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Today it was announced that the long-time head of the LA Highway Safety Commission, Colonel James Champagne has been replaced by Governor Bobby Jindal.

Champagne is being replaced by Lt. Colonel John LeBlanc.

What’s the big deal, you say: one former LA State Police Lt. Colonel being replaced by another LSP Lt. Colonel.

Motorcycle helmet law

The significance involves the fulfillment of one of Jindal’s few specific campaign promises. Jindal promised to repeal the mandatory motorcycle helmet law.

When Jindal’s mentor, Governor Big Daddy Foster sought to repeal the mandatory helmet law, Champagne was a real headache (no pun intended) for him.

Champagne produced documentation that showed that helmets saved lives. Imagine that! He even testified against Big Daddy’s legislation in the legislative committees; one of the few pieces of legislation for which Big Daddy personally testified.

After Big Daddy got the law repealed, Champagne continued the fight to restore the mandatory helmet law. He kept records that showed sans helmets, motorcycle fatalities increased.

Champagne’s continuing efforts angered Big Daddy who claimed the number of fatalities went up because the number of motorcycles registered in LA had increased. Nice try, but Champagne’s statistics showed otherwise.

Throughout it all, Champagne never backed-down from Big Daddy despite the fact that Big Daddy could have replaced him at any time.

Subsequently, Governor Kathleen Blanco, with the help of Champagne, reinstated the mandatory helmet law.

Enter Jindal

Jindal replaces Champagne with the former head of Big Daddy’s security detail during his terms as governor. I don’t know Col. LeBlanc and don’t know his feelings about the helmet law. However, I doubt that someone who, in the course of his duties, spent a lot of time with Big Daddy would have been arguing much with him about the necessity of a mandatory helmet law.

Obviously, Jindal learned from his mentor’s mistake. Rather than have Champagne sitting in the lege committee with all of his statistics opposing repeal of the helmet law, the easiest way is to simply remove Champagne from the picture. Something, I’m sure that Big Daddy had wished he had done.

I’ve not always been happy with Col. Champagne’s initiatives; like his annual crack-down on speeding on the Interstates from which I suffered financially. However, I never questioned his motive.

Champagne, since I first met him when he was still working at the State Police Headquarters, had one primary and unwavering goal – the motoring safety of the citizens of our state and others who drive on our highways.

We’re told by the media that Bobby Jindal is bringing us “reform.” All change is not reform and all change is not good. The removal of Champagne is neither good nor reform.

C.B.

Uncategorized CB 3:45 pm

The story in today’s Baton Rouge paper is an ominous warning. North LA is slowly dying. If a young person wants to stay in LA and get a good paying job – work for state and local government.

Government, according to the latest employment figures is the biggest source of job growth in the state. And leges want to keep it that way.

Legislation lacking

Friday was the last day that leges could introduce an unlimited number of bills. Between now and April 22, they each can introduce 5 bills.

Despite the dire warnings of population loss and the lack of attractiveness to business as outlined in the story, after reviewing the 1,782 bills filed, I found little evidence of efforts to make our state more financially attractive for businesses or individuals.

The leges seem hell-bent on expanding government.

I found one bill that attempts to reduce the State Personal Income Tax and it is constitutionally-flawed. It needs to be amended to simply reduce the tax rates. Adding exemptions and bracket changes cannot be addressed in the 2008 Regular Session.

The only other constitutionally-valid effort to “reduce” state taxes was a repeal of the State Inheritance Tax which has already been phased out. These bills offer language to clean-up of the statutes rather than to offer any real tax relief.

The “clean-up” bills do show what COULD be done in the upcoming session. Taxes and fees could be repealed.

Repealing or reducing the existing tax rates would not only make LA more competitive for businesses, but would make living here more affordable.

What could be done

The new (available in the 2008 R.S.) $1 Billion in recurring, excess and unallocated revenues could be used to repeal the entire Corporate Franchise and Income Taxes.

The billion dollars could be used to reduce the State Sales Tax from 4% to 2.5%.

The billion dollars could be used to lessen the effect of the Stelly Tax Plan by reducing the Personal Income Tax rates.

Lots could be done to help financially those of us who live in LA and work for a living. But to do so, the leges must at least try.

Why aren’t they?

What to do

Where’s the legislation to help us? It’s not too late.

It’s up to us.

Ask your lege to introduce and vote for tax rate reductions and repeals.

C.B.

Uncategorized CB 8:00 am

My friend George Denègre passed away on March 19, 2008. See obituary here.

George was one of the greats of the “Greatest Generation.” He was the personification of the term “Noblesse Oblige.”

Even with his prominence and despite all of his professional responsibilities, civic and social activities, George always took time to mentor others. I know because I am one of those he mentored and befriended.

Among George’s many attributes, he possessed a great sense of humor which made just being around him fun.

I was privileged to know George for over 20 years. George had a profound and positive impact on my life. He was one of those rare people who one can truly call friend.

Rest in Peace my friend.

C.B.

Uncategorized CB 8:00 am