The Democrats Can Run On Infrastructure As A Party, The GOP Can Not.

A total of 265 democrats in the congress voted for the party's infrastructure legislation.  50 votes came from the senate vote and 215 came from the House vote.  Only 6 democrats voted nay in the House.  A total of only 32 republicans voted for the legislation, 19 votes came from the senate and 13 came from the House.  A total of 230 republicans voted against the legislation, 30 voted against in the senate and 200 voted against in the House.

So the democratic party has the numbers to back up that the PARTY can run on its infrastructure record but as a PARTY the GOP can not and the numbers back it up.  But we know the GOP will try to take credit for two reasons.  First, they took credit for Biden's and the democrat's COVID 19 relief legislation which passed with only democratic votes.  And secondly, the GOP has no accomplishments to run on so they use democrat's accomplishments as a product of their own making. 

So a democratic administration proves once again that their policies and plans serve the needs of the country and all its people and states despite the political divisions the GOP love to create.  And when the democrats pass Biden's Build Back Better legislation, it will be additional evidence of leadership from a democratic administration that continues the democratic precedent of moving America forward.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The U.S. House Passes President Joe Biden's Infrastructure Legislation.

The democratic controlled U.S. House passed President Biden's infrastructure legislation by a vote of 228 - 206 late Friday night.  The legislation is part of Biden's Build Back Better legislation which will be voted on later this month.  And once again it is a democratic administration that delivered on infrastructure.  The majority GOP and Trump opposed the legislation and the pundits in the media has in the past months were talking about how the democrats were having a problem delivering on Biden's agenda.  Some were talking about democratic disfunction and total collapse  But the noise machine as usual were wrong.

The House vote was not a bipartisan vote as 200 republicans voted against the legislation while only 13 voted yes with the majority.  215 democrats voted for the legislation while 6 voted against.  All 5 republicans in the House who represent Louisiana voted against the legislation and were as follows. Steve Scalise, Clay Higgins, Garret Graves, Julia Letlow and Michael Johnson.  The only democratic representative in the House from Louisiana Troy Carter voted for the legislation.  Louisiana's U.S. Senator John Kennedy voted against the legislation when the Senate approved the measure some months ago.  All 50 democratic senators in the Senate voted for the legislation while only 19 of the 50 republicans in the senate voted yes and 30 republican senators voted no.  

Infrastructure has always been an important part of the U.S. economy and no one understands that more than democrats.  That is why democratic Presidential nominee Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election made infrastructure her number one priority if elected.  It was also part of President Obama's $700 billion stimulus that was approved by the democratic controlled congress to help move America out of the great republican recession of 2008.  Trump and his party made it one of their priorities during the 2016 campaign and then after being elected did nothing.  

The economy and every thing related to it is affected by infrastructure and the legislation will be a stimulus for long term growth spread over a number of years.  Commerce will benefit greatly and business and the people will see better times.  The average workers will realize real wage growth.  Additional new jobs will be created to go along with Biden's present job creation record which is detailed in Politidose commentary every month.

Democrats govern by policy and plans and that is why legislation some times takes more time than other times.  They believe in debate on the issues that affect the country and the people.  The noise machine that has tried its best to paint the party as a failure on Biden's agenda, I suggest they read three of President Truman's famous sayings below.

WHEN YOU HAVE AN EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT, YOU HAVE A DICTATORSHIP.

YOU CAN ALWAYS AMEND A BIG PLAN, BUT YOU CAN  NEVER EXPAND A LITTLE ONE.  I DON'T BELIEVE IN LITTLE PLANS.  I BELIEVE IN PLANS BIG ENOUGH TO MEET A SITUATION WHICH WE CAN'T POSSIBLY FORESEE NOW.

MEN MAKE HISTORY AND NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.  IN PERIODS WHEN THERE IS NO  LEADERSHIP, SOCIETY STANDS STILL.  PROGRESS OCCURS WHEN COURAGEOUS, SKILLFUL LEADERS SIEZE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THINGS FOR THE BETTER.

President Truman's wisdom can be related to what is taking place in Washington at the present time.  And the Biden administration has accomplished much in his first year in office with legislation that really matters and will make a difference for the country and it people.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Note :  Shame on Louisiana's representative who serve in congress and who voted against the infrastructure legislation.  They do not represent Louisiana's best interest.  

Job Creation and The Unemployment Rate for October 2021. The Story Continues.

The U.S. Labor Department reported the economy added 531,000 jobs in October and the unemployment rate came in at 4.6%, it was 4.8% in September.  The Department also reported that September jobs created was 312,000 jobs instead of the 194,000 jobs originally reported.  So job creation continues to grow and unemployment continues to decline on President Biden's watch.  And once again, the pundits were wrong on predicting October's numbers.  The unemployment rate when President Obama left office in January of 2017 was 4.7%.  When Trump left office in January 2021 the unemployment rate was 6.3%.

The October job numbers were the ninth straight month of positive job growth for the Biden administration.  The Trump administration was still losing jobs in December 2020 when the economy lost 140,000 jobs according to the Labor Deportment.  Also for the first three quarters of 2021 the GDP has grown at a 5% annual rate.  Under Trump the highest annual GDP was in 2018 when it came in at 2.9%.  Trump predicted a steady annual GDP growth between 4 and 5% and never came close.  In fact the average annual GDP in Trump's 4 years was 0.7%.

In a separate report the Department reported that wages and salaries jumped in the third quarter ending September 30 by the most on record in the last 20 years.  Pay increased 1.5% in the third quarter and actually stayed ahead of inflation that came in at 1.2% for the quarter.

The pundits, the noise machines and the GOP who want to see Biden and the country fail continue to be wrong about the economy and the fact that the country is on its way to a full recovery from 4 years of GOP failures.  And it was all predicted here in Politidose commentary when Biden took office and even before because of precedent.  And when the democratic congress passes the President's infrastructure and BBB legislation, the economy, job creation and the benefits to America and its people will be long term.  And when it takes place, you will have read it here first in Politidose, your daily dose of political commentary.  

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

 

Another False Claim By The GOP, The Business Community And The Pundits Who Supported The Claims, Comes Crashing Down.

In a story published in the New Orleans Advocate of Oct 23 by the Associated Press concerning the $300 weekly federal supplement for the unemployed that GOP governors of 25 states eliminated and said was the cause of those to not seek work and therefore a shortage in the workforce and a drag on job creation.  Now the AP reports that a study of the matter by JP Morgan-Chase Institute found the following facts.

(1)  That after the $300 was eliminated by those 25 GOP run states there was no significant influx of job seekers.  (2)  The number of people who have a job or seeking one has been no more than it has in the states keeping the $300 benefit.  (3)  A state by state analysis by the AP found that workforces in the 25 states that maintained the $300 payment actually grew slightly more from May thru September than they did in the 25 states that cut off the payments early.  

So once again the GOP, the business community and the pundits rushed to misinform the American people that the $300 benefit was the reason people were not seeking work, why the business community could not find people to fill the job openings and as a result job creation was lacking. The lies and misinformation just rolls out of their mouths and the media is willing to run with their lies.

But the real answer on the economy, job creation and unemployment can be found in a monthly commentary published here in Politidose concerning the matter.  It is updated each month for all  to understand.  So forget about the GOP and the pundits misinformation and lies in their attempt to influence the public and tune in to Politidose for the true story and your daily dose of political commentary.  

This commentary written by Joe Lorio 

 

LSU's Huge $16.9 Million Mistake

 LSU's interim head football coach Ed Orgeron, who will leave the team and LSU when the regular season ends is set to haul in over the next 4 years $16.9 million without stepping on a football field.  A great pay day for a coach who did not deserve the huge increase in salary just because LSU won the national championship in 2019.

A report in the New Orleans Advocate of 10/19/21 said LSU athletic director Scott Woodward worked out the details with Coach O after Woodward lined up the buy out money with LSU boosters.  Coach O and LSU's President agreed to the terms.  The article also stated that Woodward was an extraordinary judge of people.  The Orgeron affair tells a different story.

LSU not only misjudged Coach O's ability on the field they treated him with kid gloves on the alleged sexual harassment involving certain football players.  It took an out of town newspaper to break the story and LSU failed to require Coach O to testify under oath when a woman did so and said Coach O had contacted her when Coach O previously said he had not contacted any one involved.  In other words LSU failed to have Coach O testify under oath and as a result could not cross examine him on the issue.

Nick Saban wanted out at LSU for reasons never told.  It was not because he wanted to return to the NFL and was the subject of a commentary in Politidose at the time.  Saban wanted out because he is a no nonsense coach who saw how LSU operated and did not like what he saw.  The two coaches that followed Saban, Les Miles and Coach O both won national championships but never achieved a long lasting winning record and both were fired.

And now when LSU's present season comes to an end they will not make the BCS playoffs once again.  They have made the playoffs only once since the new format was put in effect 8 years ago.  Not a very good record for a team that usually ends up in the top five recruiting wise.

So now the hunt starts for a new head coach for LSU football and LSU's supporters will once again be asked to help out with their deep pockets.  And the new coach will be praised before he even coaches a game at LSU.  That is what has become of college football.  Nick Saban does not have that problem.  He has an enviable record that speaks for itself.  And Saban knew what he was doing when he decided to leave LSU.  And that really tells the story of what has been taking place at LSU since Saban departed. 

This commentary written by Joe Lorio    

Governor John Bel Edwards Returns Fiscal Sanity To Louisiana's Budget.

According to commentary in the New Orleans Advocate of 10/12/21 by Mark Ballard, Edwards' Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne told the Press Club of Baton Rouge the state ended its fiscal year June 30 with a $1 billion surplus.  The surplus was helped by an influx of federal dollars because of COVID and a rebounding Louisiana economy that pushed Corporate and individual tax collections higher than anticipated.  The article also stated that Louisiana would have approximately $450 million to spend after spending stipulated in the constitution is satisfied.

So once again it is another democratic governor that balances another Louisiana budget.  Something that escaped republican governor Jindal and the republican controlled state legislature for 8 long years.  And Edwards took office with Louisiana's fiscal house in chaos and inherited a budget deficit of over $1billion.  But governor Edwards was up to the task, fought the republican controlled legislature with sound plans and policies that reversed the budget cuts that hurt Louisiana and its people.

The last previous Louisiana governor to balance the state budget was democratic governor Kathleen Blanco who left office and Jindal with a $700 million surplus which Jindal and his republican legislation blew just like President George W. Bush blew away the budget surplus President Clinton left him.  And Bush accomplished that in his very first fiscal year in office.

It is a pattern on the federal level and state level that democratic administration balance the budget or reduce deficit spending while republican administrations do just the opposite. And as everyone knows, governor Edwards has handled the COVID problem better than Trump or any republican congressman or Attorneys General.

Now we wait governor Edwards next budget plan and see his vision of what should be accomplished with the current surplus.  Precedent tells us it will be fiscally responsible.  What the republican controlled legislature does with it will define their allegiance.  

Thanks go to governor Edwards for his commitment to fiscal policies that are positive for the state and the people and thanks for his serious attitude.  

This commentary written by Joe Lorio 

Journalist/Columnist E.J. Dionne Stands At The Pinnacle Of His Profession.

Longtime Journalist and columnist for the Washington Post, E.J. Dionne shed much light why he is the best at what he does with his commentary published in the New Orleans Advocate dated 10/9/21 titled, "GOP radicalism pushes Biden to change senate?"  His column concerns the "filibuster" rules in the U.S. Senate which has recently been a topic in the news concerning the Biden agenda.

Dionne in his column explains the real problem with the "filibuster" and why it should be changed under certain conditions and done away with altogether.  And it makes more sense than any of the other comments so far because Dionne always knows the heart of issues better than other journalists and columnists and knows how to explain the subject where it can be understood by everyone.  

What separates Dionne from other journalists/columnist is his knowledge of the subject matter he writes about, his ability to understand the heart of the matter and the real issues and his ability to articulate that to the public he serves.  The world of journalists would  be better if more E.J. Dionnes were available.  And the public would be much more aware of the true nature of the issues they and the country face.  The noise machines out there are incapable of delivering the real facts.

So this writer encourages its readers out there to take the time and read Mr. Dionne's column in order to understand the real problem the "filibuster" has created and can continue to create if unchecked.  Hopefully Senators Manchin and  Sinema has read Mr. Dionne's column and come to their sense that change is needed. It is a basis change that is needed now more than ever with the GOP's do nothing attitude and obstruction.

This  commentary written by Joe Lorio 

Job Creation and Unemployment for September 2021.

The U.S. Labor Department reported the economy added 194,000 jobs in September and the unemployment rate came in at 4.8%.  It was 5.2% in August.  It was the eight straight month of positive job growth.  And as usual the GOP noise machine and the so called economist were disappointed because they were predicting more jobs.  Economist can not get a grip on the fact that the economy will continue to swing up  and down until the pandemic leaves the surges behind and become more stable.  As for the GOP's noise machine, they just want to see the Biden administration fail.

The economy has added 4,416,000 jobs in Biden's first full 8 months in office for an average monthly gain of 552,000 jobs per month.  Trump in his first 36 months in office (before the recession and  pandemic started) added 6,600,000 jobs  for an average monthly gain of 183,000 jobs per month.  The unemployment rate when Trump  left office was 6.3%.  For those who seek the facts, the GOP's noise machine and the economist predictions should be taken with a grain of salt. 

So progress is being made on Biden and the democratic watch despite the  noise machine and their misinformation.  The  progress may not be smooth but it is taking place despite the distractions and when the administrations two bills now before congress pass, the long term out look for the economy, the country and its people will be positive.  And when it takes place, you will have read it here first in Politidose, your daily dose of political commentary.

This  commentary written by Joe Lorio 

 

The National Debt: The Betrayal and Devastation Continues On The GOP's Watch Under President Donald Trump

 The subject matter concerning the national debt was covered and published in Politidose commentary dated 12/6/09, almost 12 years ago.  And now the results are in on the national debt concerning President Trump's four fiscal years which ended 9/30/21.  The final numbers were recorded by the U.S. Treasury Department who keep the official records of the national debt which are available online.

The report shows that at the end of President Trump's last fiscal year 9/30/21 the national debt stood at $28.428 trillion.  It stood at $20.244 trillion at the end of President Obama's last fiscal year ending 9/30/17.  So in only FOUR short fiscal years the national debt increased $8.184 trillion on Trump and the GOP's watch.  By contrast it increased $8.343 trillion during the EIGHT fiscal years on President Obama's watch.  The national debt stood at $11.909 trillion when George W. Bush's last fiscal year ended on 9/30/09 and it stood at $20.244 at the end of President Obama's last fiscal year.  So Trump  and the GOP managed to create almost the same amount of debt in just FOUR short fiscal years that it took President Obama to create in EIGHT fiscal years.  Good thing President Trump was not given a second term in office by the voters.

Not only did  Trump and the GOP continue the explosion of the national debt in such a short period of time as did President George H.W. Bush did, Trump joined every republican administration's failure in the past 60 years to leave office with a smaller federal deficit then when he took office.  But every democratic administration during that time period with the exception of President Carter, did leave office with a smaller federal deficit than when they took office.  So  the democratic party has a history of reducing deficit spending while GOP administrations do just the opposite.

In the last 40 years beginning with the Reagan administration thru the Trump administration, GOP administrations added $17.735 trillion to the national debt while democratic administrations added $9.738 trillion to the national debt.  The national debt stood at $999.8 billion, less than a trillion dollars at the end of President Carter's last fiscal year ending 9/30/ 81 and stood at $2.857 trillion at the end of Reagan's last fiscal year budget that ended 9/30/89 a whopping increase of 186% in the national debt.  That was the start of the devastation and betrayal of the federal governments fiscal house.  And Reagan was the President who said the government had a spending problem and he was going to cut federal spending.  Yeah, right!!!  

Trump also  left office following in the footsteps of every GOP administration in the last 100 years by having an economic recession that started on his watch.  A terrible economic record by any standard.  And to top  it off, three of the last 4 GOP Presidents cut taxes for you know who.  Does any one realize who suffers the most during an economic recession?

And to think that the news media in general report and repeat the GOP talking points of the democratic party being the big spenders and creators of debt.   The media continues to report the GOP lies, misinformation and false charges without even pointing out the facts say otherwise. They are the enablers of the GOP's propaganda.  And even at this writing as the GOP oppose raising the debt ceiling because of their phony charges of Biden's spending proposals, the media is silent on the fact that Trump and the GOP's spending hit record levels in fiscal 2020 when federal spending went past the 4, 5 and 6 trillion dollar spending mark.  So disregard the noise coming out the news media, especially the so called conservative news media in particular.  The GOP are the conservative party??????  Its the greatest fairy tale ever told.  And President Trump's administration continued the fairy tale.

So stay tuned to Politidose, your daily dose of political commentary for the facts that have been written in commentary for the past 12 years.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

U.S. Senator Joe Manchin's Ignorance Extends Beyond The Federal Budget.

 Senator Manchin was quoted as saying if democrats want a $3.5 trillion Biden "Build Back Better" proposal they should elect more "liberals."   Well the country did just that this past December electing "liberal" Joe Biden President by casting over 80 million votes for him and his agenda.  It was a record vote and also elected were two "liberals" from Georgia which gave the democratic party control of both houses of congress and the opportunity to pass democratic legislation.  

The problem for Manchin is he believes in brand names like liberal, centrist (which he  claims to be) and conservatives that the GOP claim to be and is ignorant of what those brand names really represent.  A good example is my recent commentary on Manchin ignorance of the federal budget.  The record shows that the democratic party has been conservative on the governments fiscal matters while the GOP has been the most liberal and irresponsible.  Democrats also have a record of paying for their legislative agenda while the GOP does not.

True liberals don't have to depend on using brand names because they are better in tune with the needs of the country and its people and design legislation to work in that regard.  Centrist, conservatives and others make decision based on ideology and that is why for them the future is like the failed past.

Manchin is a Senator who receives huge contributions from the energy industry, especially the coal industry and other special interest groups and that is who he is beholden to.  He opposes Biden's plan to raise the tax on corporations to the level proposed by Biden using the excuse it would make American corporations less competitive.  President Clinton and President Obama proved that to be "fake news" during their administrations.  President Clinton raised those folks taxes and Obama allowed the Bush 43 tax cuts for those making over $550,000.00 per year expire during his second term in office.  There was no economic recessions that began on Clintons or Obama's watch.  But an economic recession did begin and start on the watch of Reagan, Bush 41, Bush 43 and Trump.  And three of those Presidents cut taxes for you know who.

Every GOP administration in the past 100 years gave the country and its people an  economic recession that began on their  watch.  Liberal democratic administrations don't even come close to that GOP tragic economic record.  And that is a tribute to liberal democratic administrations who govern with plans and policies that address the  needs of the country and its people.

This writer would remind  the  ignorant Senator that the U.S. Constitution is a liberal document that grants the people certain rights that the GOP has opposed.  Manchin can not even get it right on brand names and his ignorance is causing a waste of legislative time.  The President's agenda is a good one for the  country and its people and it is past time for Senator Manchin to demonstrate he has the political understanding to move the country forward.

This commentary written by Joe  Lorio