Shreveport Representative will walk to Baton Rouge

Shreveport Rep. Patrick Williams plans to draw attention to issues he believes are crucial to improving Louisiana by hitting the highway on foot. Just before the special legislative session on ethics ended Tuesday, Williams told the House of Representatives he'll sponsor a walk from Shreveport to the steps of the Governor's Mansion prior to the start of the regular legislative session March 31. He estimates it will take "about 10 days, maybe more."
Legislators passed a lot of bills during the ethics session, he said, but they will have little impact because "morality is something within. What we did was to satisfy people outside the state". "With the regular session, "now we have the opportunity to satisfy the people we're down here to represent," Williams said. He said he's sponsoring the walk to bring awareness to other issues the Legislature should tackle: reforming Louisiana's education, welfare and health care systems.

excerpt from The Times

Jindal's Grand Slam

Gov. Bobby Jindal has labeled his success “a grand slam” in the special legislation session on ethics that wrapped up this afternoon.The governor says he got more than 90 percent everything he wanted but “100 percent of what the state needed” to improve its image.

The Times

We still affirm what we wrote on election night:

No one seems to be able to see past the hoopla to the fact that Louisiana has once more gone hook, line and sinker for a slick packaged, smooth talking "reformer".

A Nod and a Wink Video

Louisiana Politics as usual - the more it changes, the more it stays the same.

Invonvenienced Streets

This was actually a headline in the online edition of The Times this morning. If you don't believe me, see for yourself.


Shreveport announces inconvenienced streets
February 25, 2008
The city of Shreveport engineer has announced the following inconvenienced streets for this week.
(then it lists the streets)

The article didn't say, but I'd be willing to wager that the buildings along that street were really angry.

Who in the world writes these headlines for The Times?

Ode to the Louisiana Legislature

A fitting musical tribute to our legislature

Friday Night Lights Shine Bright for Legislators

Thank you, Lord, for small mercies. I have really been in a state this week, fearful that our legislators might have to actually pay to attend a high school ball game or play. That fear has been alleviated, however, as the bill regulating free tickets passed the house today with amendments allowing the tickets as long as a registered lobbyist doesn't pay for them.

But wait - it doesn't just cover local school events.

A lege may have all the tickets to professional, semi-professional and collegiate sporting events, musical concerts and other entertainment venues as well as golfing, fishing or hunting outings that they can scrounge up - if a registered lobbyist is not paying.

If, however, you need tickets for a concert, say a Hannah Montana concert, no problem. Just don't get them from a registered lobbyist.

With another wink and nod from the Governor, the legislators have changed absolutely nothing. So fearful of losing their freebies, they fought tooth and nail and prevailed, and in all honesty, with very little opposition. The bill will go to the senate for consideration.

This is just one of the 'compromises' that has been achieved. We already covered the restrictions on doing business with the state. The bill was changed to say that if you don't actively take part in the management of your company, it's okay. You have until 2012 to wind it down.

Governor Jindal said in his victory speech: "Real ethics reform is not simply campaign rhetoric. It is the lynchpin for change, for regaining the confidence of the voters, for turning our state around. If and when folks try to stop it, I will call them out. If -- If and when people try to throw in amendments designed to derail ethics reform, I will call them out."

Governor, if you meant any part of what you said, it is time to start calling them out.

Hot Sauce With That?

I think of all the whining by legislators during this current session on 'ethics', my favorite is Representative Charmaine Marchand. Marchand objected to the $50 cap on a meal by saying "at $50, we're going to be eating at Taco Bell".

Will they go in and sit at one of those little tables that are so uncomfortable, or will they just hit the drive-through in the lobbyist's beamer and eat in the car?

While we're at it, Ms Marchand must have an insatiable appetite - $50 at Taco Bell will buy a lot of tacos!

Maybe it's the expensive wine that she'll miss, but she could still have her drink. A couple of six-packs of tacos and a bottle or two of Boone's Farm should fall well within the $50 limit. It is a sacrifice serving the public, and we thank Ms Marchand for her service.

Bon Appetit!