According to a Times Picayune article dated 12/20/13 a Louisiana legislative auditor's office reported some oil and gas severance taxes went uncollected from 2009 to 2012 that cost the state millions of dollars in tax revenue. All because the state revenue department shut down a computor program in 2010 that was used to identify delinquent taxpayers. The programs had been sending erroneous bills. Now the state says the computor program will come back on line late in December.
Senator Edwin Murray asked, "why couldn't we just fix the program, rather than turn it off?" Other legislators wondered why it had took so long to get the automated system back up. Governor Jindal has been silent on the issue. It seems like when the oil and gas industry is involved, they get a pass on everything including not paying the severance tax due the state timely for three years while the computer was shut down.
Jindal was outspoken against President Obama when the Affordable Care Act computer system was having problems. However, the President took the steps to take care of the problem and did not shut the system down. Jindal, like most republicans who continue to want to see the President, the country and its people fail, have no character or courage. They are also not serious public servants.
When the head of a state allows his revenue department to shut a computer program down that flags oil and gas companies that have not paid their taxes on time instead of taking care of the problem, you have a governor who failed to do his job. How many years does it take Bobby?
Republicans are good at making a lot of noise. Democrats are good at serving the public. And that really says it all.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
Monday, December 30, 2013
Sunday, December 29, 2013
The Ron Higgins, Skip Bertman, Nick Saban and LSU Saga
Ron Higgins article that appeared in the Times Picayune of Dec. 13 concerning Saban leaving LSU has as many holes as swiss cheese. In this writers judgement, Saban wanted out at LSU for reasons never made public. I respect Skip Bertman as a person, as a coach and as a athletic director, but his reasons as to why Saban left LSU for Miami as articulated by Higgins does not wash.
Higgins says Bertman told him LSU could not compete with Miami's monetary offer and then says Saban would not leave Alabama for Texas because of money. In fact Bertman was quoted as saying Saban is not a money guy. Saban was smart enough to let it be known while he was at LSU that he might one day return to pro football. That gave him an out when Miami called. Saban had no excuse about the NFL because he previously coached there.
For what ever reason, Saban used the Miami offer as the perfect cover to return to college football at the most opportune time for him. Saban was smart enough to know he would never have the success at coaching in the NFL as he would coaching in college.
Make no mistake, Saban wanted out at LSU for some reason and laid the ground work for his departure when proclaimed he would keep the door open to return to the NFL. I also happen to believe Saban did a poor coaching job at LSU in the year after LSU won the national championship. His mind was not on LSU football.
Perhaps one day fans will be told the true story of why Saban left LSU. I feel sure Saban let his feelings be known to some one.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
Higgins says Bertman told him LSU could not compete with Miami's monetary offer and then says Saban would not leave Alabama for Texas because of money. In fact Bertman was quoted as saying Saban is not a money guy. Saban was smart enough to let it be known while he was at LSU that he might one day return to pro football. That gave him an out when Miami called. Saban had no excuse about the NFL because he previously coached there.
For what ever reason, Saban used the Miami offer as the perfect cover to return to college football at the most opportune time for him. Saban was smart enough to know he would never have the success at coaching in the NFL as he would coaching in college.
Make no mistake, Saban wanted out at LSU for some reason and laid the ground work for his departure when proclaimed he would keep the door open to return to the NFL. I also happen to believe Saban did a poor coaching job at LSU in the year after LSU won the national championship. His mind was not on LSU football.
Perhaps one day fans will be told the true story of why Saban left LSU. I feel sure Saban let his feelings be known to some one.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
Friday, December 27, 2013
What Will The New Year Bring Politically?
A repeat of past mistakes or the wisdom to learn from the past and create a better future. January 2014 will begin President Obama's second year of his second term in office. The economy will enter the new year with welcomed economic gains in job creation, an increase in the GDP, lower unemployment and a reduction in the Federal Deficit. The war in Afghanistan will come to an end this year so the new year does project a progressive year for the country and its people.
The Affordable Care Act is picking up steam dispite the online application problems that took place at the start up and the republican's opposition to throw up any road block it could muster to create more problems just because they want to see the program and the President fail. The republicans have learned nothing from their past 40 votes to defund the ACA and as a result the future for them will be like the past.
Since 2014 will be a year of congressional elections, if congress chooses to play politics instead of addressing the country's priority to keep the economy moving forward, the future will be like the past with political gridlock. That must not happen as it did in 2013.
President Kennedy understood that our problems are man made and there fore can be solved by man and that past mistakes could be corrected with leadership and courage. He understood history and pursued a future that would not look like the failed past.
President Obama will do the country and its people well by addressing the future and staying above petty politics of the moment. The economic ground work for continued progress has been established and now it is time in 2014 to make full employment a reality, rising wages for the average American a standard and a tax system that is fair where everyone pays a just share of the tax burden.
The road map for the future should avoid the mistakes of the past and it can be accomplished if leaders are mindful of history and our past. President George W. Bush was not and there fore his policies doomed the future of his administration and the economy.
This commentary written by John Lucia
Note: See previous commentary dated 12/28/10 titled, What Will The New Year Bring Politically.
The Affordable Care Act is picking up steam dispite the online application problems that took place at the start up and the republican's opposition to throw up any road block it could muster to create more problems just because they want to see the program and the President fail. The republicans have learned nothing from their past 40 votes to defund the ACA and as a result the future for them will be like the past.
Since 2014 will be a year of congressional elections, if congress chooses to play politics instead of addressing the country's priority to keep the economy moving forward, the future will be like the past with political gridlock. That must not happen as it did in 2013.
President Kennedy understood that our problems are man made and there fore can be solved by man and that past mistakes could be corrected with leadership and courage. He understood history and pursued a future that would not look like the failed past.
President Obama will do the country and its people well by addressing the future and staying above petty politics of the moment. The economic ground work for continued progress has been established and now it is time in 2014 to make full employment a reality, rising wages for the average American a standard and a tax system that is fair where everyone pays a just share of the tax burden.
The road map for the future should avoid the mistakes of the past and it can be accomplished if leaders are mindful of history and our past. President George W. Bush was not and there fore his policies doomed the future of his administration and the economy.
This commentary written by John Lucia
Note: See previous commentary dated 12/28/10 titled, What Will The New Year Bring Politically.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
The Saints Loss To Seattle Surprised No One Except Most Of New Orleans Sports Journalists
The domination of Seattle's defense against the Saints offense should be no surprise to anyone who is objective in their evaluation of the Saints. The Saints three losses have been to teams with the best defensive coaches in the NFL. The Jets, the Patriots and the Seahawks. Seattle's head coach was called the best of them all in the NFL by ESPN's John Gruden who knows a little about the game.
New Orleans's journalists continue to talk about Brees's prolific passing and Payton's genius offense play calling but neither one deserve that title. Five of the Saints victories this year came at the expense of teams who are playing 500 or less ball. Brees was not the only passer who was prolific against those teams. Good defensive coached teams do not let receivers run wild and unchallenged.
After 12 games of play only 13 of the 32 teams in the NFL have a winning record and that trend has been going on for many years. In other words there are a lot of bad teams playing football in the NFL. No wonder records are falling every day. Individual players pile up records over a period of time but what has their team accomplished. The case can be made that Eli Manning has done more for his team than brother Peyton or Brees have done for their teams. Eli's team has won two world championships. Peyton and Brees teams have each won one and they have been playing longer than Eli.
Sports journalists in New Orleans jobs depend on the Saints for their livelyhood and that is why they cling to cliches and hype in their reporting and can not be objective in their evaluation of the Saints. The city did produce one sports writer with the Times Picayune that did pick Seattle to win the game. Jim Henderson, the voice of the Saints commentary after the Saints games are a joke. His after the fact breakdown is laughable.
Yea, Payton and Brees are good at what they do but prolific and genius should be measured with caution. When the Saints started the season in good fashion many sports journalists were projecting them champions of their division and talking about home field advantage thru out the playoffs. Now after the loss to Seattle and the Panthers up next they are in a panic. Those journalists were ready to project the future after only the first 6 games. The last time I checked the Saints do play a 16 game schedule.
Lets see, Green Bay, Dallas, Pittsburg, New England and San Francisco won multiple world championships and had great quarterbacks. I wonder how today's sports journalists would describe those head coaches and quarterbacks? Its a question to ponder.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
New Orleans's journalists continue to talk about Brees's prolific passing and Payton's genius offense play calling but neither one deserve that title. Five of the Saints victories this year came at the expense of teams who are playing 500 or less ball. Brees was not the only passer who was prolific against those teams. Good defensive coached teams do not let receivers run wild and unchallenged.
After 12 games of play only 13 of the 32 teams in the NFL have a winning record and that trend has been going on for many years. In other words there are a lot of bad teams playing football in the NFL. No wonder records are falling every day. Individual players pile up records over a period of time but what has their team accomplished. The case can be made that Eli Manning has done more for his team than brother Peyton or Brees have done for their teams. Eli's team has won two world championships. Peyton and Brees teams have each won one and they have been playing longer than Eli.
Sports journalists in New Orleans jobs depend on the Saints for their livelyhood and that is why they cling to cliches and hype in their reporting and can not be objective in their evaluation of the Saints. The city did produce one sports writer with the Times Picayune that did pick Seattle to win the game. Jim Henderson, the voice of the Saints commentary after the Saints games are a joke. His after the fact breakdown is laughable.
Yea, Payton and Brees are good at what they do but prolific and genius should be measured with caution. When the Saints started the season in good fashion many sports journalists were projecting them champions of their division and talking about home field advantage thru out the playoffs. Now after the loss to Seattle and the Panthers up next they are in a panic. Those journalists were ready to project the future after only the first 6 games. The last time I checked the Saints do play a 16 game schedule.
Lets see, Green Bay, Dallas, Pittsburg, New England and San Francisco won multiple world championships and had great quarterbacks. I wonder how today's sports journalists would describe those head coaches and quarterbacks? Its a question to ponder.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
A Change In The Affordable Care Act (ACA) Part II
On July 4, 2013 this writer pointed out how one of President Truman's famous sayings related to the ACA. President Obama recently made a third change to the act by delaying the on line application for Small Business people for one year. Small Business can still go directly to the health exchanges during the delay period and still sign up and receive health coverage. The on line delay was to make the computer program more user friendly for the Small Business community.
The President's actions so far in the matter demonstrates how government should work when plans go astray and the program in question is worthwhile for the country and its people. The republicans noise machine has its nose bent out of shape because of Obama's chnges and the conservative media are falling over itself with their continued attacks on the President and the ACA.
President George W. Bush and the republican controlled congress passed the Prescription Drug Benefit in 2004 that gave the people the donut hole. President Bush said at the time the program would cost no more than $400 billion over the next decade which ends in 2014. The government now says the cost has already exceeded $900 billion and by the time the decade is over will cost approximately $1.07 trillion. Thats almost triple the predicted cost. Did any one hear of any clamor from the republicans on their own programs over run on costs. Ditto, the conservative news media. Republicans in congress at the time knew the $400 billion cost was a fairy tale but did nothing about it and neither did President Bush. The program also had its rollout problems but republicans were silent on that also.
The republicans forgot President Trumans famous saying concerning their Prescription Drug Benefit. On the other hand President Obama's actions on the ACA shows President Truman's theory was correct when congress passes legislation and corrective action has to be taken. It is just another example of a democratic President doing the right thing on a piece of major legislation. President Truman's wisdom on the matter is still a guide line for future legislation.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
The President's actions so far in the matter demonstrates how government should work when plans go astray and the program in question is worthwhile for the country and its people. The republicans noise machine has its nose bent out of shape because of Obama's chnges and the conservative media are falling over itself with their continued attacks on the President and the ACA.
President George W. Bush and the republican controlled congress passed the Prescription Drug Benefit in 2004 that gave the people the donut hole. President Bush said at the time the program would cost no more than $400 billion over the next decade which ends in 2014. The government now says the cost has already exceeded $900 billion and by the time the decade is over will cost approximately $1.07 trillion. Thats almost triple the predicted cost. Did any one hear of any clamor from the republicans on their own programs over run on costs. Ditto, the conservative news media. Republicans in congress at the time knew the $400 billion cost was a fairy tale but did nothing about it and neither did President Bush. The program also had its rollout problems but republicans were silent on that also.
The republicans forgot President Trumans famous saying concerning their Prescription Drug Benefit. On the other hand President Obama's actions on the ACA shows President Truman's theory was correct when congress passes legislation and corrective action has to be taken. It is just another example of a democratic President doing the right thing on a piece of major legislation. President Truman's wisdom on the matter is still a guide line for future legislation.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
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