One seat. How likely would you say you are to vote in that election?
Are you ... (ROTATE TOP TO BOTTOM, BOTTOM TO TOP)
1 EXTREMELY LIKELY
2 VERY LIKELY
3 SOMEWHAT LIKELY (THANK AND TERMINATE) ...OR...
4 NOT VERY LIKELY(THANK AND TERMINATE)
5 DON’T KNOW/REFUSED (DO NOT READ ) (THANK AND TERMINATE)
Louisiana CD 1 Page 2 of 4
C. Despite how you may feel now, are you REGISTERED to vote as...(ROTATE)
a Republican,
a Democrat,
or something else?
(IF REPUBLICAN, ASK) Would you call yourself a STRONG Republican or NOT-SOSTRONG
Republican?
1 STRONG REPUBLICAN
2 NOT-SO-STRONG REPUBLICAN
3 INDEPENDENT/ OTHER (THANK AND TERMINATE)
4 DEMOCRAT (THANK AND TERMINATE)
5 DON'T KNOW/ REFUSED (DO NOT READ) (THANK AND TERMINATE)
Now thinking about some issues...
1. When thinking about the candidates you like to vote for, which issue is most important to you...
(RANDOMIZE)
1 Moral issues like abortion and gay marriage
2 Pocketbook issues like taxes and government spending
3 Border issues like illegal immigration
4 Social issues like education and the environment
5 Ethics issues like cleaning up government corruption
6 Government accountability issues like the response to Hurricane Katrina
7 National Security issues like the war in Iraq and the war on terror
8 DON’T KNOW (DO NOT READ)
9 REFUSED(DO NOT READ)
Louisiana CD 1 Page 3 of 4
Now, I would like to read you a list of names of different people active in politics here in Louisiana. For
each one, please tell me, first whether you've heard of the person; then, if so, please tell me whether you
have a favorable or unfavorable impression of that person. If I name someone you don't know too much
about, just tell me and we'll go on to the next one.
(IF FAV/UNFAV, ASK:) And would that be STRONGLY (favorable/unfavorable) or just
SOMEWHAT (favorable/unfavorable)?
STRG SMWT SMWT STRG HRD OF/ NEVER (DNR)
FAV FAV UNFAV UNFAV NO OPIN HEARD REF
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
The (FIRST/NEXT) name is...(RANDOMIZE NAMES)
2. Steve Scalise
3. Tim Burns
Now, thinking about the special Republican primary run off election in April for Louisiana First
Congressional District...
4. How interested would you say you are in the special Republican primary run off election? Please
rate your interest from one to ten, with one meaning that you have no interest in this election and
ten meaning that you are extremely interested. Of course, you can choose any number between
one and ten. (USE 99 FOR DON’T KNOW/REFUSED)
_____
Louisiana CD 1 Page 4 of 4
Now thinking ahead to the special primary run off election in April...
5. If the run off primary special election for Louisiana’s First Congressional District were being
held today, for whom would you vote if the candidates were...(ROTATE)
Steve Scalise, (Sca- lease) OR...
Tim Burns?
(IF CHOICE, ASK:) And would you DEFINITELY vote for (choice) or just PROBABLY for
(choice)?
(IF UNDECIDED, ASK:) Which way do you lean as of today, towards...(REPEAT NAMES)
1 DEFINITELY SCALISE
2 PROBABLY SCALISE
3 LEAN SCALISE
4 UNDECIDED / DON’T KNOW (DO NOT READ)
5 LEAN BURNS
6 PROBABLY BURNS
7 DEFINITELY BURNS
8 REFUSED (DO NOT READ)
Jindal’s Health Care Legislation
On Monday, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and DHH Secretary Alan Levine came to New Orleans to discuss the efforts to reduce mental health problems.Bayoubuzz medical expert, Dr. Lorrie Metzler attended the conference and commented on legislation that would help ensure that individuals with mental health issues were compliant with their medications and treatment.Here is her comments regarding the concept:
"I applaud the latest efforts of Governor Bobby Jindal and Secretary of Health and Hospitals, Alan Levine in proposing the "Nicola Bill," mental health teleconferencing in rural areas and the formation of desperately needed mental health crisis centers in Louisiana. This will decrease the tremendous load on our Emergency Rooms, increase the safety of our police officers and citizens on the streets, and in the long run, save the state tax dollars. I would go one step further, and suggest the legislature revamp current physician licensing stipulations of the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, to allow more physicians in good standing to be licensed for areas of rural and mental health needs in the state of Louisiana." Dr. Lorrie Metzler is an emergency room physician and State President of the F.B.I. Citizens' Academy Alumni Association in Louisiana. She has been requested to testify as an expert by Secretary Levine before committee hearings regarding passage of the "Nicola Bill."
Today, Governor Bobby Jindal announced the appointment of Louisiana State Police Lt. Colonel John LeBlanc as the Executive Director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission.
Colonel Mike Edmonson, Deputy Secretary of Public Safety, said, “I am looking forward to working with Lt. Colonel LeBlanc as he continues to serve the citizens of Louisiana in his new role as Executive Director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission. Lt. Colonel LeBlanc along with Motor Vehicle Commissioner Kay Hodges, Fire Marshal Butch Browning and my position as State Police Superintendent are essential to the Crime and Safety Package of Governor Jindal.”
Lt. Colonel LeBlanc has over 30 years of law enforcement experience, including more than 26 years with the Louisiana State Police. He has completed numerous law enforcement schools, including the FBINationalAcademy (207th Session). Additionally, he has completed coursework at the University of Virginia and the University of Louisiana, Lafayette.
Lt. Colonel LeBlanc has also served as a patrolman, a uniform trooper, a detective, and a protective services commander. He is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Governor’s DWI Task Force, and the FBI National Academy Associates. LeBlanc has also served as a past chairman of the Region II Law Enforcement Committee of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators. He currently serves as a charter member of the Association of Transportation Safety Information Professionals, and is a past member of the Louisiana Property and Casualty Insurance Commission. During both Hurricanes Katrina and Rita he served as the State Police Forward Operational Commander.
Lt. Colonel LeBlanc has served as the Deputy Superintendent of Patrol at the Louisiana State Police since 2000, where he directs and coordinates the nine state police troops, comprised of nearly 600 uniformed officers and more than 100 non-commissioned personnel.
LeBlanc has received many awards and honors for his years of service in the law enforcement community. He has also received numerous commendations for outstanding performance of duty.
6th Congressional District
According to the latest fundraising reports filed with the Federal Election Commission, State Rep. Don Cazayoux collected $307,450 in the one-month reporting period that ended March 16. Woody Jenkins raised $210,910 during the reporting period.The winner of the runoff between the Republican and Democrat election will be facing the following candidates who qualified with the Secretary of State:The Republican and Democrat runoffs is slated for April 5th with the general election scheduled for May 3.
U. S. Representative, 6th Congressional District
1 to be elected
