President Obama, The TTP Free Trade Agreement And Democrats In Congress

President Obama's quest for fast-track authority to negotiate a TPP agreement with Asian nations was blocked by democrats in the U.S. Senate which cut off debate in that chamber.  The Senate needed 60 votes to debate the issue but could only register 52 yes votes.  Both of Louisiana's republican senators, Bill Cassidy and David Vitter voted yes.

There were good reasons why democrats voted no.  They are mindful how previous trade agreements have hurt the average American and union workers in favor of corporate America and is a major reason for the decline of the middle class and the transfer of wealth from the middle class to the wealthy.  Democrats want the GOP to add several trade bills that will over come the deficiency of the TPP that will be fair to the middle class and those who are left behind before they vote to debate the issue.

The news media in their rush to judgement called the democrat's actions a revolt against the President but their vote was the democratic system working as it should and proved that democrats are not ditto heads like the republicans who adopt, repeat and rubber stamp their own party's policies.  The TTP is now back in the republican's lap.  They can do what is right for America and add those democratic provisions or they can continue to support only the special interest groups.

Legislation and policies that are fair and productive for the average American will be what the democratic party campaigns on and the people will continue to know where the democratic party stands on the important issues for the people.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio
 

Health Care And The Expansion Of Medicaid In Louisiana: Another Reason To Elect Democratic Candidate John Bel Edwards As Governor

The Louisiana House of Representatives voted and passed a resolution that would open the possibility for medicaid expansion next year after the new governor takes office.  That according to a New Orleans Advocate article by Marsha Shuler dated 5/14/15.  The three republican candidates for governor, Scott Angelle, Jay Dardenne and David Vitter's position has been an expressed interest in exploring the state's options but have made no commitment.

Democratic state representative John Bel Edwards has been a consistent expansion vote and pushed for medicaid expansion this year saying it does not make sense to wait.  Edwards sponsored two bills that would allow medicaid expansion, HB-517, a constitutional amendment. ( Can't be vetoed)  And HCR-3, a resolution to expand medicaid.  (Can't be vetoed)  Per Times Picayune article of 4/22/15

The republican controlled state legislature has refused to consider the medicid expansion for the last three years in support of Jindal's position.  The republican's position to punt the matter to the next governor exposes their lack of political will to address the current budget problems of the state and will make balancing future budgets that more difficult.

The Affordable Care Act is working and so is the medicaid expansion part adopted by both democratic and republican governors for the uninsured in their states.  Representative Edwards understands that the expansion of medicaid would help reduce the number of uninsured in Louisiana, would help control the state's health care cost and would also create jobs as previously reported.

The three republican gubernatorial candidates are afraid to take a stand one way or the other on the medicaid expansion even though they and the issue has been around long enough for them to make up their mind.  The republican ideology that has been running the state has failed and another republican governor and state legislature will follow the same failed ideology.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Edwards has the political understanding and courage to do what is right and necessary to move Louisiana and its people forward with policies that address the many issues that have been neglected.  Precedent is also on his side as the state and its people have always had its best years under democratic administrations, especially the average worker.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

April's Unemployment And The Job Numbers

According to the Deartment of Labor, the U.S. economy added 223,000 jobs in April and unemployment fell to 5.4%, down from 5.5% the previous month of March.  It was the 62nd. straight month of positive job growth, the best performance since the 1990's during the Clinton administration.

Hourly wages increased 1/10 of 1% for a yearly average gain of 2.2%.  Not a great gain for the average American and no where near the gains of corporate America's CEO's and executives.  That battle is still being fought and the President still chides congress for their lack of effort to raise the minimum wage.  This writer believes when the year is over the gain for the average American will exceed the 2.2% forecast.

The economy still needs more spending by comsumers.  Continued job growth and increase in family income will produce that.  The latest budget resolution passed by the republican controlled congress is a good example of their lack of knowledge concerning economics and fiscal matters and clearly indicates why President George W. Bush left office with the worst economic and fiscal crissis since the great depression.

Congress still has time to act on several pieces of legislation put forth by the President which would produce more jobs and increase the the buying power of America.  The GOP has an opportunity to be a part of the recovery from the record 2008 recession, or they can continue to be remembered as the party who vowed to do nothing that would help the President's policies in moving the country and its people forward.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The U.S. Senate Follows Lead Of The U.S. House And Passes Budget Resolution

The republican controlled U.S. Senate rubber stamped the U.S. House budget and like the wasted time of voting over 50 times to repeal the ACA, the budget resolution will go nowhere fast.  The democrats in the Senate voted no.  Louisiana's Senators David Vitter and Bill Cassidy noted for the budget which calls for cutting $496 billion in non defense spending over the next 10 years.

Vitter is running for Governor of Louisiana and is well aware how budget cuts in Louisiana by Jindal and the republican controlled legislature has failed to balance any Louisiana budget and the state now faces a $1.6 billion deficit for next fiscal year beginning June 1.  The Senate resolution along with the House is another example of the GOP being yesterday's party of failed economics dominated by the conservative fairy tale of budget cuts and trickle down economics.  Like Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 who never balanced one federal budget in the 20 years they served as President, this republican budget does not balance the federal budget for another 10 years.  (Don't hold your breath)

President Obama said he would veto any spending that is in line with the republican budget that passed and has the votes in the Senate and House to uphold his veto if necessary.  "PolitiDose" has reported from the very beginning that the GOP would not work with the President or any democrat for that matter because they themselves have no accomplishments for America or its people.

Continue to do the right thing Mr. President and let the GOP wallow in their own unAmerican conservative ideology.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Is Offshore Drilling In The Gulf Of Mexico Safer Since The BP Explosion And Oil Spill?

Garret Graves, Louisiana's rep. in the U.S. House said it is in a Times Picyune article a few weeks ago.  So has other elected officials and representatives of the oil industry.  They say new safety regulations by the industry itself and new federal regulations put into effect after the spill are the reasons.

This writer has his doubts because no one has said any thing about the industry's ability to plug a blow out TIMELY and remove any spilled oil from the waters of the Gulf before that oil hits shore or any land area.  That was the real story of the BP blow out and spill that only "PolitiDose" spoke about at the time in several commentaries.

Prior to the BP blow out, the industry always said they had the personnel and the equipment available if necessary to cap a blow out TIMELY and stop the flow of oil before it reached shore.  The BP blow out proved they did not and oil flowed into the Gulf waters and on shore areas for over 2 months before the well was capped.  That was not TIMELY and the industry had no such equipment available.

One also has to remember that the judge who presided over the case found BP put profit ahead of safety.  It could very well happen again with another operator.  Time will tell if the industry has changed and is ready if another blow out occurs of the same magnitude.  Only then will we know if the industry has taken care of the "Real Story."

Having worked in the industry for 34 years, this writer remains skepital.  After all, drilling has been going on offshore in the Gulf of Mexico for over 40 years.  How long does it take to be prepared?


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders Announces He Is Running For President

The independent Senator from Vermont has entered the Presidential race.  Sanders is not given the coverage by the national news media such as John McCain and Lindsay Graham enjoys but knows and understands the issues facing the country and its people.  He especially will represent the middle class and working America.  He is opposed to the present trade agreement known as TPP that is in the news at present.

The Senator will give a good account of what policies he will pursue if elected and will force other candidates to address issues they would prefer not to talk about.  This writer would like to see V.P. Joe Biden and Howard Dean also run.  Both would make excellent candidates.

Howard Dean, a doctor, former governor and former candidate for the democratic Presidential nomination bombed out in a speech after the Iowa caucus and learned a valuable lesson.  He is up to date on the issues and is articulate and the one candidate who knows how to handle the republican attacks.

V.P. Biden is the best qualified of all candidates in this writers opinion and is a great debater.  If he decides to run and wins, the Presidential transition would  be very smooth.  Biden is known for making statements the news media seems to have fun with but his honesty over shadows his one liners.

Sanders, as an independent, usually votes with democrats and their policies but it is not a given.  His independence is toward the people he represents.  He is excitable and not always a polished speaker but knows the issues and will fight the special interest groups.  He will bring a new dimension and perspective to the Presidential race and that is a positive for the people and the country.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Viet Nam War And The Fall Of Saigon

Yesterday marked the 40th anniversary of the U.S. withdrawal from Viet Nam and the fall of Saigon.  This writer will not rehash the war because enough has been said over the years but there is a story here that no one seems to realize that is still relevant today.

The story was covered by "PolitiDose" in a commentary titled, "The Leaders of North and South Korea Meet" dated 10/2/07 which pointed out that a divided country will always have problems when one part is poor and the other part is doing well and both are at each others throats.  Viet Nam was a divided country because of colonialism by a foreign country which divided the people.  The end of the war ended the division and produced one country that is now a united country who trades with America and enjoys a working relationship with the United States.  There is no more North or South Viet Nam and no more threats.  They now are also one people.

The so called military experts always said that if Viet Nam fell the domino theory would come into play and all of South East Asia would be lost to communism.  Well, Viet Nam fell and the domino game never happened.  Which brings us to Korea, a country that is still divided, one part economically stable and the other part a wasteland for its people.  That divided country continues its tragic situation and will not change until it becomes one united country like Viet Nam.

World leaders, including U.S. Presidents should meet and bluntly tell both North and South Korea they have to find a path to unite the country without any outside interference.  A united Korea is the only path to remove the tension, fears and threats of the Korean people and the world.  Viet Nam is the example.  A thriving country with no more civil war to fight over so called communism.

President Obama has sought a new path with Cuba that this writer wrote about a few years ago.  He and other world leaders should put Korea on their to do list and find a way for the unification of Korea.  It can happen and should happen.  One country and one people.  It can be worked out, the status quo is unacceptable.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio.

Health Care Cost And Smoking Related Health Issues

Thanks to Mayor Mitch Landrieu and the New Orleans City Council for the smoking ban in Casinos and Bars in the City that has recently taken effect.  The state of Louisiana should follow the City's lead and do the same thing.  The state Senate actually voted to ban smoking in Casinos in 2009 only to be rejected by the legislature.  This writer in June 2009 wrote a commentary concerning the Senate vote.

We now find that according to a Times Picayune article of 4/28, Jan Moller, head of Louisiana Budget Project reported smoking related health care service cost the state $700 million annualy.  And lung doctor Stephen Kantrow with LSU in New Orleans reported, cigarette related diseases cost the state $800 million.

That is a high price to pay for smoking related health problems and should be a no brainer for the state legislature to pass a state wide smoking ban in casinos and other places where people are in a closed environment and so close to each other while smoking is taken place.

If Moller and Kantrow's numbers are even close to being correct just think of the total cost for all 50 states.  Smoking should be banned statewide in all public places to reduce the health hazards of second hand smoke and the tremendous health care cost that follows.  Prevention is still the best way of doing that.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

A Times Picayune Editorial: Six Years Late and A Lack Of Credibility

The Times Picayune editorial titled, "Will Louisiana's Leaders Please Stand UP" dated 4/26/15 has finally seen the light of Louisiana's fiscal problems even though they have been ongoing since Bobby Jindal became governor.  In fact the editorial board has praised Jindal in the past for cutting the budget with out giving any thought to the consequence of those cuts.

The editorial pointed out that Jindal and the legislature's  leaders are letting the conservative Americans For Tax Reform decide how Louisiana is allowed to raise revenues.  REALLY !!!!!.  Did the Times Picayune just find that out?  I wonder if they know David Vitter, who is running for governor signed that same pledge as did many other republicans in Louisiana.

The Times Picayune now realize Louisiana has a revenue problem caused by the massive tax give away to business as "PolitiDose" has been reporting for years.  And guess what?  The editorial says business should be paying its fair share of taxes.  And if that sounds familiar its because you read it here first in PolitiDose.  The editorial is looking for leaders in the legislature to stand up and do the right thing but don't hold your breath.  The republican controlled legislature will do no such thing.  Precedent tells us that both on the state and national level, republican ideology is toxic for government's fiscal matters.

It is worthwhile repeating that when former governor Kathleen Blanco left office the Louisiana unemployment rate was 3.8%.  The latest unemployment rate released for the state was over 6%.  Trickle down economics of massive tax breaks for business is not a job creator or revenue producer.  And coupled with budget cuts it becomes suicide for Louisiana's fiscal health.

Where has the editorial board of the Times Picayune been during all those years of silence?  They even asked the question, "who will fight for us?"  Well, surely it has not been the Times Picayune in a timely manner.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio