forgotston.com

Nose guard John Kennedy: “Not in our house!”

Thanks to the efforts of State Treasurer John Kennedy, the Louisiana Taxpayers’ team has a small victory.

A few weeks back, Kennedy suggested that a $100 Million state computer upgrade (with no known return on investment) was of less importance than the health of the poor, elderly and young of our state and thus a dirty, sneaky, play by the Fourth Floor’s Rhodes Scholars.

Quarterback of the Scholars, Angele Davis, her entire team, including the cheerleaders, pep squad and band poured on the field to run the sneak play against the Taxpayers.   As per usual, the captain of the Rhodes Scholars didn’t show for the game.

It was looking like a sure touchdown for the Scholars.

Nose guard Kennedy quickly pulled on a Taxpayers’ jersey and ran onto the field determine to stop the Scholars without the help of any of his cowering teammates on the Donahue Streamliners’ team.  Then, in a surprise move, linebacker Timmy “Governor” Teepell of the Scholars, changed jerseys in the middle of the field and joined Kennedy on defense.

Kennedy ultimately sacked the Scholars’ Davis so far behind the lines that she ended up in the end-zone for a safety.

The Scholars conceded the game.   They will no longer going to use the $100 Million end-run play on the poor people, elderly and children.  Instead they will engage in a light workout (no pads) with the DOTD Team to see if the $100 Million play even works before spending the money.

While there is no guarantee that Kennedy’s safety will actually benefit the poor, elderly and young fans, at least the Taxpayers live to play another day.

Kudos to Kennedy for his effort on behalf of the Taxpayers’ team.

C.B.

1 CB 8:00 am

Another plant announced that it is closing in central LA.  ( See story here.)

After-the-fact, The Rhodes Scholar held a press conference to announce the government benefits (at taxpayers’ expense) available to 230 souls who will lose their jobs just before Christmas.  His efforts are the equivalent of bringing body bags to a battle instead of bringing the necessary supplies to help win the battle.

Downward spiral

It is not possible to bribe enough businesses to create jobs in this state as fast as we are losing them.  Our economy is on a downward economic spiral.  (The national recession is just beginning to hit Louisiana.)  We must do something dramatic to save the businesses and the jobs we already have.

The answer is simple: Call a special session of the lege to cut business taxes and red tape. There is no downside except that state government will have to go on a diet. The state will be a bit lighter but, heavier than it was even four years ago — still obese.

Failing to address the spiral will result in the state and local governments eventually being on a starvation diet as the rest of us out-migrate for economic reasons.

C.B.

1 CB 8:00 am

The politicians and their minions tell us that state government is facing a billion dollar “shortfall” in the upcoming fiscal year.

If true it’s time to admit what most of us know and throw in the towel on the “Streamlining” and “Tucker” commissions.  They are a waste of the commission members and staff’s time and our money.

The only purpose of these commissions was to buy time for the leges and the governor to pray for a fiscal miracle. The Rhodes Scholar has been attending church regularly, so we can assume he is praying for a fiscal miracle, but even those prayers have been at extra expense to the taxpayers.

With the lone exception of State Treasurer John Kennedy, the Streamlining Commission hasn’t come up with one single idea to significantly reduce spending and in a timely manner.  Kennedy’s most significant spending reductions won’t even get the support of the full commission to merely recommend them to the governor and the leges.

The “Tucker Commission” has not even formed-up much less begun marching in place. It’s just as well because the constitutional authority to do what the commission is doing in vested in the State Board of Regents which, apparently, like the governor and lege lacks the political courage to do its job.

Few alternatives

The simplest, most cost-effective method to addressing the looming fiscal problem is for the governor and the leges do their respective jobs as mandated by our constitution.

The governor must submit a budget for the upcoming year that does not exceed the official revenue forecast and he can suggest tax increases for additional spending.  After receiving the budget, the leges can: a) reduce the budget further b) rearrange the spending priorities and/or c) increase taxes.

It’s time to stop the charade at the taxpayers’ expense.

C.B.

1 CB 1:18 pm