April 4, 2025: Liberation Day for Plaquemine Parish, Louisiana.

 It was liberation day when a jury in Pointe a-la- Hache found Chevron liable for the erosion of coastal wetlands in Plaquemine Parish and ordered Chevron to pay $745 million in damages plus interest to restore those wetlands.  The Parish filed the suit in 2013 and took 12 years to go to trial.  The suit was one of 40 other law suits against the industry that are awaiting trial or settlement.

As usual, supporters of the industry and the industry itself repeated the negative positions of the past how the decision would harm Louisiana and the industry's future, etc., etc., and etc.  The same old worn out BS after President Obama held BP accountable for the Gulf of Mexico oil rig explosion that killed 11 rig workers and caused billions of dollars in damage to Louisiana's environment.  Chevron will appeal the jury verdict and stretch the matter out as long as they can.

The trial and verdict, and the 40 other suits pending should remind people that it was all unnecessary if the state would have lived up to its responsibilities and held the industry liable and accountable for the damages they caused to the environment.  Instead, they turned their backs and looked the other way all those years.

The media informs us the trial took 4 weeks but the media failed to keep the people up to date on the testimony and other things going on during the trial.  How could the media fail to keep the people informed on such an important issue???

The people of Louisiana should be mindful and thoughtful that in Louisiana we still have a jury system that works and still believes in checks and balances.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Louisiana's Voters Reject Governor Jeff Landry's Constitutional Amendments.

 On Saturday night March 29 at the voting booth, Louisiana rejected four amendment changes sought and approved by Gov. Landry and the GOP controlled state legislature.  The vote reminded people of the nationwide protest of the past 6 weeks against President Trump and Elon Musk purposed changes, firings, unlawful actions and threats to social security, Medicare and Medicaid.

Trump, Landry and the GOP love to change the constitution so there are no guardrails for their extreme agenda.  Landry, (little Trump Jr.) and the state legislature threw in various issues to the amendments such as teachers pay in amendment 2.  Democratic Governor John B. Edwards administration funded teacher's pay raises without trying to change the constitution.  Landry and the state legislature failed to address the issue in the regular session, so that leaves the question?  What are they going to do about it now?

The overall vote to defeat the amendments were in the 60% range, well within the range when Louisiana voted for Trump and Landry.  But the amendment vote is a Johnny come lately vote and is too little and too late for Louisiana because both men have caused enough damage already and their policies, or should I say ideology, favors business over the interest of the people.

Louisiana voters knew what Trump and Landry stood for when they voted for them.  They also knew of Trump's past failures and that he was a convicted criminal.  They also knew Landry and the GOP controlled legislature would put business interest above the public interest and needs.  And do not act surprised if the Landry years look like the past Jindal years.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

  

Another Big First for PolitiDose Commentary and It's Readers.

 As of this writing, President Trump, the convicted criminal has been in office 66 days as the federal government continues to operate in a chaotic atmosphere.  The unfit and unqualified billionaires and millionaires appointed by Trump are doing their best to destroy American democracy and the foundation it has stood on for over two hundred years.  They are carrying out Trump's orders even to the extent of harming our national security as we recently learned from the text of our military operations against the Houthi rebels in Yemen where an American journalist was texted the information about the coming attack.  

What has taken place since Trump took office was all predicted in a PolitiDose commentary dated 12/29/24 titled, "President Donald Trump's Billionaire Cabinet and other Billionaire Appointments" and was predicted before he ever took office.  Trump's past record was enough to tell as an authoritarian, he would attempt to destroy the federal government as we know it, including the Judicial Branch with his personal attacks and lies.  In other words, if you can destroy the very fabric that America stands for, it's checks and balances, all that is left is autocratic rule.  Autocratic rule is void of compassion a virtue Trump has never possessed.

Because the GOP ditto heads control both houses of congress, only the courts and the voters can stop Trump and his party from accomplishing their goals.  The stakes are high, too high for America to be passive.  The criminal and his party's ambitions have to be denied now and be a top priority.  The people should not accept Trump and his party's threats to destroy America the Beautiful.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio  

Now Come The "Sour Grapes" From Trump's Supporters.

 Today is the 58th day President Trump, the convicted criminal has been in office and already chaos is running wild on every issue he touches.  And it did not take long for some in the business community. CEO'S, the financial industry, MAGA and others that supported Trump are now claiming they had no idea Trump would pursue the policies he is driving.  Of course, it is "Sour Grapes" especially coming from the business community and their CEO'S who support and love the Trump and the GOP's tax cuts that favored them.  

The facts tell us that those who supported, voted for and put Trump in office twice knew of his corruption and plans the past 9 years, his hate for government, the rule of law, the constitution, his unfitness for office and his personal attacks against everyone.  They also knew he was impeached twice for good reason and a convicted criminal.  They also knew he was a serial liar that could not be trusted.  And for sure, they were aware of Trump and his party's attacks on a good working economy during the Biden administration.  Yet, they voted for him again in the 2024 elections. 

Those who supported and voted for Trump knew exactly what they were doing and were aware of Trump's true intentions along with his party.  They surrendered what America the Beautiful always stood for in favor of a new NORM governed by a dictator-king.  The conservative media followed Trump in lock-step because they too are liars.  The regular media played its part by enabling Trump's corruption and accepting his new NORM for American politics.

The "Sour Grapes" people who voted for Trump knew the score, played the game and now want the American people to believe they had no idea Trump would be doing just what he is doing.  Understanding the mistakes of the past is still the key to a better future. Those who voted for Trump voted for a future that will be like the failed past.  There are only two options in the short term to correct course.  Give the democrats control of congress in the next congressional elections or impeach Trump and this time vote to convict.  

This commentary written by Joe Lorio  

The U.S. Economy, Job Creation and the Unemployment Rate for February 2025.

 The U.S. Labor Department announced the economy created 151,000 jobs in February and the unemployment rate came in at 4.1% in Trump's first full month in office.  The unemployment rate was 4% in January.  It was the 49th straight month of positive job growth than began with  the Biden administration.  As a comparison with Biden's first full month in office in February of 2021, 379,000 jobs were created and the unemployment rate was 6.2%

Job creation remains in a positive position because of the good economy Biden left and despite the chaos being spread every day by Trump's tariffs and changing position on everything.  One thing is for sure, the direction of the economy is now in the hands of Trump and his GOP and their past record of failure has taught them nothing.  

As of this writing and taking everything into consideration what Trump has proposed, this writer has not changed his mind that the country will enter an economic recession, which exact time is unknown but will surely take place.  And for Trump and his GOP, there second time around will be like their failed past.

This commentary written by  Joe Lorio

The Great Myths of The GOP Tax Cuts.

 In the past 45 years when President Reagan took office in 1981, three GOP Presidents cut taxes for the wealthy and American Corporations, Reagan, Bush 43 and Trump.  It was called an economic policy that would create jobs, balance the budget, increase federal revenue and be a boom to business increase in plant and equipment that would grow the economy, production and everything economical.  And all through those 45 years the media enabled that economic assumption even though it never took place on their watch.  Lets examine and expose the MYTHS:  

Job Creation:  President Clinton created more net jobs in only 8 years (22.7 million) than Reagan, Bush 43 and Trump (14.7 million) did in the 20 years they served.  And Clinton raised taxes on those same folks who benefited from the Reagan, Bush 43 and Trump's tax cuts. Clinton raised the Corporate rate from 34% to 36% and the top rate from 28% to 36%.  And during that same 45 year period, Clinton, Obama and Biden created a total of 50 million net jobs in the 20 years they served compared to the 17.2 million net jobs created by Reagan, Bush 41, Bush 43 and Trump in the 24 years they served.  Clinton, Obama and Biden in other words had an economic policy that created jobs, while the GOP had an economic ideology and not a policy that favored the wealthy and corporations.  Those three GOP President said the tax cuts would allow business to invest those savings in their business which would create an explosion in job creation.  Trump said he would create 25 million jobs when elected in 2016.  Yeah, right, his administration lost 2.7 million jobs.

The Reagan, Bush 43 and Trump administration gave the country and its people an economic recession despite the tax cuts.  No economic recession took place on the watch of Clinton, Obama or Biden.  Tax cuts for the wealthy and Corporations are no economic policy, it is a flawed ideology.  Trump cut the Corporate by 14% from 35% down to 21%.  Why would business gamble on increasing business when they could put the 14% savings in a bank or invest in stocks for a handsome return that would not create one job.

The worst bank failures during that 45 year period took place on Reagan's watch when the Savings and Loan Industry collapsed and on  Bush 43 watch in 2008 when the Wall Street Banks collapsed in Bush's great recession.  Both cost the federal government trillions of dollars.  Those corporations and the CEO's that managed them received the benefits of the tax cuts to no avail.  The Reagan and Bush administration also deregulated those industries.  There were no bank failures on any Democrat's watch during that same period.

None of the 4 GOP Presidents in those 45 years balanced one federal budget or left office with a smaller deficit than when they took office. (fiscal years).  Clinton reduced federal deficits every year his first 4 years and then balanced the budget every year his last 4 years in office.  His administration also paid down $400 billion on the national debt.  The GOP paid down nothing.  Obama left office with a smaller deficit than when he took office and if the CBO's prediction of a $1.8 trillion deficit for Biden's last fiscal year which ends 9/30/25 he will also have a smaller deficit than when he took office.  Those GOP tax cuts were supposed to raise more federal revenue that would reduce federal deficits and balance the budgets but never did.  

Ronald Reagan was the only GOP President of the 4 that left office with a lower unemployment rate than when he took office.  All three democratic Presidents left office with a lower unemployment rate than when they took office.  The largest single year federal budget deficits took place on Trump's watch and hit $3.1 trillion in fiscal year 2020 and $2.7 trillion in fiscal year ending 9/30/21.  The largest increases in federal spending took place on Reagan's watch 75% and Bush 43 watch 61%.  The smallest took place on Clinton's watch 28% and Obama's watch 25%.

Real Plant and Equipment Investment by business average annual increase was up 3.3% under Reagan and 9.4% under Clinton.  Those GOP tax cuts were supposed to be a boom for business investments, instead it was a boom with Clinton's tax increases because he had an economic policy.  The highest sustained unemployment rate took place on Reagan's watch when the rate stayed at over 10% for 10 straight months from September 1982 to June 1983.  No Democratic administration even came close to those numbers for unemployment.

The GOP tax cuts for those who need them the least has proven over the years to be a MYTH in delivering the economic benefits they claim for the country and its people.  And now with Trump and his party still pushing those tax cuts once again with the enabling media's help, the public is once again being misled into another recession and a regression in the nation's economic and fiscal health.  The facts and the truth are out there.  The GOP tax cuts are based on ideology and not economic policy and therefore have failed.  Democrats govern by economic policy that addresses the issues and that is why their administrations have governed more efficiently and effective.  

During the last 45 years of governing, the GOP's future was a continuation of their failed past.  And now, with Trump's second term in progress, the future resembles the failed past.

This commentary written by  Joe Lorio     

    

 

How Did President Biden's Term In Office Compare With President Trump's First Term In Office Concerning The Economy.

 Let us check the facts and see.  If the media met its obligation to serve and inform the public, this commentary would not be necessary.  In fact, as of this writing the media continues to enable Trump's and the GOP lies on the economy.  Now that the Biden administration has come to an end, the following information is available on the economy.  

JOB CREATION:  The economy created over 16 million jobs during the Biden administration.  That number will be adjusted down somewhat like the Labor Department always does but will not change the facts materially.  During Trump's first term, the economy lost 2.7 million jobs.  During Trump's first 36 months in office (prior to the economic recession and (COVID)  job creation averaged 183,000 jobs per month.  During President Obama's last 36 months in office job creation averaged 225,000 per month.  And during President Biden's first 36 months in office (including (COVID) job creation averaged 388,000 jobs per month.  For the past 100 years, job creation under Democratic administrations can be described as robust.  Under the GOP it can be described as anemic.  Trump said he would create 25 million new jobs. 

UNEMPLOYMENT:  The unemployment rate was down 2.3% during Biden's term.  The rate was 6.3% the month he took office and 4% the month he left office.  The unemployment rate on Trump's watch increased 1.6%.  It was 4.7% the month he took office and 6.3% the month he left office.  Reagan is the only GOP President in the last 70 years that left office with a lower unemployment rate than when he took office.  Democratic administrations don't have that problem.  The unemployment rate on Biden's watch stayed in the 3% range for 27 straight months, the longest string since the 1960's.

THE NATONS GDP:   The Gross Domestic Product increased at an annual rate of 3.4% on President Biden's watch and increased 1% on President Trump's watch.

FEDERAL SPENDING:   Federal Spending in Biden's first three fiscal years (his last fiscal year will end 9/30/25) was up 14.7% compared to Trump's 4 fiscal years spending.  Federal spending in Trump's 4 fiscal years was up 43% compared to President Obama's last 4 fiscal years.  Federal spending hit a record of $6.8 trillion in Trump's last fiscal year.

DEFICIT SPENDING:   Total deficit spending in Biden's first three fiscal years was $4.7 trillion.  The CBO in December estimated the federal deficit at the end of Biden's last fiscal year which ends 9/30/25 would be $1.8 trillion.  Total deficit spending in Trump's four fiscal years was a record $7.5 trillion.  President Obama left the Trump administration a deficit of $666 billion when he took office, but Trump left Biden a federal deficit of $2.7 trillion when he left office.  Trump's third fiscal year federal deficit was $3.1 trillion, a record still standing.

CONSUMER SPENDING:  Consumer spending stayed strong during President Biden's term despite inflation because of wage increases that kept consumer spending moving ahead.  Consumer spending during Trump's term was a hit and a miss and produced a negative quarter of GDP in 2020.  Consumer spending represents 70% of the economy and consumers powered the economy forward on Biden's watch.

ECONOMIC RECESSION:   There was no economic recession on President Biden's watch.  The GOP and the negative voices were predicting one for the second quarter of 2023 and every quarter thereafter but it never took place.  There was an economic recession on Trump's watch that preceded COVID says the National Bureau of Economic Research, the official arbiter for the past 50 plus years.  NBER said it took place in February 2020 and ended the 10th straight year of economic expansion that began during the Obama Presidency.  

LAW AND ORDER:  The FBI reported crime was down the last three years on President Biden's watch and that the murder rate in 2024 would likely end with the lowest rate in the past two decades.  Crime was up the last 3 years on Trump's watch.  The worst mass murder gun violence deaths took place on Trump's watch in Las Vegas in 2017 when 58 people were killed.  President Biden accepted the results of the 2020 Presidential election.  Trump did not and sent his riot mob to the nation's capitol in an effort to over turn the 2020 election.  Trump also failed the test of a peaceful transfer of power to the newly elected President, Joe Biden.  Trump also claimed fraud in the elections, filed numerous law suits claiming fraud which every judge rejected.  

PRO BUSINESS AGENDA FOR THE ECONOMY:  The Small Business Association (SBA) reported there was a small business boom during President Biden's term.  A record 21+ million of new small business applications were filed with the government.  That the annual average record growth of filed and established business growth was 90% higher than under Trump, even pre pandemic.   Wages were up 19.6%.

President Biden's numbers on the economy are actually better in spite of the inflation that took place and also especially when one considers what Trump left to the Biden administration.  An economic recession, COVID, a federal deficit of $2.7 trillion, higher unemployment, etc., etc.  Tax cuts that robbed the federal government of needed revenue financed by deficit spending.  The beat goes on and on.  It is not a mystery that President Obama left a good and expanding economy to Trump when he took office and now President Biden left a good and sound economy to Trump for a second term.  Trump blew up President Obama's good numbers and now Trump will blow up Biden's good numbers.  There is no mystery!  Democrats are better at governing and it goes back the last 100 years.  Oh, and remember those Trump tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations that was supposed to Make America Great Again and prevent the economic collapse and recession from taking place.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Note:  Numbers herein taken from The CBO, U.S. Labor Dept., Treasury Dept., Office of Managment and Budget and the Commerce Department.

 

 

Louisiana's GOP U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy's Vote Should Have Surprised No One.

 How can one not understand that the GOP'ers in congress are Trump's cowards, and that includes Senator Bill Cassidy?  Evidently, from an editorial column in question and answer form recently published in the Times Picayune by Stephanie Grace and Quin Hillyer they seemed not to know.  The subject was about the confirmation vote of RFK Jr. as Secretary of the federal government's Health and Human Services Department.   

Cassidy, a chairman of one of the Senate committees voted to confirm RFK Jr. as Secretary.  Cassidy, a doctor should have known better, but like the majority of the GOP, took the cowards way out and voted to confirm.  Taking the coward's way out and kissing Trump's ring was not unusual for Cassidy as the congressional record reports that Cassidy voted with Trump's agenda 89% of the time during Trump's first term.  

Cassidy was part of the GOP ditto heads when he voted for the GOP's fraud Health Care Plan when they controlled both houses of congress.  John McCain joined all the democrats to defeat that plan and save the Affordable Care Act which Cassidy and the GOP wanted to kill.  Does that sound like a good doctor, especially since the CBO said that the GOP health plan if passed would have thrown millions of people off the insured rolls.  Cassidy knew better at that time also, but was still a coward and voted as Trump's ditto head.

Cassidy's record of approving Trump's nominees and supporting his agenda was known long ago and was not going to change in Trump's second term.   He and the GOP in congress are just sitting on their hands watching Trump's attempt to destroy the federal government's functions.  In fact the GOP's leadership in congress remarked recently that the courts should take a back seat and not take up any suits filed against Trump for some of his recent illegal actions.  

It is clear to this writer that Trump, the convicted criminal and the cowardly GOP in congress, have no respect for the law, no self respect, no respect for their congressional duties to serve the public good, and allowed Trump to corrupt the GOP in congress.  It is another sad chapter in Louisiana politics.  Really, did Cassidy's yes vote on RFK Jr. surprise anyone???

The damage will show up along the way in time and it will be severe.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The City of New Orleans and a Safe Super Bowl Week.

 On February 9, the City of New Orleans hosted its 11th Super Bowl and like the previous 10 Super Bowls, the event went off smoothly and safe.  To top it off, Super Bowl week was a success and safe also.  Law enforcement did what it does best and what it has been doing for decades for large scale events, keeping the City and its people safe.  The negative voices tried their best to make it impossible because they would rather be negative about the City instead of talking about all the positive things that takes place in the City.  

New Orleans is still the destination of business, conventions, tourists and other venues that take place safely and promote the City.  The City is still growing with new business, hotels and along with Baton Rouge leads the state in job creation almost every year.  The media pays more attention to the negative voices than they do to the positive developments that occur every day.  

New Orleans can continue to grow and stay safe by making it a priority on a regular long term basis.  It should be a every day endeavor, that is how good plans are carried out.  Negative talk and so called tough talk will not get the job done.  Commitment is what is needed to solve problems.  Osama Bin-Laden was not brought to justice by tough talk.  He was brought to justice by a President who made his capture a top priority and worked at it until it took place.

So now, Mardi Gras is in full swing.  Another major event with hundreds of thousands of people in the streets and on the move.  Law enforcement will have its hands full once again and the people can help by being vigilant in their surroundings and their movements.  It is a yearly challenge and should always be a top priority to prepare for.  

Law enforcement has proved it can do the job, the real part is to have a steady policy that gives enforcement what is needed to do the job and keep in mind it is priority number one to keep property and life safe.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The U.S. Economy, Job Creation and The Unemployment Rate for January 2025.

 The U.S. Labor Department reported that the economy created 143,000 jobs in January and that the unemployment rate came in at 4%, down from 4.1% in December.  It was the 48th straight month of positive job growth.  It was the final numbers of Biden's term in office.  The unemployment rate when Biden took office was 6.3%, so unemployment was down 2.3% during Biden's term in office.  It was up 1.6% during Trump's term in office.  It was 4.7% when he took office and 6.3% the month he left office.  Unemployment being up on Trump's watch was no surprise since only one GOP administration in the last 96 years has left office with a lower unemployment rate than when he took office, and that was the Reagan administration.  In other words, the GOP have a very poor record at creating jobs.

January's numbers were also better than the numbers for January 2021, the month Trump left office.  Only 49,000 jobs were created that month and the unemployment rate came in at 6.3%.  That was also the month Trump sent his riot mob to the nation's capitol to try and overturn the Presidential election of 2020 and obstruct the peaceful transfer of power.  In January 2025, President Biden made sure the peaceful transfer of power would take place for the newly elected President.

A soon to come Politidose commentary will recap the results of President Biden's term in office and compare that to the first term of President Trump.  The numbers should surprise no who keeps up with the facts and it was all predicted in Politidose commentary in December 2020 and January 2021, before Biden actually took office and the reasons why.  Just recently, the Feds, members of the business community and economist reported that Trump has inherited a strong economy, labor market and low unemployment that should keep the economy strong.

So, the Biden administration has come to an end on a positive note despite the negative voices of doom and gloom over the last 4 years.  The lying talk of recession, mass layoffs and higher unemployment never took place and to top it off, there were never any numbers over a period of time that pointed to those events taking place.  It was a complete betrayal of the people and the administration.  But during the whole period and for the past 10 years, Politidose told the real story in commentary.  So, stay tune to Politidose, your daily dose of political commentary.

This commentary written by Joe  Lorio