Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal's State Budget: "PolitiDose" Continues To Tell The Real Story

Readers of "PolitiDose" know that Jindal and the republican controlled state legislature has yet to balance one state budget since Jindal took office.  They say its balanced with cuts and other revenues but 5 or 6 months before the budget year ends Jindal announces the budget is out of balance by millions of dollars.

And true to form the same thing is happening to this years budget that ends June 30, 2015.  In a November 22 article in the Times Picyune the state is facing a mid year budget deficit of $180 million that Jindal plans to close using one time state revenue and cuts.  Five million of revenue will come from the TOPS scholarship program the article reported.  And on a more serious note the legislators were told that next years budget beginning July 1will face a wopping $1.4 billing short fall.

Jindal is no conservative when it comes to the state's fiscal matters and has put off year after year the hard choices necessary to put the states fiscal house in order.  His actions fiscally is a mirror image of the national republican party that has not balanced a federal budget since President Eisenhower in 1960.  When Jindal's term expires he will leave the next governor and the people a fiscal disaster to clean up.  Much like President George W. Bush left Obama and the country.

Jindal and his party's leaders are not really conservatives, although they have sold that bill of goods.  They are right wing radicals who preach an unAmerican ideology.  Because of precedent, this writer has been able to predict once again that this years budget would be out of balance long before the fiscal year ends in June 30, 2015.  And you read it here first in "PolitiDose" your daily dose of political commentary.


This commentrary written by John Lucia.

The Baltimore Ravens 34 New Orleans Saints 27.The Baltinore Ravens 34 The New Orleans Saints 27

The Ravens defeated the Saints on Monday Night Football.  It was the Saints third straight loss at home in the Super Dome and they now stand at 4-7 for the first eleven games.  In order to have a winning season the Saints have to win all five remaining games.  This writer believes that would be a stretch.

The Saints showed no improvement Monday night even though the Ravens played a loose zone defense(most of the game) in the secondary and allowed the Saint's players separation most of the game.  The Ravens rushing defense was tough and physical and allowed little running room for the backs.  The only exception was the long run on the Saint's second play of the ball game by Joe Morgan.

Brees once again threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown giving the Ravens a lead they never lost.  This has become a familiar turnover for Brees.  The Saints defense continues to add to their problems and Payton's trips to Rob Ryan's place on the sidelines and words of anger are not helping one bit.  Payton needs to leave Ryan alone and do his job.  If he feels Ryan is not the person for the job he can handle that after the season is over.  I do not believe Ryan and the defensive players appreciate how Payton is acting and as a result is affecting their play to a certain extent.  Maybe Ryan needs to return Payton the favor since the offense and Payton's play calling is having problems of their own.

 There is no question in this writers mind that there are problems between Saints players and between the players and the coaches.  It shows on the field and in their faces.  Payton continues his silly approach to the officials and acts like a spoiled brat.  I guess he really thinks he is a offensive genius like the TP sports writer have proclaimed for so many years.  Jeff Duncan and Larry Holder's reports in the TP are now 360 degrees what they were early in the season.  I guess they are trying to make up for their silly predictions before the season even started.  Their apple polishing reports are in limbo for the moment.

It is more than likely that the South Division champion will have no better than an 8-8 record when the regular season ends.  This writer has commented on more than one occasion in "PolitiDose" that teams with a loosing or break even record do not deserve to be in the playoffs. Can anyone really argue with that?  It is way past time for the NFL to revamp the playoff system.

The Saints travel to Pittsburgh and play the Steelers on Sunday.  Another road game and another opportunity to win their first game on the road this season.  It will be interesting to see how the TP sports writers pick this one.  Three of the seven picked the Saints to win the game against the Ravens on Monday night.


This commentary written by John Lucia

President Obama Uses His Executive Authority On Immigration.

True to his word, the President acted to move the immigration issue when republicans failed to act on their own.  The President's actions drew immediate response from the leaders of the republican party in congress with their usual nasty comments.  Their nose stays in the "bent out of shape" position forever as long as a democrat is President, especially this democratic President.

The President's action exposed how phony the republican's position has been on immigration for many years.  They failed to pass immigration reform during the George W. Bush administration even while they controlled both houses of congress and they failed to even take up and debate the immigration reform bill passed by the U.S. Senate in June of 2013, that is over a year and a half ago.  The right wing of their party is in control and they dare not even have an immigration policy to talk to the people about.

As the President said to the republicans,  if you don't like my decision, pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill.  The President has thrown down the gauntlet and now the republican leaders have to put up and pass immigration reform.  They will never shut up because that is their own way of not talking about their own failures to lead and produce policy.

President Obama has stood tall once again on a problem that has been around for a long time and his executive action has put the republicans in a box of their own choosing and the immigration issue is now in their court.


This commentary written by John Lucia.

Benghazi: A Scandal Only To Those Who Promote Scandals.

The U.S. House Intelligence Committee  report on Benghazi is complete and has been issued.  The report rejects allegations that the Obama administration intentionally misled the public about the deadly attack on the U.S. mission.  The report repudiates what it said was a "swirl of Rumors and unsupported allegations over the assault on the mission in Libya.

The report also said there was never a "stand down order" blocking rescue efforts and that White House officials were not to blame for an inaccurate initial account of the events.  Also noted in the report it implicitly rebuffed allegations that were lodged by republican leader Darrell Issa and embraced by republican party leaders.

Does any one remember the Fox News Network calling Benghazi a scandal over and over?  Ditto John McCain, Lindsey Graham, Mitt Romney and a host of other republicans in congress and the conservative news media in general, especially editorial writers.  They all accused the President and Secretary of State Clinton of the charges above that the intelligence committee found false and floating in a swirl of rumers and un supported allegations.  Romney even used Benghazi to try and attack the President during the debates of the 2012 Presidential elections.

The right wing conservative republicans will say anything to try to destroy the President and his administration.They are an unAmerican bunch who enjoy lying to the public and attempted to create a scandal over an attack that took the lives of 4 Americans.  Can one stoop any lower than that?  The real sad story of Benghazi is that too many Americans believed the lies of a bunch of spineless conservatives and the Fox News Network.

Come next year when the republican party takes control of both houses of congress allegations against the President will become sustained concerning a number of contrived issues where republicans will use the same tactic of out right lies.  The leaders of today's republican party are not fit to lead and make a mockery of the political system.  The republican party's rhetoric would never have been accepted by the greatest generation and neither should today's generation.


This commentary written by John Lucia.

Scalise's Bill Will Weaken EPA's Ability To Regulate Air Quality Standards

Steve Scalise, Louisiana's little boy rep in the U.S. House saw that house pass his bill that would expidite the permitting process for new projects according to an article in the Times Picayune of 11/21/14.  Democratic rep Henry Waxman said the bill could give new facilities "amnesty" from new air quality standards.  The President said he would veto the bill if it reached his desk.

The bill is all about gutting EPA regulations and allowing busineses to operate in their own selfish world without regulations.  Scalise uses job creation as the excuse for expediting the permitting process.  However,  Scalise and his party have no record of creating jobs to speak of and everyone knows the conservative attitude towaerd regulations.  As long as the democrats control the Senate the bill will not pass or advance to the President.

Scalise is the Whip of the majority House and is in a leadership position so one would think he would take up the immigration bill passed by the Senate or the minimum wage bill if he was serious about passing legislation that would move the country and its people forward.  Instead, he moves a bill that has no merit at this particular time.  The President continues to stand tall and be responsible while conservative republicans in congress continue to expose their lack of character and courage.  

Just think, if Scalise scheduled a vote on immigration and the minimum wage and it passed as this writer thinks it would, congress could have gone home on break and said they accomplished something positive.  What a shame.

This commentary written by John Lucia

Another Major Grant To Louisiana From The BP/Transocean's Deepwater Horizon Rig Sinking

Accoridng to a Times Picayune article dated 11/19/14 Louisiana will receive $13.2 million from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to rebuild barrier islands and to build sediment diversions for wetlands.  The money comes from a second dispersal from the Foundations Gulf Environmental Fund that holds the money from criminal settlements between the U.S. Department of Justice, BP and Transocean over their roles concerning the sinking of the rig.

And once again it is the big bad federal government that Jindal and his conservative ditto heads love to hate that has enforced federal regulations and have held BP/Transocean accountable for their negligent acts. And it has all happened under the Obama administration, the President who conservatives say is the enemy of the people of Louisiana and the state.  The real enemy of the people and Louisiana are Jindal and those elected officials who oppose the Levee Boards suit against the oil and gas industry for their destruction to Louisiana's environment by their operations.  The industry has been given a free ride for over 40 plus years.

The $13.2 million settlement is only a portion of the $1.2 billion that will be directed to the fund over a five year period for projects in Louisiana involving restoration of barrier islands and the construction of diversions.  The President's administration is working for Louisiana and the Gulf Coast and have answered the call to a disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.  jindal and the republican party in Louisiana continue to demonize the President and the federal government and shows how much character and courage the little boys lack.  Serious public officials?  You want find them in Louisiana's government.


This commentary written by John Lucia.

The U.S. House and Senate Vote On The Keystone XL Pipeline Can Best Be Described As Phony-Baloney

Mary Landrieu and Bill Cassidy could best occupy their time with more constructive actions than forcing a vote on congress to approve the building of the pipeline.  Everyone knows, especially those in Louisiana that Mary Landrieu has been a supporter of the oil and gas industry long before Cassidy was elected to congress.  Every one also knows that Cassidy and republicans in general want to let the industry do what ever they want to do.

So why vote now, especially since the President said he would veto the bill if passed by congress.  The answer is the Louisiana Senate race for congress.  The bill failed and if passed would actually have no value on the election because the issue is phony. It is just another piece of evidence why congess has been so unworkable.  If republicans wanted to be productive before going home they should have passed the Minimum Wage bill and the comprehensive Immigration reform bill passed by the U.S. Senate in June of 2013.

The Nebraska Supreme Court is scheduled to rule on the pipeline before the end of the year.  Its possible their decision may contain facts that no one else has even thought about.  This writer still supports Mary Landrieu's reelection and will vote for her in the run off election because of her overall record  and the fact she has done more for Louisiana and the country than Cassidy or any other republican in congress.  This writer also opposes the pipeline as explained in commentary here in "PolitiDose" dated 3/15/14, titled, "TransCanada's Pipeline:  Another Polarizing Issue."  Landrieu, Cassidy and other members of congress who have become the mouth piece for the oil and gas industry is also opposed by this writer.  Let the industry justify their projects and actions themselves.  In this case let the Canadian Oil Company who want to build the pipeline justify its construction.  They have already testified before congress and failed to make their case.

Landrieu and Cassidy's actions before congress on the matter did nothing to distinguish either one in this writers judgement and the President has been a steady voice from the very beginning concerning the pipeline.  Both would have been better off by supporting the President's position.


This commentary written by John Lucia

Cincinnati 27 New Orleans 10

The Bengals gave the Saints their second straight loss at home and out played the Saints
in the process.  Cincinnati played like a team that wanted to play and win and the Saints continue to play uninspired football with a losing record.  They have now been defeated in 10 of  their last 17 games including last years playoffs.  They and Atlanta are now both 4-6 for the season.

All seven sports writers for the Times Picayune picked the Saints to win in Sunday's paper.  They simply went with the line once again that had the Saints favored by seven points.  Their reporting on what is wrong with the Saints has been all over the lot.  One of the latest jingles is they have to finish the game.  A problem this writer wrote about both last year and this year.  Remember the call, "We have to finish strong?"

Part of the Saints problems are obvious.  When they play the teams that are well coached on defense, Brees and Payton are not prolific or a genius like sports writers want to brag about.  The players and coaches have problems and all is not well.  This is the third straight year the Saints offensive and defensive play is not consistent.  And to top it off, the players are not ready to play despite their huge salaries.

Any objective observer of the game must have noticed the difference in the two teams on the field the way each played the game.  Cincinnati's all around play and execution was not only better than the Saints, they also stopped the Saints bread and butter offensive plays with a strong defense.  They were better prepared.  Paton needs to get a life on the sidelines and take the chip off his shoulders.

Allowing bounty gate to happen and hiring Spagnuolo as defensive coordinator were huge mistakes by Payton.  School is still out on Rob Ryan but it is a fact that his defensive teams in the past before Payton hired him were not consistent.  Sports writers tried to rate Ryan's performance  based on last years results and now have second thoughts.  That is unfortunately and so are their apple polishing stories.

The NFL is a weak league overall with only 30-35% of the teams end the season with a winning record.  Records are not so hard to set against those teams that are losers and not well coached.  Sports writers should be objective and take that into consideration instead of being carried away in their reporting.

The after affects of bountygate shows how arrogance can come back and take its toll.  This writer still believes that is one factor of what is happening with the Saints.  Payton received a big raise after bounty gate.  So did Brees and Graham.  NFL owners have deep pockets of wealth and the Saints organization failed to hold Payton accountable for allowing bounty gate to happen.  And Brees and Graham still have not earned their salary.  In the NFL, one can still be paid big bucks and still not produce.  And sports writers who cover the Saints still lack objectivity.

The most satisfying part of the game was the young lady who belatedly was given the football.  She was also nice looking.


Note:  As of this writing the Saints have beaten only one team with a winning record, Green Bay.  The other three teams they beat, Carolina, Minnesota and Tampa Bay have a combined won-loss record of 9 wins, 21 losses and 1 tie.


This commentry written by John Lucia.

Two Wrongs Do Not Make Political Ads Right.

U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu and U.S. Representative Bill Cassidy are running political ads bragging how they opposed the moratorium in the Gulf after the BP disaster and spill.  There was good reasons why President Obama took the actions he did and put the moratorium in place.  BP, the rig owner, the supppliers and the oil industry said they had no answers even though 11 rig workers were killed.  BP and the industry did not have any equipment available to shut the flow of oil off timely or the equipment necessary to clean up any spilled oil before it reached shore. 

Yet, Landrieu and Cassidy wear their opposition to the moratorium as a badge of courage.  It is actually a badge of shame.  They were not the only elected officials from Louisiana to oppose the moratorium.  Steve Scalise and others also opposed.  Those same folks also predicted the moratorium would cause an exodus of rigs from the Gulf and the industry would lay off up to 20,000 rig workers.  Well it never happened.  In fact more rigs left the Gul of Mexico during the George W. Bush administration.  (see my commentary on the subject matter dated, 7/22/11 titled, "Drilling Offshore Louisiana in The Gulf of Mexico:  Facts and Nothing But The Facts."

 Louisiana's elected officials who become the mouth pieces for the oil industry have betrayed the people and the environment and show their lack of regard for safety regulations.  They also show their lack of compassion for the families of the 11 rig workers whose lives were taken by the blowout. 

This writer is unaware of any stories in the news media that has reported on this situation and challenged those who opposed the moratorium.  The news media never told the real story about the BP explosion but "PolitiDose" did in a commentary dated 5/8/10 titled, "The Untold Story Of BP's Oil Spill In The Gulf of Mexico."

Landrieu and Cassidy were wrong to oppose the moratorium before answers were even found and the President was right in his decision.  The ads show how elected officials will say anything to help in their election bid.  President Obama displayed his character and courage with the moratorium after a disaster, both in human life, the environment and the damage to property.  Landrieu and Cassidy lacked character and courage and instead tried to protect an industry who contributes to their political campaigns.  The same industry who has a terrible record when it comes to protecting the states environment.  And that really says it all. 


This commentary written by John Lucia.

Has Anyone Noticed That !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The fear mongering has subsided with the November 4 elections?  Ebola, Terror attacks on U.S. soil, ISIS, amnesty, the border and a host of other fear related issues promoted by the republican party and the conservative news media.  Fear is part of their ideology to mask their unAmerican form of governing.

Iraq, Saddam and their WMD that did not exist was used as a fear tactic to go to war there when it was not necessary.  (which the war proved)  But it was not Iraq, Saddam or WMD that took the lives of the majority of the 4400 plus U.S. troops who served their country's call.  Now it is republicans McCain and Graham who are using the ISIS fear to try and move President Obama to send combat troops to Iraq once again to fight a ground war against ISIS.

No parents in America wants to see their children raised in fear of the known or the unknown and they should not be exposed to the fear propaganda of the republican party and the conservative news media.  No matter what the subject matter, democratic leaders have the character and courage to stand up and be counted when it comes to protecting the country and its people when our way of life is threatened with out resorting to fear.

President Obama has measured up and answered the call to both the external and internal threat of fear that is used by those who want to see the President fail.  America and its people have been safe on his watch and we should take to heart what a great past democratic President said, "We have nothing to fear but fear itself."


This commentary written by John Lucia.