Louisiana's Budget Woes Continue To Pile Up

Readers of "PolitiDose" were warned that last years state budget ending June 30 would not be balanced as Jindal and the republican controlled state legislature said it was.  The Times Picayune carried a story dated 9/23 that warned that the budget ended in deficit.  The article quoted state treasurer John Kennedy saying the deficit would exceed $100 million.  The story also indicated the Jindal administration was quietly informing legislators of the deficit and would give out the deficit exact number in October.

Republican Senator Fred Mills said, I'm worried, I'm really worried.  He sits on the Senate's Finance Committee.  He and the republican controlled legislature were not worried enough to make the hard choices and do what was required to balance the budget in the right way for the last several years.  They just rubber stamped Jindal's corrupt process.  Of course, the present fiscal year budget will not be in balance either and a special session with the new governor will have to address the problem.  Mills said he expects funding for medicaid and Louisiana universities and college will be slashed to reduce last years deficit.  That should sound familiar to every one.

The loss of state revenue because of falling oil prices and the tax loop holes and give aways to business will continue to make the state's budget problems worse if the state fails to adopt a pay as you go budget instead of the gimmicks used in the past as one time revenue and the movement of numbers.  The state needs to get real in the forecast of state revenue.

The Jindal administration and the republican controlled legislature has been a dismal failure on the state's budget and the budget process for eight years and now it is fourth down.  "PolitiDose" has been far out in front on the budget issue while the Times Picayune is satisfied by reporting the status quo.  Democratic candidate John Bel Edwards is the only candidate who can turn things around for the better for the state and its people.  He is also the only candidate without a super PAC raising money on his behalf so he is not beholden to any special interest group.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Fox News Joins The GOP's Republican Circus.

Today's GOP and the Fox News Network has always been a mirror image and has now become a circus for everyone to understand, even those with closed vision.  And Donald Trump brought it all out in the open.  Fox news is noted for their personal attacks on other people, especially democrats.  But during the republican Presidential campaign they also turned their attack against Trump.  But Trump is not a person to sit back and just take it so he has returned the favor to Fox.

The news media in general call it a feud between the two but it really is not.  The public has turned off the republican Presidential candidates and Fox's favorite, Jeb Bush has been so Ho Hum the GOP and Fox have become the clowns of the circus.  They have turned a Presidential campaign that should be about issues into a campaign against American values.  The clowns posing as candidates and the Fox news have no respect for any one, not even the President of the United States.

This writer can not remember any Presidential campaign being as divisive as this republican campaign or any news media outlet that reflected the actions of the republican campaign.  The GOP of today and the Fox news pose the largest threat to democracy and are a embarrassment to American ideals.  Next time the circus comes to your town, watch a movie or play bridge.  It will be better for your health.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Its A Little Early For Sports Writers To Be Talking About LSU's Leonard Fournette And The Heisman Trophy

There has been very few Heisman winners who achieved long and or successful years in the NFL.  So what is the rush this early in the season to push Fournette for the Heisman?  First of all is that a fair thing to do to Fournette?  It only puts more pressure on him and his team mates which they do not need.

Fournette will not play out his four years at LSU because of his talent and will turn to the NFL soon enough.  Sports writers should focus on that problem more than the Heisman.  If Fournette does indeed turn out to be one of the finalist for the trophy it will happen naturally, so be satisfied in letting it unfold that way.

A lot of things can happen (both positive and negative) on the way to the Heisman trophy so during the football season Fournette's mind should be on the team and not the hype.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

More Reasons Why The Voters Should Elect Democrat John Bel Edwards As Louisiana's Next Governor.

Louisiana's three republican candidates for governor, David Vitter, Scott Angelle and Jay Dardenne are attacking each other with their TV and radio ads and each say the other is not qualified to be governor because of this or that.  They are playing like the republicans who are running for their party's Presidential nomination and in the process exposing their own lack of leadership and accomplishments.

Those three would be governors after seven and half years finally spoke out about the reckless agenda of the Jindal administration and confirms what democrats have been saying all along about the failed ideology of republican candidates and their party.  When the democrats point out those failures, the republicans say it is partisan politics.  But now the republicans themselves are confirming the democratic position with their own personal attacks against their fellow republican opponents.

Louisiana's democratic representative John Bel Edwards is the only candidate that can turn the state around with sound policies that relate to the real needs of the people and the state.  The state will have tried the republican gimmicks and ideology for 16 of the past 20 years when Jindal leaves office so we know how they failed.  Democratic governor Kathleen Blanco interrupted their party for four years (thank goodness) and her administration accomplished more for Louisiana than Mike Foster or Bobby Jindal.

There is no secret to the success of democratic administrations and its called policy.  Policy that recognize what needs to be done to move the state and its people forward.  John Bel Edwards has the political understanding to make that happen for Louisiana and its people.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Second Republican Debate

Wednesday night's debate did little to distinguish any of the 11 republican candidates on the big stage or the 4 on the little stage.  In fact most of the questions asked were covered in the previous first debate.  Good for Ohio governor John Kasich to stand up and express his opinion early on about the back and forth swiping at each other and even said the folks back home may be tuning out the debate.

The news media as usual picked the winners and losers after the debate.  It is a ritual that is meaningless to those who watched the debate and heard no real answers to questions on issues that go back to previous administrations including republican administrations.  CNN's moderators were bent on using questions that opened the door to attack Trump and some of his past comments.

The sad part about the debate were the questions and answers concerning immigration.  Why is that still on the debate agenda wasting time when the republican party has already ruled out any immigration reform legislature until after the 2016 elections and they control both houses of Congress until the election.  They are afraid to do immigration reform before the election but the moderators are afraid to touch that.

Jeb Bush still can not handle the question about Iraq when it comes up, especially when Trump talks about the subject.  When it came up in the debates Jeb made the biggest gaffe when he said his brother kept us safe.  Has Jeb forgotten about what happened on 9/11 on his brothers watch?  Also his brother did not keep us safe when he started the war in Iraq over WMD that did not exist that killed or wounded thousands of Americans.  How can Jeb Bush be a good President if he can not face up to reality?

Carly Fiorina made three gaffe's when she said:  (a)  2/3 of the states are necessary for a constitutional amendment when it is 3/4 of the states.  (b)  The democratic party does not want immigration reform.  Well, it was the democratic controlled senate that passed immigration reform over two years ago and then died in the republican controlled house.  (c)  President Obama should watch the video of the abortion concerning planned parenthood.  The fact of the matter is the video has yet to be found as being authentic.

But there is good news for the people.  The democratic debates will produce answers that Americans can relate to and Vice President Joe Biden has not yet ruled out a run for the Presidency.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Arizona Cardinals 31 New Orleans Saints 19

The Saints were defeated in their regular season opening game in Arizona on Sunday and on the road.  If that sounds familiar its because the Saints have not been a good road team the past few years.  This first game was a reminder of little progress from last years team.  Does the loss and the way they played indicate another sub par season?  That depends how they handle the number 15, that is the number of games they have left to play.

This writer has the following thoughts on the Saints based on Sunday's performance:  (a)  The Saints are allergic to playing and winning on the road.  Since half of their schedule is on the road (8 games) they need to win there to avoid another sub par season.  (b)  Brees and the offense is still having problems like last year.  Their running game needs a jolt.  Brees continues to be out of sync and off target and their last two offensive series before the game ended was sorry.  (c)  Having to settle for four field goals indicates those offensive problems exist.  (d)  Payton has to let the defensive coordinator alone and stop bothering him on the sidelines.  How can the defensive players have any confidence in Ryan or Payton with that going on.  Besides, Payton is not doing such a good job with the offense.  (e)  Payton and the Saints players said a lot of positive things about the team when they reported to camp this year but they were not on display Sunday.

This writer believes the coaching staff and players still have a problem between each other and is a carry over from last season.  Also, the effects of bounty gate is still haunting them and continues to play a role in the problems they have.  The coaching staff and the players show little confidence on the field.  Sunday's game did little to make this writer believe all is well in Saint land.

Note:  New Orleans Sports writers have taken "PolitiDose" at heart and that is a positive development.  So far this year their reporting has been mostly void of all the hype and cliches they were know for in the past.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The GOP's Presidential Campaign Is A Circus and Washington Post Columnist Kathleen Parker Is Right There With Them.

The republican candidates for their party's Presidential nomination has turned their campaign into a circus.  It's nothing new but on a larger scale with so many of them running.  First it was just Trump with his personal attacks and silly statements and now his opponents are returning the favor with the exception of Carly Fiorina and John Kasich.  Mike Huchabee and Ted Cruz tried to act like ring masters by going to Kentucky to support Kim Davis position of disobeying the law on the issue of marriage licenses.

Does the voting public really believe those candidates are serious people who should be elected to the highest and most powerful office in the land.  Every day they display their lack of political understanding which is so important and necessary to make decisions that affect the people and the country.  Like their fellow republicans who control both houses of congress they have no policy or plans to talk about that are positive.  They only know America is going to hell.

Kathleen Parker, columnist for the Washington Post joined the circus with her opinion column published in the Times Picayune of 9/13/15 titled, Jindal Unmasks The Truth About Trump concerning Jindal's comments before the National Press Club about Trump.  Parker praises Jindal's record in Louisiana even though the people in Louisiana rate him poorly.  

Jindal said in one of his statements Trump was not a serious candidate and was devoid of substance.  Well Kathleen Parker, that statement and others made by Jindal actually describe Jindal and the republican party in general along with their Presidential hopefuls.  She also believes Jindal's statements are true about Trump.  You can not have a circus without news media attention and Kathleen makes that possible.

The republican party, conservatives and a Presidential campaign circus is not very entertaining except to the news media.  Unfortunately, the wrong message is sent to the voting public.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Wealth Parade Continues: Part II

On October 18, 2008 (almost 7 years ago) I wrote a commentary here in "PolitiDose" concerning Hedge Fund Managers, the staggering amount of money they made and the resulting power they possess on the economy and the nations financial system.  It was just another example pointed out in "PolitiDose" many times over how wealth was being transferred from the middle class to the wealthy.

That October 18 commentary talked about an article in Forbes magazine reporting that the top 20 Hedge and private equity fund individual fund managers earned a combined total of $18.7 billion in 2007, up 43% from 2006.  In other words those 20 earners earned an average of $935 million each for that year.  Oil man T. Boone Pickens was one of the 20 hedge fund managers.  Pickens has also been the subject of past "PolitiDose" commentary

Now comes two articles published in the Huffington Post dated September 10 concerning the same subject matter written by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and filmaker Robert Greenwald.  Their two articles reported that the 25 top hedge fund managers in 2014 made more money than every single kindergarden teacher in America, over 150,000 of them and paid a lower tax rate than the average kindergarden teacher because of an IRS loophole that was created for other purposes before hedge funds even came into existence.

Some other findings in the articles are as follows:  (a)  If hedge fund managers were taxed like everyone else, there would be at least $17.7 billion tax dollars to:  (b)  pay the salary of 560,000 new classroom aides for over crowded classrooms,  (c)  fund free school lunches  for the entire country with $5 billion to spare.

Those two articles are certainly welcome and should have been recognized by the two authors a long time ago, but better late than never.  The subject matter of fair taxation for all and the transfer of wealth from the middle class to the wealthy was put at the top of "PolitiDose" commentary long before any one started to talk about income inequality, for that is what the transfer of wealth is all about.

It is another example why the public needs to elect serious public officials to make a difference and rewrite the tax code where everyone pays his or her fair share and to eliminate the special interest of those who care only of themselves.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis Invoke's The Name Of God

THOU SHALT NOT TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD THY GOD IN VAIN is one of the ten commandments, yet there are those like Kim Davis and others who have used God to justify their own actions and religious beliefs to discriminate against others.

Davis as a public employee of the state or county and who is responsible for issuing marriage license to those couple's who are qualified to be married under existing laws that are made by man.  Her refusal to do so by taking the name of God in vain is a violation of her job and laws she swore to execute and as a result was found in contempt of the law and sentenced to jail time.

Republicans Ted Cruz and Mike Huckabee who are both seeking their party's nomination for President went to Kentucky to support Davis.  Like many so called conservatives, both support using the name of God and freedom of religion to discriminate.  And like the republican party in general use religion to divide the country and its people.

There is documented evidence that four thousand years ago kings in the middle east went to war with other middle east countries in the name of their God, or by order of their God.  Those religious wars in that part of the world are still going on today with the various factions.  Those wars will continue to go on as long as religion is used for justification.

The separation of church and state in the U. S. Constitution has worked well and will continue to do so as long as religion is not allowed to preempt the civil laws of the country using religious freedom as a means to discriminate and overturn civil laws.  The U.S. has always been a nation of laws and have accepted even those laws when there is disagreement.  But now conservatives have adopted a new tactic.  Use religion to oppose and not enforce the laws you don't like even if it means discrimination.

The judge who sentenced Kim Davis to jail for her refusal to obey the law made the right decision.  She was released from jail yesterday because her office in her absence has begun to issuing marriage license to some same sex couples.  If people like Davis get their way what is the next step?  Well it will be intolerance of other people's religion and a break down of civil law.  Judge Bunning in releasing Davis ordered her not to interfere with the issuing of marriage licenses by her office.

At the inauguration of an American President he places his hand on the bible and swears to up hold the constitution and the laws of the land.  Republican's Ted Cruz and Mike Huckabee supported Davis in her position of disobeying the law and refusing to do her job.  I guess if one of them were President they would be willing to violate their oath of office and the laws they swore to uphold.

Where are our serious public officials?  That and leadership is what is missing in our political system today.



This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Unemployment And Job Creation: A Positive Continuation Of The Economy

The U.S. Labor Department announced that the unemployment rate in August was 5.1%, down from the 5.3% in July and U.S. business continues to add jobs.  The economy created 173,000 jobs in August and that was the 66th straight month of positive job growth.

Congress returns from their many breaks this week and has a full plate of legislation to consider for the balance of this year and next fiscal year of the federal government which begins October 1.  Funding for this fiscal year ends September 30 and congress needs to find a way to avoid another shutdown that some republicans are talking about doing.

Congress also needs to pass the highway bill that the republicans have kicked down the road for the past 3 years.  The democratic controlled Senate passed a highway bill three years ago only to die in the republican controlled U.S. House.  A highway bill will create jobs and good paying ones and will be an additional positive factor for the economy.  It is time for the republican party to step up to the plate and act like serious public officials.

I believe any fair minded person would agree its time for the republicans in congress to stand up and be counted and support the President's agenda for the next year and four months.  It is past time they separate themselves from the do nothing party.

In the mean time the democratic administration of President Obama continues to move the country and its people forward.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio