Every time I hear a republican repeat their call to defund and or kill the Affordable Care Act, especially when it comes from a member of Louisiana's delegation that serves in the U.S. House, I am reminded of a Times Picayune article published in November 2008 (almost 6 years ago) by staff writer Bruce Alpert.
Part of the article is about Louisiana Reps. Bill Cassidy and Charles Boustany's strong views on how to reduce the number of uninsured Americans and want to share them with President Obama before he unveils his legislative package. Cassidy and Boustany are doctors and are presumed to know a little about health care especially the way they talk. Cassidy is running for Mary Landrieu's Senate seat and his commercials show him in his doctors coat.
After going back and reading the article I wonder if those two doctor republicans have ever made a call on their majority party in the House and give them specific examples how their party could come up with a health care plan of their own to introduce to the people. As of this writing they and their party still have no health care plan to replace the ACA. So as doctors, Cassidy and Boustany are batting zero for their own party.
In fact Louisiana's representative John Fleming also serves in the U.S. House and is also a doctor. Thats three Louisiana doctors serving republicans in the U.S. House who have not been able to articulate a health care plan for their party to rally around and introduce to the people. How many years does it take?
This writer would like to see Mr. Alpert write a follow up article and ask the three doctors what they specifically recommended to their own party concerning a health care plan for the uninsured. If they did talk, their republican house members must have not listened.
Or is it the doctors did not even make HOUSE calls?
This commentary written by John Lucia
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Monday, August 4, 2014
Louisiana's Steve Scalise, The New House Whip But The Same Republican Party Failure.
The republican controlled U.S. House passed a $694 million bill for additional funding to deal with the influx of immigrants from Central America. That was less than the $3.7 billion request from the President and the $2.7 billion proposed in the Senate that was blocked by the republican's in that chamber. The first bill the House took up was pulled from the floor because of the republicans own opposition to passage.
Washington Post columnist Chris Cillizza wrote Scalise had the worst week in Washington for having the first major bill he was in charge of fail. Scalise tried to put his best face on with self serving comments that has become the trademark of he and his party. The legislation that finally passed will go no where and Scalise knows it. He also knows it does not address the problem and is just another piece of proof how the republican party continues to oppose anything the President proposes.
Scalise is still trying to sell the notion that the immigrants from Central America means the border need to be secure. But as pointed out the border is more secure under the Obama administration with more Border Patrol Agents than any time in the past 30 years. It is also a fact that the immigrants from Central America are turning themselves in at the border to the Border Patrol and are entering mainly thru one check point along the border in the Rio Grande area.
Contrary to what Scalise and his party says, the President did not ask for a blank check to handle the problem, he asked for $3.7 billion. The democrats in the Senate were willing to scale that back to $2.7 billion but republicans in that chamber blocked the vote. The $694 million passed by the house confirms what the President said, "The House wanted to check off any block so they could go home."
The bill the House passed also cancells the 2008 legislation which provides for an orderly way to process immigrants from Central America. President George W. Bush signed that bill because he thought it was a good bill and did not use his veto power. Scalise after being elected Whip of the U.S. House said he and his party were ready to work with the President. That he did not do with his very first piece of legislation. In a previous commentary I said Sincerity was always subject to proof. Well, so far nothing has changed.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
Washington Post columnist Chris Cillizza wrote Scalise had the worst week in Washington for having the first major bill he was in charge of fail. Scalise tried to put his best face on with self serving comments that has become the trademark of he and his party. The legislation that finally passed will go no where and Scalise knows it. He also knows it does not address the problem and is just another piece of proof how the republican party continues to oppose anything the President proposes.
Scalise is still trying to sell the notion that the immigrants from Central America means the border need to be secure. But as pointed out the border is more secure under the Obama administration with more Border Patrol Agents than any time in the past 30 years. It is also a fact that the immigrants from Central America are turning themselves in at the border to the Border Patrol and are entering mainly thru one check point along the border in the Rio Grande area.
Contrary to what Scalise and his party says, the President did not ask for a blank check to handle the problem, he asked for $3.7 billion. The democrats in the Senate were willing to scale that back to $2.7 billion but republicans in that chamber blocked the vote. The $694 million passed by the house confirms what the President said, "The House wanted to check off any block so they could go home."
The bill the House passed also cancells the 2008 legislation which provides for an orderly way to process immigrants from Central America. President George W. Bush signed that bill because he thought it was a good bill and did not use his veto power. Scalise after being elected Whip of the U.S. House said he and his party were ready to work with the President. That he did not do with his very first piece of legislation. In a previous commentary I said Sincerity was always subject to proof. Well, so far nothing has changed.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
Sunday, August 3, 2014
The U.S. Economy, Job Creation and Outlook For The Future
The U.S. Labor Department announced that the economy created 209,000 jobs in July, the sixth straight month of job creation over 200,000. The unemployment rate ticked up to 6.2% from June's 6.1%. The increase was attributed to the fact that 329,000 who were without jobs reentered the job market and was seeking employment once again. The Labor Department does not count any one as unemployed if they drop out of the labor market. Those that reentered the job market is seen as a positive for the economy.
The department also said the economy is expected to sustain its strength into 2015. The economy expanded 4% in the second quarter and is expected to grow 3% in the second half of the year. Manufacturing is expanding and consumer spending is rising.
The positive signs of steady growth is strenghtening and President Obama said our engines are rivving a little bit louder. The stimulus passed by the democratic controlled congress in 2009 is working and moved the economy forward once it took hold. And five and half years after the great economic meltdown of 2008, the republican party in congress is still sitting on their hands doing nothing and keeping their promise of opposing every thing President Obama puts forth to continue the recovery.
The progress being made comes as no suprise to this writer because of precedent. Some thing I wrote about here in "PolitiDose" since the President was elected.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
The department also said the economy is expected to sustain its strength into 2015. The economy expanded 4% in the second quarter and is expected to grow 3% in the second half of the year. Manufacturing is expanding and consumer spending is rising.
The positive signs of steady growth is strenghtening and President Obama said our engines are rivving a little bit louder. The stimulus passed by the democratic controlled congress in 2009 is working and moved the economy forward once it took hold. And five and half years after the great economic meltdown of 2008, the republican party in congress is still sitting on their hands doing nothing and keeping their promise of opposing every thing President Obama puts forth to continue the recovery.
The progress being made comes as no suprise to this writer because of precedent. Some thing I wrote about here in "PolitiDose" since the President was elected.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
Israel, Palestine And Hamas: Will This War Be Any Different?
The present war between the three is a repeat of the past, attacks and retallation from all sides and the placing of blame on each other. It is a rerun with no end in sight because their wars have never produced a political settlement that all party's could live with and in peace with defined boundaries.
The fact that Israel can and does use its military might with impunity and has not brought Palestine or Hamas to the peace table leads one to believe a political settlement is the best and only option. Everyone knows that but has to be reminded. There are so many innocent men, woman and children being killed in their wars one would think that alone is a battle cry to come to the peace table and resolve never to let that happen again.
President Obama needs to rethink the United States relationship with Israel and Palestine. It should not stay on the same track it is on now. The leaders of Israel and Palestine can not be trusted and both are capable of drawing our country into a conflict of their own making. One thing is for sure, America should never again send our troops over there as peacekeepers and should for ever remember the Marines that were killed in Beirut in 1983 in a massive truck bombing. 241 Marines died that day.
This writer has written several commentaries in the past concerning both the subject matter and how learning from the mistakes of the past is still the key to a better future but the party's in the bible lands have yet to learn. The mentality of those who use innocent civilians as human shields and those who believe there is no distinction both wear black hats. Leaders are expected to have moral courage even during war. Is there any wonder why there has been no political settlement?
President Kennedy always thought about the innocent children who paid the ultimate price in war and who never had a say in the matter. Too bad there are so few leaders today who feel the same way. President Obama needs to speak out against the lack of commitment from both sides to take the first step necessary for peace. It should not be business as usual and the extension of the status quo.
This commentary written by John Lucia
The fact that Israel can and does use its military might with impunity and has not brought Palestine or Hamas to the peace table leads one to believe a political settlement is the best and only option. Everyone knows that but has to be reminded. There are so many innocent men, woman and children being killed in their wars one would think that alone is a battle cry to come to the peace table and resolve never to let that happen again.
President Obama needs to rethink the United States relationship with Israel and Palestine. It should not stay on the same track it is on now. The leaders of Israel and Palestine can not be trusted and both are capable of drawing our country into a conflict of their own making. One thing is for sure, America should never again send our troops over there as peacekeepers and should for ever remember the Marines that were killed in Beirut in 1983 in a massive truck bombing. 241 Marines died that day.
This writer has written several commentaries in the past concerning both the subject matter and how learning from the mistakes of the past is still the key to a better future but the party's in the bible lands have yet to learn. The mentality of those who use innocent civilians as human shields and those who believe there is no distinction both wear black hats. Leaders are expected to have moral courage even during war. Is there any wonder why there has been no political settlement?
President Kennedy always thought about the innocent children who paid the ultimate price in war and who never had a say in the matter. Too bad there are so few leaders today who feel the same way. President Obama needs to speak out against the lack of commitment from both sides to take the first step necessary for peace. It should not be business as usual and the extension of the status quo.
This commentary written by John Lucia
Thursday, July 31, 2014
New Orleans Saints Quarterback Drew Brees Is Aging Fast.
According to a Times Picayune article dated 7/20/14 by staff writer Evan Woodbery, Brees said he was serious when he said he planned to play for another 10 years until he was 45 years old. Then says he is not delusional and that would be extremely difficult to do.
That subject matter seems to be out of place at training camp time. It is jumping the gun it seems to this writer at a time Brees should be talking about how he expects his team and himself to improve on last seasons failures.
Brees trys to justify his statement by talking about milestones through out his career then proceeds to list his accomplishments for 13 seasons in the NFL. It is a stretch to think that any 35 year old quarter back would try and project what he will be doing 10 years down the road. It may drum up a lot of media attention but that in its self has no value. Professional ball players get a little carried waway with their hero status and often cross over into their fairy tale world.
All sport fans would love to see their favorite players be productive and play forever. This writer was a Mickey Mantle fan and his retirement was a personal loss. Mantle played at a time when players played for the love of the game and never complained.
If Brees is able to play until he is 45 it will be a real story at that time and not before. The real story now is, "how well Drew Brees plays this season." After the last two seasons of observation I have come to two conclusions: Payton and Brees have already had their best years with the Saints. Secondly, I also believe Alabama has already had its best years under Nick Saban. Time will tell how that works out and I do not expect many sport fans will agree. I also know I may be wrong but that is my observation.
In professional sports it is not the player who decides how long he will play regardless what he says. Brees will find that out in do time.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
That subject matter seems to be out of place at training camp time. It is jumping the gun it seems to this writer at a time Brees should be talking about how he expects his team and himself to improve on last seasons failures.
Brees trys to justify his statement by talking about milestones through out his career then proceeds to list his accomplishments for 13 seasons in the NFL. It is a stretch to think that any 35 year old quarter back would try and project what he will be doing 10 years down the road. It may drum up a lot of media attention but that in its self has no value. Professional ball players get a little carried waway with their hero status and often cross over into their fairy tale world.
All sport fans would love to see their favorite players be productive and play forever. This writer was a Mickey Mantle fan and his retirement was a personal loss. Mantle played at a time when players played for the love of the game and never complained.
If Brees is able to play until he is 45 it will be a real story at that time and not before. The real story now is, "how well Drew Brees plays this season." After the last two seasons of observation I have come to two conclusions: Payton and Brees have already had their best years with the Saints. Secondly, I also believe Alabama has already had its best years under Nick Saban. Time will tell how that works out and I do not expect many sport fans will agree. I also know I may be wrong but that is my observation.
In professional sports it is not the player who decides how long he will play regardless what he says. Brees will find that out in do time.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Jeff Duncan: His Remarks on Tony Dungy Were Unprofessional And Childish.
In a Times Picayune story dated 7/25/14 sports journalist Jeff Duncan said former Colts head coach Tony Dungy's remarks about St. Louis Rams rookie draft player Michael Sam were cowardly. Duncan reported Dungy said, "I wouldn't have taken him. I wouldn't want to deal with all of it. It's not going to be totally smooth."
Dungy was a winning Super Bowl head coach and coached in the NFL for a number of years prior to becoming a sports commentator covering NFL football. As a former head coach, Dungy knew the news media would use Sam as a distraction and create a lot of hype that the team would have to deal with. Duncan has never walked in the football shoes of Tony Dungy so when it comes to Duncan's comment, one has only to consider the source.
Instead, Duncan trys to justify his cowardly remark by saying the media attention is now a part of the whole NFL. Then goes on to say, "the media circuses are unavoidable. They're as much a part of today's NFL as ankle tape and smelling salts." Of course the media circuses are very much avoidable and Duncan knows that because he is one of many in the news media who perpetuate that circus.
Dungy made an hosest comment based on his experience as a head coach. Duncan, on the other hand had an opportunity to make an honest comment as a sports journalist during Bountygate and failed the test by not reporting the true story. The true story was the Saints head coach Sean Payton allowed bountygate to happen and was suspended for one full season. That irresponsible act by Payton left the team without its regular head coach and put his own team in jeopardy. That was not only an irresponsible act concerning the team, but also concerning the assistant coaches and more importantly, the fans. And Duncan was silent and never told the true story.
In this writers judgement, reasonable people can determine for them selves what words were cowardly. Those that were spoken by Tony Dungy, or those that were not by Jeff Duncan.
This commentary written by John Lucia
Dungy was a winning Super Bowl head coach and coached in the NFL for a number of years prior to becoming a sports commentator covering NFL football. As a former head coach, Dungy knew the news media would use Sam as a distraction and create a lot of hype that the team would have to deal with. Duncan has never walked in the football shoes of Tony Dungy so when it comes to Duncan's comment, one has only to consider the source.
Instead, Duncan trys to justify his cowardly remark by saying the media attention is now a part of the whole NFL. Then goes on to say, "the media circuses are unavoidable. They're as much a part of today's NFL as ankle tape and smelling salts." Of course the media circuses are very much avoidable and Duncan knows that because he is one of many in the news media who perpetuate that circus.
Dungy made an hosest comment based on his experience as a head coach. Duncan, on the other hand had an opportunity to make an honest comment as a sports journalist during Bountygate and failed the test by not reporting the true story. The true story was the Saints head coach Sean Payton allowed bountygate to happen and was suspended for one full season. That irresponsible act by Payton left the team without its regular head coach and put his own team in jeopardy. That was not only an irresponsible act concerning the team, but also concerning the assistant coaches and more importantly, the fans. And Duncan was silent and never told the true story.
In this writers judgement, reasonable people can determine for them selves what words were cowardly. Those that were spoken by Tony Dungy, or those that were not by Jeff Duncan.
This commentary written by John Lucia
Friday, July 25, 2014
The Oil Industry's Search For More Greed
The recent tragedy in Ukraine with the downing of a commercial airliner, the fighting with the separatist rebels with the support of Russia has brought out the worst from the Oil Industry and their republican supporters. They are calling for the President to support lifting the export ban on oil that has been in place for many years. They are trying to sell the fabricated idea that America needs to sell and export their abundance of energy to Europe to break that country's dependence on Russian crude.
In other words, a Europe that is dependent on American oil instead of Russian energy will deprive Russia of needed revenue and some how weaken that country's military and economic expansion appetite. They say it will create thousands of jobs in America and keep the American economy growing. But that is not the real story behind their ruse and should be exposed and that is what "PolitiDose" will do in this commentary.
The American oil industry is now the worlds leading producer of oil and natural gas and production is at an all time high. If that oil and gas has to stay in America there will be an over supply of that energy at some point in time and that means lower prices for American consumers as over supply forces prices down. That is not something the industry wants. So they want the export ban lifted so they can keep the price of energy high and give them more control. It has never been the intent of the industry to make America independent of foreign energy. I wrote a commentary about that a few years ago. America's energy over supply is getting closer at hand so do not be suprised if the industry does not cut production in not to long a period of time if the ban is not lifted.
The industry has been successful at keeping the price of a barrel of oil and a gallon of gasoline at the highest sustained price in our history and it started under the Bush 43 administration. They talk a good game of expanding natural gas to be used in automobiles and truck fleets but have you heard of any oil company whose fleet of autos or trucks are run on natural gas. I have not. How many natural gas stations have the industry built to encourage such use? What are they waiting for? Their CEO's think the price of natural gas is too low and that it should be much higher.
The export ban was established for good reasons. Congress should not lift the ban because it would not be in the best interest of the United States. The industry like other industries are world players but they should be America companies first for the good of America and its people. The special treatment they ask for should be rejected and the about face of making America independent of foreign oil has to be answered loud and clear. This is the industry whose wealth accumulation is never enough.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
In other words, a Europe that is dependent on American oil instead of Russian energy will deprive Russia of needed revenue and some how weaken that country's military and economic expansion appetite. They say it will create thousands of jobs in America and keep the American economy growing. But that is not the real story behind their ruse and should be exposed and that is what "PolitiDose" will do in this commentary.
The American oil industry is now the worlds leading producer of oil and natural gas and production is at an all time high. If that oil and gas has to stay in America there will be an over supply of that energy at some point in time and that means lower prices for American consumers as over supply forces prices down. That is not something the industry wants. So they want the export ban lifted so they can keep the price of energy high and give them more control. It has never been the intent of the industry to make America independent of foreign energy. I wrote a commentary about that a few years ago. America's energy over supply is getting closer at hand so do not be suprised if the industry does not cut production in not to long a period of time if the ban is not lifted.
The industry has been successful at keeping the price of a barrel of oil and a gallon of gasoline at the highest sustained price in our history and it started under the Bush 43 administration. They talk a good game of expanding natural gas to be used in automobiles and truck fleets but have you heard of any oil company whose fleet of autos or trucks are run on natural gas. I have not. How many natural gas stations have the industry built to encourage such use? What are they waiting for? Their CEO's think the price of natural gas is too low and that it should be much higher.
The export ban was established for good reasons. Congress should not lift the ban because it would not be in the best interest of the United States. The industry like other industries are world players but they should be America companies first for the good of America and its people. The special treatment they ask for should be rejected and the about face of making America independent of foreign oil has to be answered loud and clear. This is the industry whose wealth accumulation is never enough.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Times Picayune Sports Writer Larry Holder And The New Orleans Saints
Larry Holder's TP article of 7/23/14 titled, "High Expectations" is a fairy tale continuation of last years Saints season which saw the Saints finish the regular season weak instead of strong as predicted. We were told finishing strong was Payton's and Bree's strong suit but it did not happen.
Holder now tells his readers the Saints 2014 roster is better than the Dome Patrol era, the 2009 Super Bowl team and the 2011 team and that this years roster is the best ever and that the expectation of Super Bowl glory is warranted. That is a long shot prediction based on the Saints roster and smacks of apple polishing.
He goes off the deep end when he says, if the 2011 season taught Saints fans anything, its that the best team doesn't always win the Super Bowl. He relates that to the Saints loss to Frisco in the playoffs that season with their five turnovers and jumps to the conclusion if they had won that game they would have won the Super Bowl. The fans do not buy that and neither do I.
The better team actually did win that game on that particular day causing five Saints turnovers. A team can not be the best team based on the roster or on their record. They have to be the best team on the day it counts and it counted that day in 2011 against Frisco. The 49'ers won on that day and the Saints lost.
Sports journalists for the Times Picayune, Radio and TV have been so wrong on their predictions about the Saints it is almost laughable. Does any one remember the year Payton sat out and they said the Saints would be fine because they were Pros and knew their jobs. Yeah, right. One TP writer even thought Payton should have been the NFL's coach of the year last year.
Don't be surprised if last years finish by the Saints, loosing 4 of their last 7 games is a prelude to how the Saints preform this season.
This commentary written by John Lucia
Holder now tells his readers the Saints 2014 roster is better than the Dome Patrol era, the 2009 Super Bowl team and the 2011 team and that this years roster is the best ever and that the expectation of Super Bowl glory is warranted. That is a long shot prediction based on the Saints roster and smacks of apple polishing.
He goes off the deep end when he says, if the 2011 season taught Saints fans anything, its that the best team doesn't always win the Super Bowl. He relates that to the Saints loss to Frisco in the playoffs that season with their five turnovers and jumps to the conclusion if they had won that game they would have won the Super Bowl. The fans do not buy that and neither do I.
The better team actually did win that game on that particular day causing five Saints turnovers. A team can not be the best team based on the roster or on their record. They have to be the best team on the day it counts and it counted that day in 2011 against Frisco. The 49'ers won on that day and the Saints lost.
Sports journalists for the Times Picayune, Radio and TV have been so wrong on their predictions about the Saints it is almost laughable. Does any one remember the year Payton sat out and they said the Saints would be fine because they were Pros and knew their jobs. Yeah, right. One TP writer even thought Payton should have been the NFL's coach of the year last year.
Don't be surprised if last years finish by the Saints, loosing 4 of their last 7 games is a prelude to how the Saints preform this season.
This commentary written by John Lucia
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
U.S. Representative Steve Scalise: 48 Years Old And Still In Denial
Scalise, in a Times Picayune write up of 7/20/14 by staff writer Bruce Alpert showed his ignorance and denial concerning private sector jobs vs. federal sector jobs in the republicans weekly radio address. He also tried to compare his child hood to that of President Lincoln.
As usual he thinks of himself as elite and repeats the the tired old ditto head statement that democrats do not understand what makes America great. Scalise and his party has tried to plant that seed for over 30 years, a time when many democrats served their country in uniform while many republicans stayed home. It was democratic President's Roosevelt and Truman who served during WWII that produced the greatest generation. Democrats do not obstruct the business of the people.
And once again his only solution to job creation is expanding domestic energy production. For his information that is happening right now under the Obama administration no thanks to Scalis's party or himself. It did not take place on the watch of Bush 43. He also says republicans who have consistently tried to block the President's proposals on immigration, environmental regulations, funding for infrastructure and trying to repeal the ACA ARE NOW READY TO WORK WITH HIM.
Does Scalise, his tea party and republican allies in the U.S. House really mean "they are now ready to work with Obama" after five and a half years of obstruction? President Kennedy once said sincerity is always subject to proof, so time will test Scalise's words. Or does he and his party see a rising economy, steady job creation, a steady lowering of unemployment, a 60% reduction in deficit spending since Obama took office, the smallest increase in federal spending in 50 years and all taking place while Scalise and his party have been on the sidelines and playing no part in the recovery. Do they want to jump on the bandwagon before the November elections?
In the article Scalise trys to paint the democrats as the party that borrows money we don't have. He is in complete denial on the subject. If Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 had balanced the federal budget as Clinton did, borrowing money would not be a problem today. I would invite Scalise or any one else to check out those facts themselves. Of course, Scalise knows the answer, he just can not bring his tea party sonservative self to admit it.
When it comes to job creation in the private sector, republican administrations don't even register on the job creation scale compared to democratic administrations. More new jobs were created on President Clinton's watch in 8 years than were created by Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 in the 20 years they ran the country and over 92% came from the private sector on Clinton's watch. And more new jobs have been created on Obama's watch in the five and half years he has served so far compared to what was created in the 8 years Bush ran the country. In fact when President G.W. Bush left office he had the worst job creation record since the great depression of 1929. Scalise is well aware of that, for he served during Bush's term in office.
Will Scalise, the new WHIP of the republican controlled U.S. House continue to obstruct and oppose everything that comes out of the administration? Or will Scalise, the WHIP stand up for America, shed his unAmeican conservative ideology and honestly work with the President to move the country and its people forward? He is the only one who can answer that question. He voted some time ago to shut down the federal government and now with his new position has an opportunity and an obligation to be civil, recognize he is not elite and stand tall for America. It is not to late but time is running out for he and his party to start being productive.
This commentary written by John Lucia
Note: See my previous commentary dated 11/5/2010 Titled, Job Creation For Presidential Terms: 1929-2008.
As usual he thinks of himself as elite and repeats the the tired old ditto head statement that democrats do not understand what makes America great. Scalise and his party has tried to plant that seed for over 30 years, a time when many democrats served their country in uniform while many republicans stayed home. It was democratic President's Roosevelt and Truman who served during WWII that produced the greatest generation. Democrats do not obstruct the business of the people.
And once again his only solution to job creation is expanding domestic energy production. For his information that is happening right now under the Obama administration no thanks to Scalis's party or himself. It did not take place on the watch of Bush 43. He also says republicans who have consistently tried to block the President's proposals on immigration, environmental regulations, funding for infrastructure and trying to repeal the ACA ARE NOW READY TO WORK WITH HIM.
Does Scalise, his tea party and republican allies in the U.S. House really mean "they are now ready to work with Obama" after five and a half years of obstruction? President Kennedy once said sincerity is always subject to proof, so time will test Scalise's words. Or does he and his party see a rising economy, steady job creation, a steady lowering of unemployment, a 60% reduction in deficit spending since Obama took office, the smallest increase in federal spending in 50 years and all taking place while Scalise and his party have been on the sidelines and playing no part in the recovery. Do they want to jump on the bandwagon before the November elections?
In the article Scalise trys to paint the democrats as the party that borrows money we don't have. He is in complete denial on the subject. If Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 had balanced the federal budget as Clinton did, borrowing money would not be a problem today. I would invite Scalise or any one else to check out those facts themselves. Of course, Scalise knows the answer, he just can not bring his tea party sonservative self to admit it.
When it comes to job creation in the private sector, republican administrations don't even register on the job creation scale compared to democratic administrations. More new jobs were created on President Clinton's watch in 8 years than were created by Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 in the 20 years they ran the country and over 92% came from the private sector on Clinton's watch. And more new jobs have been created on Obama's watch in the five and half years he has served so far compared to what was created in the 8 years Bush ran the country. In fact when President G.W. Bush left office he had the worst job creation record since the great depression of 1929. Scalise is well aware of that, for he served during Bush's term in office.
Will Scalise, the new WHIP of the republican controlled U.S. House continue to obstruct and oppose everything that comes out of the administration? Or will Scalise, the WHIP stand up for America, shed his unAmeican conservative ideology and honestly work with the President to move the country and its people forward? He is the only one who can answer that question. He voted some time ago to shut down the federal government and now with his new position has an opportunity and an obligation to be civil, recognize he is not elite and stand tall for America. It is not to late but time is running out for he and his party to start being productive.
This commentary written by John Lucia
Note: See my previous commentary dated 11/5/2010 Titled, Job Creation For Presidential Terms: 1929-2008.
Another Louisiana Tax Give Away To A Multi Billion Dollar Chemical Company
Forget that Louisiana has vacant land, the Mississippi River, cheap labor, cheap energy (natural gas) an abundance of natural resources, a good transportation system of rail, water and truck, reasonable property taxes and a hosts of other positive needs for business to survive. But it is the unnecessary corporate welfare system of tax breaks and other special interest goodies that bring new business to Louisiana.
In a Times Picayune story of 7/18/14 by staff writer Katherine Bayre a chinese chemical company will build a Methanol facility on the Mississippi river in St. James Parish. The facility will be completed in 2018 and employ 400 people. Louisiana offered the following to the company to lure them. (1) $9.5 million for infrastructure cost. (2) $1.75 million grant to cover some of the cost of leasing access to the riverfront and developing a terminal dock. (3) Tax breaks through Louisiana's industrial tax exemption and the quality jobs program.
The article states that the company, Shandong Yuhuang reported $4 billion in sales in 2013 and has 5600 employees. Most of the methanol processed at the plant will be shipped back to China. Approximately 20-30% will be sold to north American companies. In orher words, Louisiana's taxpayers willbe subsidizing a $4 Billion company who will be shipping 70% of its product outside the U.S. back to China.
China, a country that has been dumping cheap goods, some of them toxic ones (such as sheetrock) to America and has cost many American jobs. This writer does not have any problem with trade when companies pay their own way. The thing that is lacking in this story is: With all the financial aid being given to Shandong, will Louisiana insist that they use the best anti-pollution system on the market and available to make sure the plant is safe for the Louisiana environment? The article is silent on this important matter. After all we know China is the largest polluter in the world.
Some things never change in Louisiana and our elected officials are at the core of the status quo for doling out corporate welfare that is not needed to move Louisiana forward. Do tax payers really think Louisiana gets back the $8 billion of tax breaks doled out each year? One would never think so with all the budget cuts Jindal says have to be made every year.
This commentary written by John Lucia
This commentary written by John Lucia.
In a Times Picayune story of 7/18/14 by staff writer Katherine Bayre a chinese chemical company will build a Methanol facility on the Mississippi river in St. James Parish. The facility will be completed in 2018 and employ 400 people. Louisiana offered the following to the company to lure them. (1) $9.5 million for infrastructure cost. (2) $1.75 million grant to cover some of the cost of leasing access to the riverfront and developing a terminal dock. (3) Tax breaks through Louisiana's industrial tax exemption and the quality jobs program.
The article states that the company, Shandong Yuhuang reported $4 billion in sales in 2013 and has 5600 employees. Most of the methanol processed at the plant will be shipped back to China. Approximately 20-30% will be sold to north American companies. In orher words, Louisiana's taxpayers willbe subsidizing a $4 Billion company who will be shipping 70% of its product outside the U.S. back to China.
China, a country that has been dumping cheap goods, some of them toxic ones (such as sheetrock) to America and has cost many American jobs. This writer does not have any problem with trade when companies pay their own way. The thing that is lacking in this story is: With all the financial aid being given to Shandong, will Louisiana insist that they use the best anti-pollution system on the market and available to make sure the plant is safe for the Louisiana environment? The article is silent on this important matter. After all we know China is the largest polluter in the world.
Some things never change in Louisiana and our elected officials are at the core of the status quo for doling out corporate welfare that is not needed to move Louisiana forward. Do tax payers really think Louisiana gets back the $8 billion of tax breaks doled out each year? One would never think so with all the budget cuts Jindal says have to be made every year.
This commentary written by John Lucia
This commentary written by John Lucia.
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