The U.S. Economy Created 280,000 Jobs In May

It was the 63rd. straight month of positive job growth under the Obama administration and job creation for March and April were revised upward by 32,000 more jobs than previously reported.  The unemployment rate was 8.5% up from 8.4% in April.  The small increase was attributed to the fact that hundreds of thousands more people began looking for jobs in May.  So says a report by the U.S. Labor Department.

Construction, health care and hospitality drove the job growth in May.  The oil industry shed workers for the fifth straight month because of oil prices.  Average hourly wages rose 2.3% from the previous year.  The number of people applying for unemployment benefits weekly remained at a historically low, 300,000 for more than four months.  The recovery is expected to continue thru the end of the year and into 2016.

If the republican controlled congress ever passes the transportation bill they have been sitting on forever, the economy would enjoy a much broader increase with better paying jobs.  That should be priority number one.  The time for action is now.  Forget about the TPP trade agreement and do something for the domestic economy.

The American economy as a whole still has a way to go for all to have jobs that are well paying and sustainable but it will not happen unless more action is taken by congress.  The President's policies has worked for the economy, but more has to be done.  The President continues to do his part.  Will republicans ever answer the challenge and do their part?


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Part V Algiers: State Representative Jeff Arnold Wants To Make Algiers A Separate City On The West Bank

Representative Arnold's House bill 744 that proposed to make Algiers a separate city on the west bank within the City of New Orleans was blocked by a Senate committee on Thursday June 4.  So says a Times Picayune article of June 5.  The blocking of the framework for Algiers to incorporate killed the issue for the immediate future.

This writers four part commentary on the matter published here in "PolitiDose" was an attempt to try and look at the issue from a perspective other than a lack of service for Algiers.  Mr. Arnold also tossed around the idea of both Algiers and Jefferson Parish on the west bank to secede from Orleans and Jefferson Parish.
Algiers, which is the 15th ward in Orleans Parish has the same problems with a lack of service like other wards in the Parish.  This writer feels that is due to the many, many years of neglect by previous mayors and a unstable revenue base.  Mitch Landrieu has done a good job at addressing the many problems and progress can be seen in this writers opinion.  Because of past neglect, the job of reversing that neglect will take a little longer.

The big problem with Mr. Arnold's proposal which began in 2004 was it never was driven by the citizens of Algiers or Jefferson Parish and as a result it was not well thought out.  The real answer for progress in Algiers is for its citizens to make their voices heard by our elected representatives so they and the mayor can work together to see that progress is being made.

Mayor Landrieu has done well in improving the city's budget problems and that will go a long way in moving Algiers and the rest of the city forward.  The Senate committee did the right thing in rejecting House bill 744.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Rewriting The Facts About The Iraq War

That is what Erick Erickson has attempted to accomplish in his column that appeared in the Times Picayune of May 31 in the "Reflection" section titled, " ISIL Sprang Up On Obama's Watch."  Erickson, the right wing conservative columnist is up set because republican Presidential candidates who are running for their party's nomination has had a difficult time answering questions about their support of the war and occupation of Iraq over WMD that did not exist and Bush's failure to take responsibility for the failure of that war.

Erick is also upset because President Obama ended the war as he said he would do when he campaigned for President.  The right winger complained that Obama should have left American troops in Iraq and if he would have done that there would be no ISIL.  Erickson rewrite of the facts exposes his true character.  The reason no American troops were left in Iraq is because Iraq would not guarantee America and its troops immunity from Iraqi laws.  Bush could not get Iraq's government to do so before he left office so the matter fell to President Obama when he took office.  Obama ended our troop deployment when Iraq's governing body failed to vote on the matter.

The U.S. withdrawal from Iraq did not change the fact that Iraq's prime minister al-Maliki was running the Iraqi government as he had been for over a year.  He was backed by the Bush administration to be the prime minister against other candidates.  The so called Bush surge in Iraq was supposed to give al-Maliki the time necessary to unite Iraq's various factions but instead he made things worse for the Sunni's and failed to have a united government.

ISIL was created on al-Maliki's watch at a time American had no presence in Iraq and was created as a sister organization of Al Queda in Iraq and it happened because Iraq was a destabilized country made possible by the war and occupation over WMD that did not exist and the removal of Saddam from power
who kept Al Queda and other terror groups out of Iraq.

What really chaps Erickson and other conservative journalists is for years they have tried to plant the republican seed that democrats are soft on terror and the country's defense and that republicans are best at protecting America and its people.  The facts tell a different story.  The worst foreign terror attack on U.S. soil happened on 9/11/01 and it happened on the watch of President George W. Bush and it happened while he tried to talk and act tough.

The worst foreign terror attack against America on foreign soil happened on the watch of President Ronald Reagan when terrorists blew up the Marine compound in Lebanon killing 241 U.S. Marines.  Reagan was also talking tough at the time and told the terrorists they could run but could not hide.  But the fact is that the terrorists who were responsible for planning the cowardly act were never brought to justice by the Reagan administration.

What chaps Erickson and conservatives even more is the fact that President Obama has kept America safe from terror attacks since he has been in office and has brought Bin Laden and other terror leaders to justice.  His administration has done so because of policy and priority and not a show off attitude of the so called republican chicken hawks.

Erickson can not rewrite the history of the Bush failure in the unnecessary war in Iraq over WMD that did not exist.  As a reminder to Erickson, General Colin Powell, Bush's Secretary of State during Bush's first term in office told Bush during the run up to war in Iraq, "if you break it, you own it."  Well President Bush broke Iraq and he still owns it.  And worse, he left town without fixing it.

And that really says it all.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Cokie and Steve Roberts: The Latest Journalists In A Tizzy Over Hillary's Campaign Style

Cokie and Steve are the latest media people bent out of shape because Hillary Clinton is taking her campaign directly to the people instead of through the news media and its journalists per their commentary in the New Orleans Advocate dated 5/22/15.  In fact they ask the question, "what is she afraid of?"  Well, with 18 months left to the election this writer believes she is not afraid of anything.

It seems Cokie and Steve are the ones who are afraid as the people who vote are not up set the way Hillary's campaign is moving.  And maybe Hillary understands the role social media now plays in elections.  For those who follow politics Hillary's positions are known on the issues because she has been around long enough and has spoke to the issues for many years.

What Cokie, Steve and the cable news networks want is to rehash Benghazi, her Iraq vote, her personal emails and other issues that have been put to bed.  To them, its really not about answering questions, she has already done that and been there.

Let me assure Cokie and Steve that when the Presidential primaries start Hillary will find the time to sooth their ego's with conversations.  That is soon enough because the debates will be in full swing.  In the meantime the news media has enough ink and air time to say what ever they want to say about Hillary.

The bottom line when it comes to campaigns is that everyone knows what policies the democratic candidates will pursue because they articulate that during the campaign. The republicans simply campaign on personal attacks and divisive issues and never articulate policy.  Maybe Cokie and Steve can tell America what policies the republicans have besides their conservative ideology, which is no policy at all.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Another Big First For "PolitiDose"

Robert Mann's commentary in the Reflections section of the Times Picayune of May 24 pointed out the state of Louisiana's economic and fiscal problems by describing conditions this writer has pointed out many times in past issues of commentary here in "PolitiDose."  Mann makes the following comments in his article.  They should all be familiar to the readers of "PolitiDose."

Louisiana has the 4th. highest unemployment rate in the nation.  Louisiana's economy does not produce enough tax revenue to support higher education, health care and other vital services.  The State's average weekly earnings were down 1% over the last year adjusted for inflation.  Louisiana's economic miracle is a mirage.  

Our governor and his legislative enablers have handed big business the keys to the state treasury for seven years.  They eagerly bestowed enormous tax exemptions and direct state appropriations on dozens of out of state corporations, all after recklessly slashing income taxes for the wealthy in 1980.  Jindal and many conservatives have sold tax cuts as an economic panacea.  The evidence does not support their policies.  We punish the poor with higher tax rates than the rich and neglect our basis services -- all in service subsidizing big business by relieving them of the responsibility to support essential government functions.  

It is very noticeable that the various forms of the media in Louisiana and even members of the state legislature are now finally talking about the above issues they were silent on since Jindal took office.  And to top it off their silence took place at the same time Jindal and the legislature announced that the budgets were balance and then had to acknowledge 6 months before the end of the budget year the budgets were out of balance.

Trickle down economics of tax breaks for business is not an economic policy and does not increase needed revenue or create jobs.  That conservative ideology of the republican party died long ago in favor of responsible policy making.  Jindal will leave office learning nothing from the past and the republican party's bragging that Louisiana is a republican state is not very flattering.

"PolitiDose" will continue to lead the way with facts and inform the people while events are taking place.  This writer has no interest in being a "follower."  And yes, understanding the mistakes of the past is the key to a better future for all.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio.

Campaign Finance Reform: The Story Continues

"PolitiDose" has offered several past commentary on  how to effect campaign finance reform from special interest groups deep money pockets and their money influence in Washington.  There is a very legal and working solution to the problem that the courts have no recourse on.

But oddly enough, a Supreme Court ruling a few years ago known as "Citizens United" opened the door for congress to implement campaign  finance reform.  The Supreme Court ruling basically said Corporations are people which opened the door for unlimited spending by Corporations on campaign ads.  Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney during the 2012 election said he agreed that Corporations are people.

If Corporations are people, the court opened the door for congress to say, okay, if Corporations are people you will be treated like the ordinary citizen and all Corporate Welfare tax breaks, loop holes and tax give aways are going to be eliminated.  Congress has the authority to do that and bring balance to the courts decision.  Does congress have the will to do that?  No, because they lack character and courage as a legislative body.  But if they would find the virtue to do that and stick to their guns Corporations would call off their lavish spending on political campaigns.

The beauty of this type of campaign finance reform and the previous one I wrote about is that the courts have no legal authority in the matter, it could be done in a short period of time and would cost the tax payers zero.  Robert Kennedy was quoted as saying the following:  Some men see things as they are and say why.  I dream things that never were and say why not.  Its past time for congress to find a Robert Kenned out there who can make a difference in campaign finance reform.



This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Times Picayune Is Becoming New Orleans HO-HUM Newspaper

Since its announced  cut back in newspaper service in favor of the news on line, the Times Picayune has become a poor source of quality news in this writers judgement.  Two articles that appeared in the Times Picayune of Sunday 5/17 by staff writer Bruce Alpert is an example.  Alperts article on page one was concerning U.S. Senator David Vitter and his second article was about the republicans in congress and their funding problems for a transportation bill.

The first article takes up approximately 3/4 of a full page and talks about Vitter's provocative style to both republican and democrats with various amendments and opposition to health care subsidies and how he ruffles feathers.  The only accomplishments the long winded article gives to Vitter is his vote for passage of a major water resource bill.  Alpert touches on a couple of other measures he has joined with democrats to support.  

That is not a lot of accomplishments for the man who wants to be Louisiana's next governor and has been a U.S. Senator for many years.  Of course, anyone who follows the political process knows Vitter's record of accomplishments are pretty thin.  The article ends up quoting Louisiana's Bill Cassidy as saying, Facing an administration hostile to our energy economy David has won fights with President Obama to keep our energy industry moving forward.

Alpert does not mention that oil production in the United States has increased 70% since 2008.  That does not describe an industry that has been treated hostile by the President.  Cassidy never described what fights Vitter won with the President .

The second article talks about the problems the House republicans are having to put together a long over due transportation bill to repair the nations roads, bridges and etc.  Funding is their problem and the republicans can not agree on the source of funding.  Raising the tax on gasoline is not favored by them in the article.  Alpert reports there are 13,000 deficient bridges in Louisiana alone and that Louisiana has a $12.3 billion backlog in needed highway and bridge upgrades.

But the article was silent on reporting that the democratic controlled Senate passed a transportation bill over two years ago with enough republican support in that chamber that was fully funded with out increasing the federal deficit.  The republican controlled House just sat on that bill, never even debated the bill or put it up for a vote.  It just died there.  .

The CBO noted that the Senate passed bill would have created over 1,000,000 new jobs in its first year.  And now two plus years later the republicans still can't get their act together to fund an important bill that would help move the country and its people forward.

Vitter, with so few accomplishments on the federal level should give Louisiana's voters reasons to doubt that a Vitter administration in Louisiana would do any better that Jindal and his administration.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio.

Another Republican Fairy Tale: This Time By The St. Tammany Parish Republican Executive Committee.

Pete Egan and Michael Nation of the above Mandeville organization in a letter to the editors of the Times Picayune dated 5/10 titled, "Leadership means reducing the size of government" is a great example of two more republican ditto heads living in the conservative world of failed ideology.

The authors of that letter thinks the state needs to reduce the size and scope of government and not raise existing taxes to cure the problems the state has at the present time.  They also say and I quote:  We need to broaden the tax base in order to lower rates, so that more persons, both corporate and personal, share in the responsibility of paying for government.  The easy road for our political leaders to take is to raise taxes; the harder path is to reduce spending.

Being republicans, both Egan and Nation should know that republicans in the state legislature signed a no tax pledge and have stuck to that and Bobby Jindal said he has cut $9 billion from the government since he has been governor.  Yet, that combination has not solved the problem and has made things worse.  Egan and Nation are full of it when it comes to cutting government.  Trickle down economics has not worked on the state or federal level.  Neither authors touches on the $8 billion of tax exemptions given to business and thinks those business taxes should not be raised.  They also do not know the difference between a broader tax base vs. a fair share of the tax burden.

The problem Louisiana has is a republican governor and republican controlled legislature who put business first with massive tax breaks and give aways which reduce government revenues to fund governments responsibility to the people it serves.  Louisiana lags the national level in job creation and in reducing unemployment despite all the tax breaks given to business.

Egan and Nations party has had almost 8 years to move Louisiana and its people forward but the party's ideology and failed policy has produced a $1.6 billion state deficit to close in Jindal's final fiscal year budget.  And to think those two authors are recommending the same failed policy of reducing government and are silent on the reckless give away of tax revenue to business.

The answer to Louisiana's fiscal problems dictate a change from a conservative ideology to a true fiscal policy and only a democratic governor can bring about that change.  Eight years on the federal level under President George W. Bush produced a fiscal failure not seen since the great depression and eight years on the state level under Jindal has produced the same fiscal failure.  Bobby Jindal served in the U.S. Congress during the Bush administration and learned nothing.  Egan and Nation are following in the same foot steps.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio

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