As the special session moves forward, key elements of Governor Bobby Jindal's agenda are being challenged by legislators. Yesterday, one particularly controversial piece of legislation was targeted by State Representative Charmaine Marchand (D-New Orleans). Marchand made the absurd claim that Jindal is trying to force legislators to go on a fast food diet.
Marchand is objecting to Jindal's effort to install a $50.00 limit on the amount that lobbyists can spend on a meal and drinks for legislators.According to Marchand, "At $50.00, we're going to be eating at Taco Bell."
What an absurd comment! Marchand and legislators can find plenty of restaurants where they can find a good meal for less than $50.00. What is wrong with Taco Bell anyway? Marchand should be spending time at Taco Bell for she might meet some of her constituents, "the little people." These are the hard working folks that actually sent her to office.
Too many legislators like Marchand have an entitlement mentality. Legislators are elected for public service, not private gain. These offices should not be about dining at fancy restaurants; it should be about serving the needs of constituents.
Why are lobbyists wining and dining legislators? Is it to pursue the public interest or special interests? In my view, it would be even better for Louisiana to follow the lead of Florida and other states and completely eliminate the lobbyist meal allowance. Instead of $50.00, let's not give lobbyists one dollar that they can spend on legislators. If they want to meet with politicians, they should make an appointment at their district office.
Instead of wining and dining with lobbyists at Ruth's Chris, legislators should be spending much more time visiting with the average everyday citizens in their district and dining more at less expensive restaurants. Not only would it limit the influence of these special interests, it would allow politicians to get in better touch with the most important group of all, the voters.
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Jeff Crouere is a native of New Orleans, LA and he is the host of a Louisiana based program, "Ringside Politics," which airs at 7:30 p.m. Fri. and 10:00 p.m. Sun. on WLAE-TV 32, a PBS station, and 8 a.m. till Noon weekdays on WGSO 990 AM in New Orleans and the Northshore. For more information, visit his web site at www.ringsidepolitics.com. E-mail him at jeff@ringsidepolitics.com
We still have a very long way to go on ethics. And that's just a very small part of the problems. The majority of our legislators will never serve the state's best interest, regardless of the extent and effectiveness of ethics laws. They are just not interested in doing the right thing. Term limits was a long overdue and incomplete first step. We'll be stuck with some of them for 12 more years in the other side of the capitol. And they'll groom their children and their spouses/mistresses to take over if necessary. It's a machine that can't be stopped. They cannot and will not police themselves. They will circumvent any reforms that really threaten the machine. They will continue to foster the ignorance and populist dependency in our state that makes the machine run. I can identify with the Cubans right now. Some things are changing, but government still controls you instead of the other way around. One huge difference, though, for us over the Cubans. We can leave this state without risking our lives. Thousands of our best and brightest have done so already. And just like the sleazy politics, that outmigration trend will not change either. Written by rougeneck
on 2/21/2008
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What do you mean “Not Brainwashed Person” by, "Shame they all have to do a song and dance for their puppet masters though instead of providing real change"!? You are sooooo wrrrrooooonnng... because this time... that's right, This time it will be different! REAL CHANGE will come. We're not simply voting for the lesser of two evils, nor is this the cycle of which of the two parties beholden to big money are in power at the moment, fooling us into thinking the country is moving rightward orleftward. No Sir! THIS TIME... real, significant and LASTING change is finally here. I'm so happy I could dance and sing....wait.... which comes first? .... should I sing first? ... or dance?... whatever.... REAL CHANGE IS HERE! This time... it's for real, hallelujah! IS EVERYBODY HAPPY? Well… you should be. Written by kerry fox
on 2/20/2008
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Rhett's Wife, dear, one does not 'Dine out' on tacos. What an absurd notion both from a practical as well as an etiquette perspective. Or did you utilize eating utensils while doing such, and if so, how overly redundant an act. Sort of like using chop sticks to pick ones teeth at a Chinese Restaurant don't you think dear? Hmmmmmmmm? Tah tah dear....................... Written by ....Oh gag me with a spoon.
on 2/20/2008
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Deon and others, dears, your explaination of Marie's famous statment was quite interesting. Now Rhett and I dined out on tacos last night. A culinary delight, Charmain, dear. You should try them a bit more and the extra calories - well just walk them off right out of the legislature. We need some leadership, not food critics like you. Ta, ta, dear. Written by RhettsWife
on 2/20/2008
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Deon, it is not literally 'Let them eat cake' although that is the French to English translation........ What cake, or brioche referred to is the 'burnt on caked' surface of the ovens which bread was baked in during the 1700's. In other words, not to paraphrase the bible "If your brother were starving would you give him a snake?" Which in Israel during ancient times would have been a totally acceptable offering, and the wording was actually "would you offer him a rock" but during translation for the King James version it was changed to snake so that it was more acceptable to the masses of Christian converts that were for the most part illiterate in the first place and had to be read in Latin, until Gutenberg came out with the printing press first in Germanic, and later to English. But anyways, the burnt residue on the oven walls is what Marie Antoinette was referring to. And anyways, how can a person get much discussion done when their mouths are full of food during the chewing processes? I myself prefer to let the plate sit on the table while I speak when I am discussing issues with officials. Shame they all have to do a song and dance for their puppet masters though instead of providing real change.......... Enjoy the new millennium, you are a part of it, and man does it have some bad news in store for you................. Written by ....Thank God I wasn't brainwashed in a college
on 2/20/2008
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Jeff, you're right ~ Charmaine Marchand is totally absurd! And your last paragraph says everything! Ms. Marchand and others like her should take the (misquoted) advice of a famous French queen of long ago, "Let 'em eat snake!!"
Written by Deon
on 2/19/2008
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Dears, dears, dears, remember ladies must watch their weight. Is it possible that the calories at Taco Bell are too high? We must check on that. Rhett, dear, we are going out to eat tonight. Written by RhettsWife
on 2/19/2008
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>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>If they want to meet with politicians, they should make an appointment at their district office.<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Interesting thought there Jeff. Assuming of course that the person occupying the ‘District Office’ they are stuck with or are restricted to is of any meaningful representation. But you know what, it is almost as rare as getting struck by lightening that you will find this kind of an oddity or an occurrence happening. I saw on some other post some one out of exasperation putting down……………. ‘it is neither about "me" nor "you" - rather what is right for all’. ……………. How convenient. Sort of reminds me of a similar train of thought……. It would not be impossible to prove with sufficient repetition and a psychological understanding of the people concerned that a square is in fact a circle. They are mere words, and words can be molded until they clothe ideas in disguise…….-Joseph Goebbels….. These are merely statements of fact. And there really is no reason to agree on anything…….. To do so would be the same as saying that the lamb agrees with being eaten by a wolf, or an innocent agrees with being bitten by a dog. What a pity…………
Written by And your point???????????????
on 2/19/2008
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I finally agree with TW. They shouldn't be allowed to get a cup of coffee from a lobbyist. They are representatives, not royalty. You can believe that the lobbyists and their golden boys and girls are already plotting alternatives so they won't be reduced to common folk once ethics reform becomes law. Written by trifull
on 2/19/2008
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Don't they get a per diem? Why should lobbyists be allowed to buy them ANY food? Cripes, what an embarrassment. TW Written by Tee Dub
on 2/19/2008
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I can eat a week at Taco Bell for $50. Breakfast , lunch, and dinner! Can't our legislatures think outside of the box? Written by Tony G
on 2/19/2008
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As the special session moves forward, key elements of Governor Bobby Jindal's agenda are being challenged by legislators. Yesterday, one particularly controversial piece of legislation was targeted by State Representative Charmaine Marchand (D-New Orleans). Marchand made the absurd claim that Jindal is trying to force legislators to go on a fast food diet. 
