Treasury Secretary John Kennedy offered his advice to solve the budget crisis during a televised speech last night. His approach is dramatically different from the taxation approach Governor John Bel Edwards has planned.
Posts filed under Louisiana
Remember All Those Promises "Honor Code" Made During the Election?
One of the many lies that Gov. "Honor Code" made was in regards to the TOPS program and his support of that program while running for Governor. Here is a snippet of his lies in action.
Feel good about falling for his "honorable" garbage now?
Rep. Mike Johnson Seeks 4th Congressional Seat
Photo source: YouTube
Republican Mike Johnson, Louisiana Representative for District 8, has announced this morning his intention to fill the seat in the US House for the 4th District that is being vacated by John Fleming, who is running for US Senate.
Here is his announcement video released this morning:
Caroline "I Hate Republicans" Fayard Joins Crowded Senate Field
Failed Lt. Governor's candidate and ethically challenged Democrat, Caroline Fayard, has ventured into the Senate race to replace retiring Sen. David Vitter. You might remember her from a few of the following Fayard Facts:
Caroline Fayard Facts
Fayard Supports Barack Obama.
Fayard Praised Obama For Standing Up To Republicans And Predicted His Re-Election: Fayard: "Our president started to stand up to them. He will win re-election as a result. (Republicans) know it. We know it." (“Candidate or not?” Washington Parish Daily News, 3/27/11)
In October 2010 Fayard Gave Obama A B+ Grade. "Republicans are slamming the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor because she gave positive marks to President Obama in a recent candidate forum. Caroline Fayard, a New Orleans lawyer making her first bid for an elected office, said she would give Obama a "B+" for his performance so far.” (Melinda Deslatte, “Republicans rally their faithful in BR,” Associated Press, 10/26/10)
Also In October 2010 Fayard Called Obamacare "A Net Positive For Louisiana":“HOST: President Barack Obama’s healthcare plan, is it good or bad for Louisiana? MODERATOR: Starting with Caroline. FAYARD: I think it’s a net positive for Louisiana. (League of Women Voters Candidate Forum, 10/22/10)
Caroline Fayard's Website "geauxcaroline.com" Featured A Photo Of Her Standing Beside Barack Obama.
FACT: Caroline Fayard Hates Republicans
Fayard: “I hate Republicans. I hate Republicans,” [Caroline] Fayard said … “They are cruel and destructive. They eat their young. They don’t think. They don’t allow people to think. They are bullies.” (“Candidate or not?” Washington Parish Daily News, 3/27/11
Additionally, Fayard has skirted the rules regarding campaign contributions. Per the LAGOP email blast sent out yesterday, the following was provided:
Fayard's parents wrote a huge check to the Louisiana Democrat Party when she ran for office, and the Democrats spent a similar amount on their daughter's campaign, allegedly sidestepping the $5,000 contribution limit imposed by Louisiana law.
Kennedy Announces Via Facebook His Intent to Run for US Senate
State Treasurer Kohn Kennedy released this via his Facebook page this morning:
Photo source: Facebook
I will be a candidate for the United States Senate in 2016.
The reason is pretty simple: I want my country back. I'm scared we are losing it.
My Dad and Mom were conservative people. Dad was a small businessman. He owned a little lumberyard. Mom was a retired schoolteacher. They taught me conservative values: God, country, family, discipline, hard work, and education. They taught me to always do the best I can. I worry that America is losing those values.
Here's what I see: too many undeserving people at the top getting bailouts and too many undeserving people at the bottom getting handouts. And we in the middle get the bill. So will our kids. It's not right.
The sad truth is that our children's generation is at risk of becoming the first in America to be worse off than their parents', because it's harder than ever to get ahead and easier than ever to do nothing.
I want more for my country and my state.
I want a country that respects taxpayer dollars. I'm sick of the waste, and I'm sick of the debt.
I want an America and a Louisiana where every person can get a decent job. You can't be for jobs if you are against business. To create jobs, our businesses need low taxes, sensible regulations, good infrastructure and a skilled workforce.
I want an America and a Louisiana in which no parents have to send their child to a failing school.
I want an America and a Louisiana where parents can take their sick child to a family doctor instead of to an emergency room because they have decent, affordable insurance of their own choosing from the private sector.
I want a country that is strong and therefore free, that values peace but is not afraid to fight back. America is the most powerful country in the history of the world. We need to start acting like it.
I want an America and a Louisiana that understand that free market capitalism has done more to lift people out of poverty than all the government programs put together. Welfare was meant to be a bridge, not a parking lot.
I want a country and a state that protect life – whether that life is 82 years old or 82 seconds.
Most Louisianians know me and what I stand for. As State Treasurer, I've balanced 16 department budgets, earned taxpayers $3.4 billion by investing their money wisely, returned $315 million in lost money to citizens, refused to join the state retirement system, fought against corruption and cronyism, and stood up to politicians more powerful than I am in both parties.
I try not to be rude, but I speak my mind. Some politicians call me a troublemaker, a misfit, a rebel, a square peg in a round hole, because I'm not part of the club. I think I make the right people mad. My job is to protect taxpayers, not seek the approval of my political peers.
I hope voters will give me a chance to do the same thing in the United States Senate. I believe our country and our state can be better than our present, and our past.
May God bless us and keep us, and make his face shine upon us, Louisiana and the United States of America.”
Sen. Elbert Guillory to Run for United States Congress
Photo source: YouTube
State Senator Elbert Guillory has announced his intent to seek the office of US Representative, which will be vacated by Rep. John Fleming, who is seeking US Senator's David Vitter's seat.
Treasurer John Kennedy on Louisiana's Budget and Taxes
On a recent interview with Moon Griffon, State Treasurer John Kennedy goes into detail regarding Louisiana's and taxes.
LAGOP Issue Statement Regarding Expansion of Medicaid in Louisiana
Photo source: LAGOP
Edwards' Medicaid Expansion is bad fiscal and health care policy
If hosting President Obama in Baton Rouge and compounding the state's fiscal challenges by expanding Medicaid are Governor John Bel Edwards' ideas for bringing Louisianans together, he's sadly mistaken.
"Governor Edwards is beginning his tenure by making a critical mistake on the very important issue of health care," Republican Party Executive Director Jason Dore said today.
"Obamacare's Medicaid expansion will cost the state more than $1.3 billion over the next decade, based on 2015 DHH estimates, crowding out funding for other priorities like higher education. Expanding Medicaid will force 224,000 Louisianians from private insurance to Medicaid rolls," he said.
Medicaid expansion prioritizes coverage of able-bodied adults over individuals with disabilities. Medicaid is a program that was never meant to cover able-bodied individuals to this scale. Therefore it has become an inefficient program that delivers poor health outcomes.
If Obamacare is expanded, it means that 40 percent of Louisiana’s population would be put on a Medicaid program that is antiquated, poorly run, and delivers inferior health care. The Oregon Experiment found that, contrary to the president’s promises, throwing more people on Medicaid does not improve physical health outcomes and does not decrease their use of emergency rooms. Expanding Medicaid to cover these households instead increases their emergency-room use by 40 percent.
"We can't trust the federal government," Dore said. "Funding for Obamacare is unstable. The payment for Obamacare continues to unravel, which will encourage cost-shifting to states, putting Louisiana on the hook for additional spending. The instability could threaten the state’s ability to fund education and transportation and could force future tax increases on Louisianians," he said.
Current assumptions of total cost to the state are based on the assumption that the federal government keeps its promise regarding the enhanced federal match rate (FMAP). With a over $18 trillion debt, promises of more federal money are a risky bet. Louisianians know from experience that federal funding can’t be counted on.
"A recent report from the Congressional Research Service confirms what many policy experts have known for some time: States that reject Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion aren’t sending that Medicaid expansion money to other states. Instead, that money is simply never spent. ...As the Congressional Budget Office has repeatedly pointed out, states that reject Obamacare expansion are reducing federal spending. The Obama administration confirmed that rejected Medicaid expansion saved federal taxpayers at least $26 billion in 2014. If those states continue to reject Obamacare, federal taxpayers will spend $368 billion less on Medicaid expansion through 2022," Dore said.
Rep. Charles Boustany on SOTU Comments on the Oil and Gas Industry
Photo source: YouTube
Here is The Roll Call for the Speaker of the House Vote Today
Photo source: Louisiana House of Representatives
The Louisiana House of Representatives, for the first time in modern history, has denied the Governor his choice for Speaker of the House. Taylor Barras was elected over the choice of John Bel Edwards, Walt Leger. The Republicans that joined with the Democrats on the final vote for Leger are as follows:
- District 12 - Rob Shadoin
- District 19 - Bubba Chaney
- District 27 - Chris Hazel
- District 71 - J. Rogers Pope
- District 80 - Joseph Lopinto, III
- District 84 - Patrick Connick
- District 85 - Bryan J. Adams
The full vote can be found here.
Full Text of John Bel Edwards' Inauguration Speech
Photo source: The Advocate
The following is the text of the speech delivered by Gov. John Bel Edwards today at his inauguration.
Source: The Advocate
My fellow Louisianans:
I am grateful to be here today and thankful to everyone who has traveled from Amite and other places near and far to join us for this ceremony.
Governor Jindal, the first thing Donna and I want to do is thank you, Mrs. Jindal, and your staff for the efficient and gracious manner in which this transition has been handled. Your kindness and cooperation is a testimony that we can indeed work together for the common good of the state we all love.
Speaking of love, I want to thank the love of my life, my wife Donna, and our children Samantha Bel, Sarah Ellen, and John Miller. Also, I want to thank my mother, Dora Jean Edwards, and pay tribute to my late father Frank Edwards, Jr., who died while the campaign was underway. I miss him terribly and thank him for passing on to me a sense of service, commitment to others, and the value of hard work. I love my parents, siblings, and extended family and thank each of them for helping me stand before the state as Louisiana's Governor.
I especially want to thank all the people of Louisiana - those who have joined us here today and those spread out in each corner of the state.
We are here because you have chosen to rise above partisan politics and put Louisiana First. I was not a business-as-usual candidate, and I will not be a business-as-usual governor. I am, first and foremost, a proud Louisianan.
Like many of you, I grew up in a family that taught me the importance of faith. We filled an entire pew at church every Sunday, and the hardest catechism teacher I ever had was my mother, who taught me in the sixth grade.
Like many of you, I also grew up with a strong appreciation for the sportsmen's paradise we live in. Some of my best memories are of camping with my father and six brothers. Every year, we would float the Tangipahoa River to Manchac, eating whatever we caught or killed along the way. But just in case we came up empty, we'd always bring along some sweet potato pie left over from Thanksgiving. And my favorite memories are those spent sitting around the campfire on cold nights in discussion and debate with my family.
In Louisiana, our land is diverse, our ideas are diverse, and our people are diverse. From the original Native American inhabitants to the French, Spanish, Acadians and Africans.
From the Yugoslavian oyster harvesters to the Sicilian strawberry farmers. Nearly every nation on earth has left its imprint on our culture.
Louisiana is an example to the rest of the country that diversity is a source of strength, not division. That is why I am confident that regardless of party we can band together to rebuild Louisiana. The status quo is not sustainable in a state that is anything but ordinary.
As we prepare to meet the mounting challenges ahead, I am reminded of General MacArthur's farewell address to West Point that duty, honor and country should be rallying points "to build courage when courage seems to fail; to regain faith when there seems to be little cause for faith; to create hope when hope becomes forlorn."
My experience at West Point and my service as an army officer have molded the way I look at the world. Ever since Athens defeated Sparta over 2,500 years ago, and the history of that war was written, military officers have been trained to look at every challenging task in a three step process.
The first step is gathering all the information you can about the job at hand.
The second step is to ask yourself - and knowledgeable people around you - what are our options to successfully address the challenge and which ones best fit our mission and values. That's the choice of a strategy.
And finally, step three is a decision on tactics. How are we going to get it done?
In military terms, victory is won by information (or intelligence), strategy and tactics. THAT is how I propose we proceed in our shared mission of putting Louisiana First.
We must be honest with ourselves and one another. I can tell you I'd rather be here today inheriting a billion dollar surplus, than a $1.9 billion shortfall, but there isn't a challenge we won't meet. We must be grounded in reality and see the facts as they are, not as we want them to be.
First, we need to acknowledge the harsh truths about poverty in our state.
We talk a lot about our abundant natural resources, but we need to talk more about the most precious natural resource God has entrusted to us - our children. In Louisiana, 1 in 4 school-aged children live in poverty. That's unacceptable and it MUST change.
It's unacceptable when a parent's hard work isn't enough to pay the bills or go to a doctor. I've traveled from Algiers to Zwolle and met countless single mothers working for minimum wage behind a cash register at a gas station. Often, it's one of several jobs they have, and they still battle to make ends meet. The faces are different, but their struggles are the same.
On top of not paying our workers a living wage, women in Louisiana make an average 66 cents on the dollar compared to men. We are the worst state in the union for pay equity. That is unacceptable. Not just for my daughters, but for all women.
Second, we've somehow forgotten that education is synonymous with opportunity.
In the past 7 years, we've cut funding for higher education by 700 million dollars - the largest disinvestment in the country - putting campuses on the brink of bankruptcy, and sending many of our best and brightest students out of state.
Tuition increases, also the highest in the nation, have priced many students out of their dreams and are making TOPS unsustainable.
For K through 12 education, while we've had some improvements, we rank 49th in academic achievement. And while our high school graduation rate is at an all-time high, we still fall below the national average.
Last, but certainly not least, we face a daunting fiscal crisis.
We can no longer afford to lurch from year to year, cobbling together temporary fixes and expecting to realize permanent sustainability. If we don't fix the structural budget deficit, we can't fix any of our other problems.
Those are the facts. We are one of the richest states in cultural and natural resources, yet our performance lags in almost every critical category.
There is a lot of serious work ahead of us. As Lincoln put it, "The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate for the stormy present."
We are here because the people of Louisiana believe we can do better. By doing better, we will be better than these rankings suggest.
And we are not going to let you down. This mission is critical, and here are some of the strategies I propose.
We must make it possible for all Louisiana citizens to be healthy and prosperous.
So as promised, tomorrow I am going to accept the federal funding to expand Medicaid so that working families in Louisiana can get access to healthcare. Your tax dollars should not be going to one of the 30 other states that have expanded Medicaid when WE are one of the states that expansion will help the most.
We should make a modest, but meaningful, increase to the minimum wage and the legislature should finally pass effective equal pay so that women, the economic leaders of many households, get the same pay for the same work. We know that when women do well - children prosper too.
This is the very definition of family values.
Next, we need to treat our educators with the respect they deserve and demand the best for our children.
It's been proven time and again that a more educated and trained workforce is our greatest long-term economic generator. So we MUST make college more affordable. We can start by ending double digit tuition hikes. We cannot fund higher education on the backs of our students.
Our state should support our public higher education institutions. We must also increase needbased aid for students ready to enroll in colleges across Louisiana, and work towards a goal of funding higher education at 50% state support and at 50% tuition and fees.
In K through 12 education, we need to promote challenging, Louisiana standards and curriculum, maintain a meaningful accountability system and end the overuse of costly standardized testing.
We should also enhance and protect local control of public education so that taxpayers, voters, and local school boards are empowered to oversee the financial and educational decisions that impact the success of our children.
And finally, our top priority must be stabilizing the budget.
While all options are on the table, we're going to make strategic budget reductions, increase efficiencies, accept OUR federal tax dollars back, and rework the failed system of tax incentives, credits and rebates, which bleed the state's revenue and, too often, leave little to show for the spending.
Now, how are we going to make this happen?
By partnering with the legislature, business and industry, local governments, educators, stakeholders and working people all across this state.
By calling on the kind of discipline, steel-eyed focus, and determination to succeed. by moving ONWARD.
I can't do it alone, and the enormous challenges we face will not be resolved overnight. But together, we will accomplish our mission.
Now is the time for full participation. I am calling on the legislature to work with me and pass sound solutions, and I'm calling on the people of Louisiana to constructively engage and share your thoughts and ideas.
It will be hard work, and it will take sacrifice. But it can be done. It MUST be done.
You can expect the unvarnished truth from this administration regarding the challenges we face, the solutions we propose, and the opportunities we seek.
The breeze of hope that got us here today will also drive a current of change as mighty as the Mississippi. But this river can't flow unless the breeze continues. We must put action before idleness, unity before party, and citizenship before self in order to put Louisiana first.
Like you, I've been here through good times and bad. We are not a perfect state, but we are a resilient one. Following shared sacrifice, there WILL be shared prosperity. I am bullish on our future. Louisiana's best days are certainly ahead, and I want you to be as excited and optimistic as I am.
Remember, after Katrina we battled back and, in fact, we still celebrated Mardi Gras. After the Red River flooded, families still gathered at the state fair. After the oil spill, we didn't give up fishing for oysters and shrimp. The sugar cane still grows in Louisiana. Tourists still flock to the French Quarter. And new industries continue to emerge.
If there are two things we'll never run out of in Louisiana - it's gumbo and gumption.
The people of Louisiana want and deserve a state government as hopeful as they are. I pledge to you that we will deliver on that hope.
As Solomon prayed, "So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong." That will also be my prayer.
I spent nearly three years traveling this state asking for your votes and your prayers. Today, I simply ask for your support and your prayers for me and for this state. From the bottom of my heart, I cannot thank you enough for this incredible opportunity.
God bless you all, God bless the Great State of Louisiana and God bless the United States of America.
Attorney General Jeff Landry Takes Oath of Office
Landry Eager to Lead Louisiana Department of Justice
BATON ROUGE, LA - Attorney General Jeff Landry was sworn in today as the new leader of Louisiana's Department of Justice.
"Taking the oath of office today reaffirms my pledge to the great people of Louisiana who entrusted me to defend the Constitution," said General Landry. "I am determined to reform the Department of Justice into an agency that efficiently and effectively fights federal overreach, supports economic liberty, and makes our communities safer."
General Landry, a Republican from Acadiana who defeated two-term incumbent Buddy Caldwell, said he was excited to begin serving as chief legal officer of the state.
"I am eager to begin the people's work. Our neighbors want an open, honest, and hardworking agency that treats everyone fairly and equally; I will work tirelessly to give them that," continued General Landry. "My team and I will assist citizens and job creators, law enforcement officers and prosecutors, and everyone from Shreveport to New Orleans, Lake Charles to Monroe so justice may be served throughout our state."
General Landry, whose oath was administered by Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Johnson, concluded: "I am committed to protecting our state from crime, fraud, and abuse so we can make Louisiana an even better place to live, work, and raise our families."
Incoming Governor Edwards Denied His Choice for Speaker of the House
Photo source: LABI
In what can be seen as somewhat of a shocker, Edwards' hand picked candidate for Speaker of the House in Louisiana was denied the position. Republican Rep. Taylor Barras has been elected over Walt Leger and for the first time in modern Louisiana history, a governor does not get his choice for Speaker.
Barras is from New Iberia and has represented District 48 since 2007. More information on Barras can be found here.
Boustany, Abraham, and Graves Tell Senate to Act on Refugee Security
(Washington, DC) – Congressmen Charles W. Boustany, Jr., MD, (R-Lafayette) Ralph Abraham, MD, (R-Alto) and Garret Graves (R-Baton Rouge) joined their colleagues in sending a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) urging him to hold a vote on the House-passed American Security Against Foreign Enemies (SAFE) Act.
The SAFE Act requires the Director of the FBI to certify thorough background checks have been administered for every refugee entering the United States from high-risk countries like Iraq or Syria, and requires that the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Director of the FBI, and the Attorney General must affirm every refugee being admitted to the United States is not a security threat. The House passed the SAFE Act on November 19, 2015, but the Senate has not acted on the bill.
On Friday, January 8, authorities arrested two refugees – one in Sacremento, CA, and one in Houston – on terrorism-related charges. According to a report by CNN: “Both men were Palestinians born in Iraq and living as refugees in the United States, according to the U.S. Justice Department… Omar Faraj Saeed Al Hardan, 24, of Houston, is charged with attempting to provide material support to ISIS. Aws Mohammed Younis Al-Jayab, 23, of Sacramento is charged with making a false statement involving international terrorism.”
Boustany said: “We must do everything within our power to ensure no one is ever admitted to this country who wishes us harm. The hard truth is, there are bad actors who are willing to do anything – including exploiting America’s generosity through the refugee program – to attack the United States. If the Administration will not pause the admission of refugees from Iraq and Syria, they should at least be willing to conduct thorough background checks to ensure no one with terrorist ties is brought to this country.”
Abraham said: “The recent terrorism arrests show that the President’s process for vetting refugees is not working. Since he refuses to stop admitting these refugees, we must strengthen the process to make sure no terrorists enter our country. I urge the Senate to pass the American SAFE Act so that we can send this bill to the President. I believe in helping people when we can, but the security of our families and our communities is simply too important to risk on these refugees and the current failed vetting process.”
Graves said: “I commend law enforcement for identifying these individuals’ affiliations, apprehending them and preventing their ability to carry out any acts of terror on our soil, but Friday’s events further expose the shortcomings of the current system being used to vet these refugees coming across our borders. We must be proactive with our efforts to know who these people are, which is why we have called on the Senate to take steps to keep Americans safe by certifying that thorough background checks have been conducted for refuges entering America from high-risk terror countries.”
###
A signed copy of the letter Boustany, Abraham, Graves, and their colleagues sent to Majority Leader McConnell can be found here.
A Louisiana Pro-Life Champion Passes Away
Per the Louisiana Family Forum, Dr. Al Krotoski, MD, a champion for the unborn in the State of Louisiana, passed away on Jan. 1. The piece from LFF is below as well as the obituary for Dr. Krotoski.
R.I.P. – Dr. Al Krotoski
Photo source: The Advocate
LFF Commentary
January 2016
"Today LFF's prayers and thoughts are with the family of Dr. Al Krotoski, a pro-life giant, who forever changed the life landscape in the Louisiana Legislature, nationally and internationally," Gene Mills, President of Louisiana Family Forum said.
Wojciech “Al" Antoni Krotoski, M.D., Ph.D, M.P.H., pro-life leader, Nobel nominee, faithful husband and beloved father, went to his eternal reward on January 1, 2016. Dr. Krotoski was devoted to Hippocratic respect-for-life activities, including being a leader of statewide professional and local pro-life organizations. He was also the co-founder of The Hippocratic Resource.
In 2008, New Orleans Right to Life honored Dr. Krotoski with their Proudly Pro-Life Award given for his lifetime of pro-life work. Especially memorable about Dr. Al is that he continually reminded us that words have meaning. He refused to refer to the practice of abortion with sanitized words. He consistently referred to “abortion clinics” as “abortion facilities” emphasizing the truth that “clinics" are life affirming and life saving whereas “abortion facilities” are not.
Dr. Krotoski frequently testified on behalf of life at the Louisiana legislature. In his committee testimonies, he often provided in-depth scientific information which was invaluable in presenting a pro-life perspective on a variety of bills dealing with life from conception until natural death.
Al Krotoski will be remembered and honored as a voice “for an ever-greater respect for all human life, from fertilization until natural death.”
Please click here for more information on the funeral arrangements for Dr. "Al" Krotoski.
STONECIPHER: C.B. Forgotson: He Could Not Have Loved Louisiana More
January 5, 2016
No doubt surprising to many, there are among us in Louisiana a tiny number who have loved our state nearly every day of their lives. This rare breed of Louisianans go to work for us in their teens. Among them I have known and worked with more than a few, with none more remarkable than C.B. Forgotston.
Oh, yes, these are dyed-in-the-wool LSU sports fans. We read T. Harry Williams' Huey Long not long before or after Catcher in the Rye, and while intending no slight to Mr. Salinger, Huey Long speaks more directly to our hearts. Heck, many have carefully preserved their vinyl of Randy Newman's Good Ol Boys, and can to this day recite, if not sing, "Rednecks," and "Louisiana 1927," and "Kingfish." On the radio, Irma Thomas, Doug Kershaw and Aaron Neville put our souls to music.
These of us, northern and southern, Catholic and Protestant, country and citified, stand out in our measure of caring about Louisiana, and the next calamity always and certainly just ahead. Going back to Huey Long at least, up to and including John Bel Edwards, these can name our governors, in order. They not only know that the "W" in Governor Edwin W. Edwards' name stands for "Washington," they know Governor Edwards. These have hands scarred and callused by politics and government, the true, and often awful, test of this commitment.
These are our very own endangered few. They work for no pay, no matter how full-time the job. There are almost none of these waiting their time and turn to work for Louisiana. Such is fact for many reasons, not the least of which are the costs of loving too much when so outnumbered.
These Louisianans are almost never in any way honored because they are not politicians. They are, in fact, anti-politicians. They know more than others, yet never cease their studying. Thus armed, they come out firing names and acts of those who so terribly damage us from within. No, there is no Hall of Fame for these. If we cared enough, perhaps there would be. Then and certainly, the first inductee would be C.B. Forgotston.
Regardless that most Louisianans did not know him, he was working for all of us, all the time. He lived - lived - his hope for a Louisiana which would, at least, care enough to save itself. I was blessed, truly, to be his friend and fellow laborer. What he knew about us was encyclopedic. How much he cared about our place was epic.
C.B. loved Louisiana enough to fight for it. Yes, fight, for it. He did not hide in the relative safety of merely umpiring our unruly contest for Louisiana's heart and soul, he batted and caught and ran the bases ... then called the balls and strikes. No one I have known in a lifetime here ever did more, or did it with more love of what Louisiana has been before, and could yet be again.
No, C.B. never ran from our can-to-can't fight for a decent Louisiana future. He was thus attacked from every one of the 360 degrees of our political and governmental compass. To their regret, I trust, he was as likely to be disrespected by some in our news media as he was disrespected by the army of those in politics and government who, after they fake their Oaths of service, never give us meaningful thought. Their studied self-service is our curse, and no one knew that better, or fought it harder, than C.B.
We the people of the Louisiana who C.B. so loved, cannot replace him. That, to those who care, is his measure.
Very soon, we will say our last goodbyes to this remarkable man. I will do so with certain knowledge that I have never known a person who loved Louisiana and its people more.
Elliott Stonecipher
Photo source: NOLA
Louisiana Watchdog CB Forgotston Passes Away
From pollster Elliot Stonecipher's Facebook page, Louisiana has lost a fighter for better government in the State of Louisiana.
Photo source: forgotston.com
C.B. FORGOTSTON'S PASSING
Sunday, January 3, 2016 ... 7:30 PM
I will write this poorly. It is too soon, but also late.
For those who have contacted me without my yet responding, yes, it is oh so sadly true, Louisiana's elder statesman of good and honest government has passed away.
C.B. Forgotston labored long and hard for a better Louisiana, doing so because it was his job earlier in his career, then doing so for many more years because he cared so much ... and knew and understood us so well.
Louisiana has for decades needed C.B., also very much ... and he was there for us ... always.
We knew each other earlier in our careers, then again and better later, after Hurricane Katrina, when we shared radio programs and so much other work so many times, and in so many places. Then we came to work together and support each other. His knowledge of state government was invaluable to me, and his support of my work kept me doing it. It mattered that we each did it because we believed we should, and must.
In the face of sometimes withering opposition from so many Louisiana politicos, C.B. never - ever - faded. Quite to the contrary, he opposed them that much more intelligently and vigorously. They took their shots at him, the Lord very well knows ... and always missed. An honest person may look like a target to such people, but they never are. C.B. proved that ... always.
I was blessed to know and understand his heart for this, our place.
This loss is more than merely real. We need C.B., particularly right now. That we will not have him will cost us ... as certainly as tomorrow morning's sunrise ... may it speed its way to us.
To his dear wife and those otherwise nearest him, please know how much we care, and how much we loved who he was, and what he did for us ... all of us.
May he now rest in such well-earned Peace.
Elliott Stonecipher
Still Feeling Good About Voting for the "Moderate" Gov.-Elect "Honor Code"???
Photo source: NOLA
Have you seen this one today? Seems like Gov.-Elect "Honor Code" is living up to his liberal expectations and dropping work requirements for food stamp recipients. This will result in more than 60,000 more Louisiana citizens who will have the luxury of sitting on their backsides while the rest of the citizens of this state foot the bill to feed them.
Thank you to the "morally righteous" in this state that couldn't find the common sense to vote for a proven conservative in David Vitter. Think about this the next time you are struggling to pay for groceries for you and your family and you're waiting for someone in front of you using that EBT card for rib-eyes.
This is only the beginning and we can all thank you for this.
Attorney General-Elect Jeff Landry Announces Transition Leaders, Chief Deputy Attorney General-Designate, Committee Members, and Inaugural Details
The following was released by email regarding the transition process for Jeff Landry to take over the Louisiana Attorney General's office.
BATON ROUGE, LA – Attorney General-Elect Jeff Landry is making several announcements today as he transitions into the role as Louisiana’s 44th Attorney General. .
“My goal is to have a thoughtful transition process so I can best serve the people of Louisiana,” said Attorney General-Elect Jeff Landry. “I look forward to hearing recommendations from members of the Transition Committee, speaking with citizens, and meeting with other Louisiana leaders as we move forward toward building an Attorney General’s office which will honorably serve all of the people of Louisiana.”
Following a request by the Attorney General–Elect, Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette J. Johnson has graciously agreed to administer the official Oath of Office to Jeff Landry as Louisiana’s next Attorney General. The Chief Justice will administer the Oath on the steps of the State Capitol as part of the Inaugural ceremonies on January 11th. “As Louisiana’s first African–American Chief Justice, it is an honor to have Chief Justice Johnson administer my Oath,” said Landry. “I look forward to having my wife Sharon, my son JT, my parents, other family members, and friends join me on January 11th as I take the Oath. I am humbled and honored to have been selected by the voters to assume this important position. I do not take it lightly, and I will work hard every day to ensure the people of Louisiana know this office is here to work for the best interests of our state,” Landry added.
Landry is announcing today the naming of Wilber L. “Bill” Stiles as his Chief Deputy Attorney General-designate, also known as the first assistant. Stiles will be presented to the State Senate for confirmation when Landry takes office. A veteran prosecutor for more than a decade, Stiles is currently the Assistant District Attorney in the 16th Judicial District of Louisiana. Stiles also served as the District Director for the 3rd Congressional District of Louisiana, serving while Jeff Landry represented the District in Congress. Stiles is a graduate of the Louisiana State University Law Center and the University of Southwestern Louisiana. He is a veteran of the United States Navy and deployed during the first Persian Gulf War with the aircraft carrier U.S.S. America. He and his wife Christy, a teacher, have two children. “I appreciate Bill’s willingness to serve the people of Louisiana. I trust and expect that Bill will work with the existing Department of Justice staff and new leaders to be named in ensuring we have an honest, ethical, and hardworking team,” said Landry. Stiles is working with Landry, the Transition Team staff, and the Transition Committee Members in helping prepare Jeff Landry to assume the office.
Jeff Landry is also announcing the Co-Chairs of his Transition Committee.
The successful Chairman of the Board and CEO of Harvey Gulf International Marine, a preferred provider of OTV, OSV and MPSV services to the deepwater and ultra-deepwater offshore oil and gas industry in the Gulf of Mexico, Shane Guidry is serving as Chairman of the Transition Committee. As Chairman and CEO, Guidry has helped expand Harvey Gulf from an asset base of $60 Million to over $2 Billion today. Guidry brings his experience managing a large organization and his deep understanding of law enforcement to the Committee. Guidry is a graduate of the Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff's Office Academy with Post Certification and is a current Reserve Deputy Chief in the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. Guidry joined the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's office more than two decades ago working with the Street Crimes Unit, later achieving the rank of Captain. In 1997, Guidry was promoted to the rank of Major and served as a Night Watch Supervisor. Guidry maintains a Louisiana Peace Officers Standard Training Certification. When not spending time helping protect the community by assisting law enforcement or running one of Louisiana’s largest and most successful companies, Guidry is helping the community as Chair of the Heart Walk for the American Heart Association, arranging for The Sunshine Kids to ride annually in a New Orleans area Mardi Gras parade, or supporting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Co-Chairing the Transition Committee is Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand. Normand has more than three decades of experience in the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. Normand has served as Sheriff since his election in 2007. Normand previously served as Chief Criminal Deputy, Comptroller, and Chief of the Louis Armstrong Airport Law Enforcement Detachment. He started his law enforcement career in the Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff’s Office serving high risk warrants and court capias. Normand earned a bachelor degree from the University of New Orleans and a law degree from Tulane University Law School. Normand is also a graduate of the prestigious FBI National Academy and FBI National Executive Institute.
“My Co-Chairmen bring legal understanding, tremendous business experience, and a collective law enforcement background to the Transition Committee,” said Landry. “They will help ensure the work of the Transition Committee is completed.”
Transition Committee Members who have agreed to serve are being asked to focus their attention on specific sections and divisions of the Department of Justice. Today, Landry is naming Members who are focusing on the Criminal and Investigative areas of the Department of Justice. Transition Committee Members for additional areas will be named as the Transition progresses.
Criminal Division Transition Committee Members
John Belton is the District Attorney for the 3rd Judicial District, a position he has held since 2015. Belton is a career prosecutor who has dedicated 23 years to serving his community as a courtroom advocate. Belton earned his bachelor degree from McNeese State University and his law degree from the Southern University Law Center, where was inducted to the Hall of Fame.
Leon Cannizaro is the District Attorney for the 41st Judicial District, a position he has held since 2009. Cannizaro spent five years as an assistant district attorney in Orleans Parish, including time as chief of the trials division, then worked in private practice and as a staff attorney for the Orleans Indigent Defenders Program. Cannizaro served 17 years as a judge in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court and five years as a judge on the 4th Circuit Court of Appeal. Cannizaro earned a bachelor degree from the University of New Orleans and a law degree from Loyola University College of Law.
Bo Duhe is the District Attorney for the 16th Judicial District, a position he has held since 2015. Duhe previously worked as an assistant district attorney, including as first assistant, for over two decades. Duhe earned a bachelor degree from the University of Southwestern Louisiana and a law degree from Tulane University Law School.
Brian Frazier is the District Attorney for the 37th Judicial District, a position he has held since 2015. Frazier served as an assistant district attorney and a lawyer in private practice. Additionally, Frazier served as the city prosecutor in Columbia and Grayson. Frazier earned a bachelor degree from the University of Louisiana at Monroe and a law degree from the Southern University Law Center.
Douglas Gonzales is the former United States Attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana, a position he held from 1972 to 1976. Gonzales later served as judge for 14 years at the Louisiana 19th Judicial District Court and 11 years on the Louisiana Circuit Court of Appeal for the First Circuit. Gonzales earned his bachelor degree from the University of Notre Dame and his law degree from the Louisiana State University Law Center.
George Hesni is a retired Sergeant of the New Orleans Police Department and a former prosecutor in the 21st, 24th, and 41st Judicial Districts – including service as Chief of Criminal Division. Hesni earned a bachelor degree from Loyola University and a law degree from Loyola University College of Law.
Jack Hoffstadt is a former prosecutor with over three decades of experience in the 4th, 22nd, 24th, and 41st Judicial Districts – including the screening and trials of public corruption. Hoffstadt earned a bachelor degree from Northwestern State University and a law degree from Loyola University College of Law.
Cam Morvant is the District Attorney for the 17th Judicial District, a position he has held since 2003. Morvant previously worked at the district attorney’s office for twenty years, responsible for prosecuting major felony trials and child abuse cases. Morvant earned a bachelor degree from Nicholls State University and a law degree from the Louisiana State University Law Center.
Jennifer Settoon is a former assistant district attorney for the 23rd Judicial District, where she was a full-time prosecutor concentrating on felony sex crimes. Settoon earned a bachelor degree from Louisiana State University and a law degree from the Louisiana State University Law Center.
Samuel Tolbert is Pastor of the Greater Saint Mary Missionary Baptist Church in Lake Charles, a position he has held more than 30 years. Tolbert also serves on the board of supervisors for the Southern University System. Tolbert previously was a commissioner for the Lake Charles Housing Authority, a member of the Lake Charles City Council, and a member of the board of the Louisiana Economic Development Corporation. Tolbert earned a bachelor degree from the Historically Black Bishop College and a Master of Divinity degree from Payne Theological Seminary.
Ed Tarpley is the former District Attorney for the 35th Judicial District, a position he held from 1991 to 1997. Tarpley has nearly four decades of legal experience. Tarpley earned a bachelor degree from Louisiana State University and a law degree from the Louisiana State University Law Center.
Investigations Section Transition Committee Members
Rodney Arbuckle is Sheriff of DeSoto Parish, a position he has held for over 16 years. Arbuckle has served 33 years in law enforcement. Arbuckle earned his bachelor degree from Wiley College. Arbckle is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy, FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar, and the National Sheriff's Institute. Arbuckle serves on the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission and Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement.
Greg Champagne is the Sheriff of St. Charles Parish, a position he has held since his election in 1995. Champagne serves as vice president of the National Sheriff's Association's and as a member of the Eastern District/F.B.I. Joint Terrorism Task Force. Champagne has served in law enforcement for 30 years and as an assistant district attorney in St. Charles Parish for nearly 14 years. Champagne earned a bachelor degree from Nicholls State University and a law degree from the Louisiana State University Law Center. Champagne graduated from the FBI’s Law Institute for Prosecutors and the FBI's Law Enforcement Executive Development Program.
Jerry Denton is the City Marshal of Denham Springs, a position he has held since 2008. Denton previously served as a City Councilman for Denham Springs. His nearly thirty years of legal experience include service for three Attorneys General. Denton earned bachelor degrees from Nicholls State University and a law degree from the Southern University Law Center.
Charles Fuselier is the retired Sheriff of St. Martin Parish, a position he held from 1980 until 2003. Fuselier led the St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office to become the first in Louisiana to receive the imprint of the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. Fuselier received the National Sheriff of the Year award in 1996.
Marlin Gusman is the Sheriff of Orleans Parish, a position he has held since 2004. Gusman previously served as the Chief Administrative Officer of the City of New Orleans and as a Member of the New Orleans City Council. Gusman earned his bachelor degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and his law degree from Loyola University College of Law. Gusman is a graduate of the National Sheriffs' Institute and a member of the National Correctional Industries Association and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
Victor Jones is the Sheriff of Natchitoches Parish, a position he has held since 2000. Jones also operates the Juvenile and Adult Drug Court Programs in Natchitoches Parish. Jones has served four decades in law enforcement. Jones is a graduate of more than 20 professional education programs, including the FBI National Academy. Jones also served as president of the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association from 2009 to 2010.
Bry Layrisson is the Chief of Police for the city of Ponchatoula. Layrisson has over 15 years of law enforcement experience including service as a police officer for the city of Ponchatoula, a special agent for the Louisiana Department of Justice, a drug prevention officer for the Tangipahoa Parish School System, a narcotics task force canine detector investigator, and a member of the flotilla search and rescue team. He has also served as a volunteer deputy with the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office and the 7th Ward Marshal's Office.
Jonathan Liberto is the Constable of Jefferson Parish’s First Justice Court, a position he has held since 2009. Liberto has served nearly two decades in law enforcement, beginning his career with the Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff’s Office. Liberto graduated from the OPCSO’s Basic Training Academy and participated in the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard Academy and the New Orleans Police Department’s SWAT School. Liberto is both POST and SWAT certified.
Steve Prator is Sheriff of Caddo Parish, a position he has held since his election in 1999. Prator served nearly three decades at the Shreveport Police Department in patrol, investigations, narcotics, and the canine unit. Prator was Shreveport’s Police Chief for eight years. Prator earned a bachelor degree from LSU-Shreveport. Prator is President in the Northwest District of the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and an inductee of the Louisiana Criminal Justice Hall of Fame.
Recently, as reported in a release, the Attorney General–Elect contacted existing Department of Justice staff to thank them for their service and to encourage them to re-apply and join the new Administration. Landry has also been receiving resumes and applicants who wish to work for the Department of Justice through the online portal he created on his transition website at www.LandryTransition.com. Landry continues to encourage Louisiana citizens interested to apply through the site.
Jeff Landry recently traveled to Washington, DC where he met with the staff of the National Association of Attorneys General to gain insight into the transition process and the work of other Attorneys General. Jeff also spoke with numerous former and current Attorney Generals from around the nation. Landry and some of his team members have been speaking with other current and former Louisiana Attorney General office employees.
Jeff Landry became Louisiana’s Attorney General-Elect after winning the Louisiana runoff election on November 21st. Landry is a successful attorney and entrepreneur who previously represented South Louisiana in the United States Congress. Prior to working as an attorney, owning a successful business, and graduating from Loyola University College of Law - Landry served as both a police officer and a Sheriff’s Deputy. Landry is a veteran of the Louisiana National Guard.
In addition to Deputy Attorney General-Designate, the Transition Co-Chairs, and Committee Members - Landry’s Transition Team includes Michael Larisey, Millard Mule, Austin Stukins, Leilani Hardee, Paula Fuselier, Dee Champagne, Kate Broussard, and outside consultant Brent Littlefield.
Another Reason to Support Shrimpers in Louisiana
Photo source: Farmer's Almanac
In a recent report, it was found that forced labor is being used in Thailand to supply companies such as Wal-Mart and Red Lobster with shrimp. Per this report, the conditions were what amounted to modern slavery:
"The Gig Peeling Factory, nearly 100 Burmese laborers were trapped, most working for almost nothing. They spent 16 hours a day with their aching hands in ice water, ripping the guts, heads, tails and shells off shrimp. One girl was so tiny she had to stand on a stool to reach the peeling table. Some workers had been there for months, even years. Always, someone was watching."
If there is any doubt why we need to support our local seafood industries in South Louisiana, this should clear it all up. As a proud Cajun and native of Iberia Parish, I can offer the following alternatives for purchasing of Louisiana seafood in this area.
