forgotston.com

On Sunday, October 22, “Watchcat” Robert Scott wrote an interesting story in the Daily Monopoly that has not received much attention. It involves a major casino company’s allegedly (Have to say allegedly because nobody responsible will investigate.) illegal political contributions.

The story make an important point about LA’s “look the other way” attitude toward the powerful and politically-connected. Contrast that with the boards willingness to take on the Internet Bloggers when they don’t even have jurisdiction.

Note these excerpts about the “Heh, Heh, Heh, Ethics Board” about the contribution by Pinnacle:

The ethics board has taken no action against Pinnacle for the contributions or for similar Pinnacle contributions to a PAC in 2002.

“It appears that the PAC received excessive contributions from a single source,” said the board’s ethics administrator Gray Sexton.

This begs the question of the Heh, Heh, Heh, Ethics Board’s failure to initiate an investigation or complaint. The excuse will likely be that nobody has filed a formal complaint as required by the law. The law, before it was “reformed” by the leges allowed for anonymous complaints as well as board initiated complaints to be considered. My question is why doesn’t a member of the board file a formal complaint as a citizen?

Note this excerpt from the “Gambling Promotion and Protection Board:”

That plan caught the attention of Baton Rouge lawyer Karl Koch, who owns a home next door to the proposed casino site. Koch, whose clients include video poker interests, started investigating Pinnacle’s activities and discovered the PAC contribution.

Gaming Board Chairman Charles Gaudin refused but said Koch was welcome to take up the matter with State Police. Koch said he would request an inquiry from State Police and the state attorney general.

The board chairman’s attitude would be like bringing to the attention of city police officer an armed robbery going down and the officer telling the citizen to call the State Police.

This may help explain why I name the two toothless tiger boards as I do.

Kudos to “Watchcat” Robert Scott. Thankfully, we have a few “watchcats” because the “watchdogs” are all asleep under the porch.

C.B.

Uncategorized CB 8:41 am

According a brief, in Thursday’s Baton Rouge Business Report’s Daily Report, Sen. Rob Marionneaux is pushing plan for tax credits or deductions as a way to provide some financial relieve for those who purchase Homeowners’ Insurance. Wonder where he got that idea? (See Commentary of October 9.)

I wish I had thought of this idea, but I couldn’t possibly have because I not elected to any position in LA. Also, my plan would have addressed the problem completely as opposed to partially.

C.B.

Uncategorized CB 8:00 am

In Thursday’s The Daily Reveille, the LSU-Baton Rouge student-run newspaper, there is an excellent article about those who post websites in LA and how they upset the politicians. See article here.

Apparently, our leges don’t believe that those of us who use the Internet have a First Amendment Right of Free Speech.

“What I’ve seen is that they’re not necessarily focused on the facts,” Sen. Rob Marionneaux Jr., D-Livonia, said.

TRANSLATION: It is okay for leges not to stick to the facts, but when citizens don’t it is a problem. (Note: Much of our commentary is correcting false information coming from politicians.)

“I don’t take kindly to them, but as long as it’s factual, then I don’t have a problem,” Marionneaux said. “The minute they start editorializing it becomes a problem.”

TRANSLATION: Citizens of LA have no right to express their opinions.

“Unfortunately nothing is ever positive. I haven’t had negative press in 27 years, but people aren’t going to say ‘Look at Mr. Wonderful’ when I visit patients in a hospital or raise money for a school,” Sen. Ken Hollis, R-Metairie, said.

TRANSLATION: The facts and opinions of citizens make leges unhappy. (Note: The leges have paid (by taxpayers) staff to put out puff pieces on them constantly. They don’t need help patting themselves on the back. It’s a wonder that more of the leges aren’t suffering from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome from all their self-congratulatory efforts. )

Finally, the real fear the leges have of the websites and their commentary is that they reflect the views of their constituents.

Kudos to Ryan Duncan for an excellent job of providing both sides of the story.

C.B.

Uncategorized CB 8:00 am