The Times Picayune Editorial Board: Out Of Touch And A Disrespect For Facts.

In two recent "Our Opinion" columns titled, "Steve Scalise Would Make A Perfect Fit and "Hands Off Louisiana's Oil And Gas Money" was laughable.  The paper's support for Scalise as majority leader of the republican controlled U.S. House touts Scalise's conservative credentials and says Scalise is skilled at building coalitions to get legislation passed but could not name any meaningful legislation passed and signed into law.

The opinion piece did mention that Scalise when campaigning for the number 3 spot (House Whip) he did play "Eye of the Tiger" on the loud speaker.  I guess the TP believes that is a qualification.  The fact is Steve Scalise is the republican whip of a dysfunctional U.S. House and it has taken place on his watch, the current majority's watch and John Boehner's watch.  The TP failed to point out that Scalise voted to shut down the government the last time the issue came up.  He voted for default and against the CR that would have kept the federal government up and running. Louisiana's David Vitter, Bill Cassidy and John Fleming also voted to shut down the federal government.  Democrats Mary Landrieu and Cedric Richmond along with republican Charles Boustany voted for the CR to open the federal government.  Scalise was also one of 80 republicans who signed a letter not to vote for anything that did not defund the ACA.  If elected to majority leader Scalise will not change his unAmerican conservative ideology as practiced by today's republican party.

The Times Picayune's other opinion column was another attack of some members of congress who may propose to reduce oil and gas royalties from offshore drilling due to be shared by Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Texas beginning in 2017.  That money is supposed to be used to restore Louisiana's coast.  Then the TP article makes this astounding statement.THE CANALS THAT WERE CUT THROUGH THE STATE'S WETLANDS FOR OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION CONTRIBUTED TO EROSION THAT DESTROYED 1,900 SQUARE MILES OF LAND FROM 1932 TO 2000.  AND OUR MARSHES ARE STILL WASHING AWAY.

That is exactly what the Levee Boards suit was all about.  To make the oil companies pay for the damage they caused and the TP opposed that suit.  Many of those oil companies who damaged Louisiana's land never drilled one offshore well but the TP wants those offshore royalties to pay for the damages that those companies caused.  Offshore royalty payments to states should be separate from the oil industry's responsibility to pay for the environmental damage it is responsible for.

Supposed the Oil industry stopped drilling offshore tomorrow?  Would the TP then support the Levee Boards suit if there are no royalties to be collected?  Better yet, where has the TP been since 1932 concerning the industry's failure to protect Louisiana's environment and be held accountable for their destructive acts.

Drilling offshore was a late bloomer.  During such prior time Louisiana drilling and production was regulated by the state, but the TP did not think restoration of the damaged environment was important to talk about.  It is only the flood of money from the BP spill and offshore royalties that opened their closed eyes.  BP and offshore royalties became the scapegoat.  BP should be held responsible for the damage it caused and has been by the federal government, thanks to the Obama administration.  But BP should not be responsible for damages caused by the many other oil and gas company operations.

The wolves are at the door and the oil industry has been laughing all the way to the bank since 1932.  Why not?  They knew the TP and elected officials would be their mouthpiece and defender of the violations of Louisiana's environment.  Do the math, count how many years it has been going on since 1932.  That should make any sane person sick.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio