America: Already Feeling The Effects Of The EPA's Lack Of Enforcement

Bloomberg news reports that the non-partisan Environmental Integrity Project found that the EPA has collected roughly half as much in civil penalties from polluters  during President Trump's first year in office than it did under the  three past Presidents in the same time frame according to their research.

Head of the "Project" is Eric Schaeffer who was a former director of the EPA's Office of Civil Enforcement, said the decline sends the wrong signal to would be polluters, and that coupled with cuts to the EPA may reduce their ability to pursue violators.  Also President Trumps dismantling of the EPA means violators are less likely to be caught.

The "Project" also found that Trump's EPA settled roughly 44 percent fewer civil cases involving violations of environmental laws.  Penalties collected totaled 49% of the average of the three previous Presidents first year in office.  And this is what has taken place in Trumps first year in office  What about the next 3 years if Trump is still around?  The situation will just compound and become worse reversing all the good that has been accomplished before the arrival of the trumpet man.

And for those who may not be following politics, Trump is getting ready to do the same to the banking industry by removing the safe guards put in place by the Dodd-Frank legislation, ignoring other bank regulations and approving the wholesale merger of the banks.  This action will lead to another great recession that will have its roots in Trump's actions.

There are two ways to deregulation.  Change the regulations or simply stop enforcement of them.  Both Reagan and Bush 43 did that and now Trump is the third ditto head to do so.  As for the American people and the country, the warning of what to come could not be any clearer.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

President Donald Trump: Incapable Of Being a Statesman Even When Tragedy Strikes

At a time of tragedy,  America needs a President to be a statesman, a calming voice, someone to lean on, some one who understands sorrow, some one who has understanding, some one who has feeling, some one who can speak from the heart and most of all some one to lead.  The recent tragedy at a Parkland, Florida high school and Trump's reaction, especially his so called "meeting of listening" with students, family members and others, Trump demonstrated he had none of the above qualities and is truly corrupted to the core.

The President had to depend on a hand written notes to talk about the tragedy and exhibited no natural responses that come from the heart.  The President's notion that school teachers should be armed to protect their students showed how little Trump knows about the gun problem in the country.  More guns in school are a prescription for more violence and would make our institutions of learning a combat zone on a regular basis.  School teachers jobs are to teach, not be policemen or guards  It is another example of Trump's disrespect for our institutions.

And to top it off, the ignorance of this President's obligations, he has yet to talk seriously about banning assault style weapons like the one used in the Florida killings.  His statement about raising the age to 21 to be able to buy an assault weapon was designed to let the NRA and the gun lobby know he will support their position of no banning of assault weapons  What a cowardly position for a President.  For them, the next time we have a mass killing by someone 21 or older with an assault weapon, they will just turn their backs and come up with more excuses.

The President's inability to lead America in time of tragedy is a pitiful reminder the U.S does not have a President in the White House.  It has a individual trying to corrupt the country.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The U.S. Supreme Court Makes A Common Sense Decision and The NRA and The Gun Lobby Are Angry.

The U.S. Supreme Court refused to take up a appeal to a U.S. Court of Appeals that ruled California's mandatory 10 day waiting period for new gun purchases was constitutional.  The NRA and Gun Lobby took the Appeals Court decision to the Supreme Court saying it violated the second amendments right to bear arms.  The Supreme Court refusal to hear the case is a victory for the states and a common sense decision.

Any fare minded person can see through the smoke screen of the NRA and gun lobby appeal that the California law prevented the purchase of a firearm, it only applied to a reasonable waiting period so law enforcement could check out the purchaser's fitness to own a gun.  Any one who follows the NRA and gun lobby know they would do anything and say anything to put a large umbrella over the second amendment whether it applies or not.  It should also be a wake up call how conservatives hold such a liberal view of the second amendment which actually deals with the militia.

Hopefully, more states will enact gun laws that make sense and give the actions time to work.  Trump and the republicans reply to the recent Florida school shooting are all about dancing around the issue.  The most important issue now is to ban the sale of assault rifles that was in effect during the Clinton administration.  Bump stocks and other actions being talked about by Trump is just a side show to the real problem.  The Florida shooter did not need a bump stock nor does any assault style military rifle.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

President Donald Trump: Putin's Puppet and Both Know It

A federal grand jury in connection with special council Robert Mueller's FBI investigation indicted 13Russians and three entities for meddling in the U.S. Presidential election in 2016.  And instead of condemning Russia and telling America what he will do about it, President Trump went on a tweeting spree over the week end, blamed and criticized former President Obama, the CIA, The FBI, his national security adviser and others.

This is the same President who said he believed Putin when Putin told him Russia was not involved and the same President whose people assured Putin that Obama's sanctions put in place would not be enforced.  Trump's inaction and failure to confront Putin and Russia on the issue represents a neglect of duty and a continuation of his betrayal of America, his office and the people.  There is no doubt that Putin is pulling Trump's puppet strings and Trump continues to be a traitor.

The trumpet man's desire to destroy America's institutions are ongoing to try and discredit the truth to promote his lies. Every thing about his administration has been a fraud from health care, to immigration reform, to tax reform, the WALL, the budget and his tweets.  Every day that goes by with Trump in the White House is a day of lies, scandal, dishonesty, schemes or some type of un-American rhetoric or actions.  And the only true answer is for congress to bite the bullet and impeach him.  This writer also stands by his previous thoughts that Putin has something of a serious nature on Trump and is one reason Russia and Putin get a pass from the trumpet man.


This commentary written  by Joe Lorio

Understanding The Past Is Still The Key To A Better Future, And That Includes Mass Shootings And Killings

The United States has been in a dark era of deadly gun violence for some time now and as a result the present is like the failed dark past.  The latest example is the mass killings at a high school in Parkland, Florida just recently.  Innocent young students whose life was taken prematurely because we have a political system controlled by special interest groups who care little about life and a great deal about money.  And sadly, there are perceptions by certain voters who claim that guns don't kill people, people do.  That is the dogma the NRA, the gun lobby and many elected officials have been selling for years.

Florida is no stranger to mass murder and the killing of over 40 people at a night club in Orlando not long ago was tragic.  Florida's republican governor Rick Scott and republican U.S. Senator Marco Rubio were elected more than once by the people of Florida and have a A+ rating from the NRA which is no secret.  The NRA was also a big contributor to Trump's 2016 campaign and the people of Florida carried the state for him in the Presidential election of 2016.  Yesterday's internet was loaded with stories how the people of Florida are now demanding those three take up the gun control issue or be voted out.

President Kennedy said it was against the laws of nature for parents to bury their children and children were the first on his mind concerning going to war because they had no say in the matter.  That is why he did not rush America into war during the Cuban Missile crisis of 1962.  He was a President that had a respect for life and did not cater to special interest.  He came from a wealthy family but was a people's President.  But unlike that healthy past, today it is division, blame, personal attacks, fake news, a lack of compassion and a disrespectful attitude to American institutions and failed leadership on every front.

The number of people killed in the mass shootings in Las Vegas last year was a domestic record.  The families never forgot but our political system did.  And the political system's failure to deal with that realty repeated itself in Florida this past week.  Business who give campaign contributions to elected officials that oppose gun control should stand up and be counted and tell them no more contributions until they take up the issue and pass legislation to deal with the problem.

The present killings are a big time failure to understand the past and make the necessary changes for a better future for our children and our people.  We can not afford to take a stand only when it hits close to home.  Life for all should be protected and foremost in our work here on earth.  Its time for the failed rhetoric to end and break up the NRA and the gun lobby's political obstruction and interference on the issue.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Another Mass Shooting In An American School, A Place For Learning: And Another Reason Why The Assualt Weapons Ban Should Never Have Expired

A lone gunman with an assault style AR-15 semi-automatic rifle opened fire in a Parkland, Fla., high school killing 17 (mostly students) and wounded 14 others.  It was the most deadly school shooting in over five years.  The type of rifle used was banned by the Clinton administration for 10 years and the Bush 43 administration allowed the ban to die without renewal.  Such rifles should never be allowed on the streets of America.

The Clinton ban worked and our law enforcement community loved it.  The law, known as the Brady Bill was named after James Brady, President Reagan's press secretary who was severely wounded during the assassination attempt of President Reagan.  Reagan and President George H.W. Bush could never get such a law passed but Clinton did,  and he did not have the baggage drag of the NRA.  It was also the Clinton administration that put and paid for 100,000 new police officers in the streets for local police departments across our nation.  The Bush 43 administration also let that expire.  Clinton's actions on keeping America safe went a lot farther than his opponents rhetoric.

The reaction to the Florida shootings by Trump and those in congress controlled by the NRA and the gun lobby were the same as the record mass shooting and killings in Las Vegas last year.  "Condolence and Prayers" which does not solve the problem of assault style weapons of war that can do so much damage in a short period of time in the hands of civilians.  President Trump has fallen plenty short in rejecting violence and hate groups and is a divisive President who respects no one.  It would be a help when he goes to Florida next week to visit with the families of those parents who lost love ones in the shooting to announce that he is going to ask congress to once again pass an assault weapons ban bill with no sunset provisions.

That would be the least the President should do if he really rejects violence and hate.  The American people will find out soon enough just where he stands after another mass shooting on his watch.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Governor Edwards Calls Another Special Session Of The State Legislature.

Louisiana's governor Edwards is determined to make progress in bringing the state's budget and fiscal problems under control and called another special session of the legislature to do so.  The special session will run from Feb. 19 through March 7 to address a reported $994 million short fall for the next fiscal year which begins July 1.  The regular session of the legislature will start on March 12 and run through June 4.

Edwards understands the state can not solve its long term fiscal problems with budget cuts alone.  The state has been there and done that and it has not worked.  The republican controlled legislature has to end its foolishness and adopt sound fiscal answers to the problem their extreme attitude is responsible for.  The conservative rhetoric on the budget represents fake news and its time for them to start thinking of the state and its people's best interest.

The special session and regular session is plenty enough time for the republicans to come to their senses and work with Edwards and his recommendations on solving the long term budget and fiscal problems of the state that have gone on for to long.  The republicans time is up.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

LABI and Laura Ingraham Deserve Each Other

And it all fell into place when LABI (Louisiana Association of Business and Industry) invited Ingraham to be their keynote speaker at their annual meeting last Thursday in Baton Rouge.  Ingraham is a conservative right wing radio and TV personality who appears regularly on the Fox News Network  That is the network who has the sexual harassment problem.   And true to form Ingraham was inflammatory in her comments.

One would think LABI, a business association would be above it all and invite a keynote speaker that would make the association and its business members proud with positive comments.  They knew very well of Ingraham's divisive political attitude and personal attacks and her alignment with the hate spread by Donald Trump.  The Times Picayune reported that a few hours after her speech, the association sent out a statement trying to disassociate itself from her remarks but it won't wash.   The association knew very well what Ingraham represented.

LABI has never been a good friend to the state or its people.  It is the largest business organization in Louisiana and its main theme is to continue the corporate welfare tax breaks its members receive from the state legislature.  It is also a conservative leaning organization who supported former governor Bobby Jindal's failed business policies and his failure to balance Louisiana's budget  And to top it off, Jindal left office with the Louisiana unemployment rate much higher than when he took office.  That probably did not matter to LABI.

LABI's invitation to Ingraham to be their keynote speaker tells one just how low this business organization was willing to stoop.  And that really says it all.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Another First For PolitiDose

This writer for the past 9 years has written commentary showing how precedent can be used to judge what administrations are best at governing concerning the economy, job creation, balancing the federal budget, creating surpluses, lower unemployment, lower deficit spending, keeping America safe, lower increases in the national debt, overall reduction in spending and precedent and facts tells us it is the democratic party.  But one never hears that from the republicans or the news media in general or the financial sector.

Now comes Mr. Sam Stovall, Chief Investment Strategist for the research firm CFRA who reports that every republican President since Teddy Roosevelt (yes you read that right) has experienced a recession in his first two years in office.  And that 9 of the past 10 recessions in history have begun with a republican in the White House and that republican Presidents Eisenhower, Nixon and George W. Bush have presided over multiple economic contractions.  Of course the readers of PolitiDose have known democratic administrations have managed the economy much better than republican administrations and over a long period of time and it was read right here first in PolitiDose long ago.

The news media and republicans have been able to convince a good share of voters that it is republican administrations that handle the economy best and facts don't seem to be the news medias interest on the subject matter.  They know the failures of Reagan and Bush's trickle down economics tax cuts but still pushed the Trump-GOP's recent tax cut scheme without real comments about the republican party's past sad record on the economy and tax cuts.

Mr. Stovall's comments are a little late but welcome and better late than never with the facts.  PolitiDose will continue to bring the facts to the people to balance the lack of good reporting by the news media in general, the fake news that comes out of the republican party and the financial industry.  And it should be worthwhile to repeat again in PolitiDose what Mr. Stovall failed to report that goes along with the republican party's sad record.  The three worst bank failures took place on the watch of Herbert Hoover, Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush.  And like the economic failures that took place on the republican watch alluded to by Mr. Stovall were not just a coincident.

Those who are willing to accept the facts will not be surprised if the country goes into another recession on Donald Trump's watch.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

U. S. Senator Rand Paul: Another Republican Ditto Head Hypocrite.

The so called conservative who represents Kentucky held up the Senate budget vote this past Friday which shut the government down a few hours before he voted no on the bill.  His peeve was an increase in domestic spending without spending cuts.  He then went on a rhetoric rampage for TV criticizing both republicans and democrats because the budget bill added to the federal deficit and he said conservatives are against deficit spending.

The ditto head hypocrite failed to mention that Trump and the GOP's tax cut scheme that he himself voted for will add $1.5 trillion to deficit spending because the tax cut does not pay for itself with offsets.  And that $1.5 trillion in deficit spending he voted for is over 3 times larger than the short fall in the budget he opposed on Friday.  He then made the claim the federal government will be going back to the deficits of the Obama administration.  Actually Paul got that wrong also because deficit spending went down on Obama's watch year to year compared to the deficits of the Bush 43 administration which still holds the single year deficit record of $1.4 trillion which took place in Bush's last fiscal year.  By contrast, the federal deficit at the end of Obama's last fiscal year was $666 billion.  That is a big difference than what he inherited from Bush.

Of course the big kicker for Paul and the GOP is what this writer has said for years.  They really are not fiscal conservatives.  No republican President has balanced the federal budget since Eisenhower in 1960 and no republican President in the last 50 plus years has left office with a smaller deficit than when he took office.  But democratic Presidents have and Obama was the last to do so.  In other words there is no record of precedent in the past 50 years that can justify republicans as fiscal conservatives.

Fiscal conservative republicans?  The truth in fact is that they do not exist including Paul.   And Donald Trump who complains about the National Debt and deficit spending has already joined the republicans parade.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio