forgotston.com

According to the article below, our ethically-challenged, head of economic development, Stephen Moret needs more of our money to create economic activity.

Meanwhile, Thursday, right under Moret’s nose Chase Bank announced it would terminate 247 jobs in Baton Rouge.

Where does Moret plan to get more money to bribe businesses who aren’t in Louisiana? Cut healthcare? Cut Higher Education? Raise taxes?

Assume the risk

Perhaps Moret should cut his own budget. If the bribes are such a great gamble, he should be willing to “bet on the come.”   He could make up the loss of funding for his agency’s budget with the proceeds from the increased economic activity.

That way we’ll see whether these pie-in-the-sky efforts will materialize and last long enough to provide a return on the bribe.

It’s one thing to risk other people’s money; it’s quite another to risk one’s own as most of us do every day.

If Moret knew how to do his job he would have suggested that the state “invest” in tax and government “red tape” reductions for existing businesses. That’s real economic development!

C.B.

Baton Rouge Business Report’s Daily Report
February 25, 2010

Moret: General Motors plant not dead yet

The end of the Hummer line, if it happens, won’t necessarily lead to the closure of the General Motors plant near Shreveport. Louisiana Economic Development head Stephen Moret would prefer to see GM or another automaker utilize the plant, although he says another type of manufacturing is possible if an automaker can’t be secured. Plant owner Motors Liquidation Corp., which took control of some of GM’s assets as part of the company’s bankruptcy restructuring, has a federal mandate to focus on job retention and creation, not just selling off assets to the highest bidder, Moret says. Finding ways to inject more money into the state’s megafund will be key; the fund has about $56 million left that isn’t obligated, which Moret says isn’t enough for the projects already in the pipeline. GM plans to keep the facility open until June 2012. The plant once employed about 3,000, but that number is down to about 950. Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery was in talks to buy the Hummer brand but pulled out of the deal because it was unable to get timely clearance from Chinese regulators. GM reportedly is considering two other offers it had previously turned down in favor of the Chinese manufacturer. Eric Lane, vice president of Gerry Lane Hummer, says GM has sent 30-day extensions to dealer agreements set to expire Sunday. That’s a sign other buyers could be in the mix, he says. “Too many people like Hummer,” Lane says. “They have a worldwide following.” ­David Jacobs

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A current Baton Rouge Metro Councilman plans to run for an open lege House seat. See the story below, from Tuesday’s Baton Rouge Business Report’s Daily Report.

While I’m not endorsing him, he clearly will fit right in with the current crop of lawmakers. He is clueless about the law, possesses no common sense and while craving public attention refuses to return phone calls to the media.

Just as bad is the condemnation in the story of the District Attorneys in our state. According to an Assistant Attorney General, the D.A.s don’t know the law.

Here’s a clue. The provision of the law that was violated is found in that little used document known as the state constitution in Article XI, Section 4.

Nuff said.

C.B.

Addison announcement runs afoul of state law

Metro Councilman Ulysses “Bones” Addison’s decision to announce his plans to run for the state House of Representatives by city-parish e-mail and a press conference in the Metro Council chambers today was a violation of state law. Bill Bryan, an assistant attorney general who handles election cases, said state law prohibits the use of public funds or public resources to promote a candidacy. “The law is pretty clear: You’re not supposed to use public funds,” he says. Addison could be prosecuted and face a fine of no more than $500 or no more than six months in jail, Bryan says. “A lot of people do this sort of thing without realizing they can’t do it,” Bryan says. “And district attorneys don’t realize they can prosecute this sort of thing.” Addison, who plans to run in the May 1 special House election to replace the late Rep. Avon Honey, did not respond to phone calls. Dennis McCain, city-parish public information officer, says a variety of political groups have held events in the Metro Council chambers. “Republicans, Democrats

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Being tough on criminals is a universal campaign platform for politicians.   One can always tell when a politician is planning to run for reelection; they start padding their resume’.

In Saturday’s Daily Monopoly we learn that one lege is getting tough on crime.  ( Story here.)  He has introduced legislation for the upcoming lege session to expand from 1,000 feet to 2,000 feet the area in which one cannot use or sell illegal drugs.   This would include areas around schools, playgrounds, child day care centers, drug treatment centers, religious institutions and public housing units.

Why not increase the area to, say, 25 miles.   That way, the use and sale of illegal drugs would prohibited almost everywhere in the state.   Oops!   It already is.

Our leges clearly aren’t underpaid as they allege; they are simply working too hard.   Perhaps if their pay was reduced, they’d work less time and thus waste less of our time.

C.B.

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