bullets: it's all the politicians understand

Governor Jindal Waffles On Anti-Gambling Pledge

2011-05-23T12:20:00.001-07:00

http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/05/horse_racing_wagering_bill_cle.htmlHorse racing wagering bill clears House; Gov. Bobby Jindal not opposedPublished: Friday, May 20, 2011, 11:30 AMUpdated: Friday, May 20, 2011, 5:00 PMBy Bill Barrow, The Times-Picayune The Times-Picayune
Gov. Bobby Jindal has said since he was a candidate that he opposes any policy that expands gambling. Jindal spokesman Kyle Plotkin said last week that the governor's philosophy does not require him "at this time" to oppose a Louisiana House bill that would add to gamblers' options at Louisiana horse tracks outside New Orleans.Current law restricts "account wagering" -- allowing bettors to wager on races at other tracks around the country -- to the city of New Orleans, home to the Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots. House Bill 420 by Rep. Ledricka Thierry, D-Opelousas, would delete the restriction, extending account-wagering eligibility to any live horse racing facility licensed by the Louisiana State Racing Commission.The House approved the bill 61-30 this week. The measure awaits action in the Senate Judiciary B Committee. Lawmakers said during floor debate that the Family Forum, which often includes gambling measures on its annual published assessments of legislators, is officially neutral on the measure.

Gambling Is Not Economic Development-2

2010-11-29T09:34:00.000-08:00

Southern casinos struggle back from recession 11/28/2010 8:28 AM By Alan Sayre, AP Business WriterNEW ORLEANS — As a new reality — casinos are not recession-proof — sets in, gambling in Louisiana and Mississippi is staging a slow comeback from the economic meltdown of 2008, aggravated for a time by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill that chased away some tourists.But at least for the rest of 2010 and into 2011, industry analysts expect many players to keep a tight grip on their wallets because of uncertain economic times — and those who watch casinos are largely unwilling to predict when full recovery might come."Gamblers, like other people, have to feel comfortable about their financial situation," said Joseph Weinert, senior vice president of Linwood, N.J.-based Spectrum Gaming Group. "There had been the perception that the industry was largely recession-proof, but we saw what happened a couple of years ago. When the economy got tanked, the industry got whacked."For the first three quarters of 2010, revenue at Mississippi's state-licensed casinos totaled $1.83 billion, down 12.9% from the first nine months of 2008 — the period leading into the U.S. economic freefall. Still, the decline has slowed.

According to the Mississippi Department of Revenue, casino takes dropped only 3.3% from the first three quarters of 2009.In the latest count, the 11 casinos across the Mississippi Gulf Coast were down 12.7% from the first nine months of 2008, but recorded only a 1.3% drop from 2009, indicating that the oil spill had only a small effect on gambling. The 19 casinos on the Mississippi River, including Tunica in the Arkansas-Tennessee corner, were down 12.8% from 2008 and 5% from last year.

In Louisiana, the 13 riverboat casinos, Harrah's downtown New Orleans casino and the four race track casinos, for the first three quarters of 2010, recorded a 7.7% drop in gambling revenue from the first nine months of 2008. The 2010 tally was down 5.3% from 2009."I'm reserved, but optimistically reserved. The numbers appear to be stabilizing," said Dane Morgan, chairman of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board.But sustained growth is a question mark, regionally and nationally.

Recently, at the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas, American Gaming Association head Frank Fahrenkopf said gambling revenue in state-licensed casinos rose 1.3% — to just over $8 billion — from the second quarter to the third quarter of 2010. But that's still about $100 million less than casinos took in during the same period last year. Fahrenkopf blamed that on reduced discretionary spending by consumers.Earlier this month, Jefferies & Co. analyst David Katz said he expected Louisiana and Mississippi casinos owned by Penn National Gaming Inc., Pinnacle Entertainment, Boyd Gaming and MGM Resorts International to report mixed results during fourth-quarter revenue reports, saying the region's recovery still lags behind other markets."Right now, the gaming industry is largely a function of the regional and national economies," Weinert said. "It depends upon whether you see those economies flatten out or start showing some life. The casinos will follow that."

A large chunk of Louisiana's casino business is pointed at Texans. Shreveport-Bossier City gambling revenue, for the first three quarters of 2010, fell 10.5% from the first nine months of 2008. The recent tally is down 4.4% from 2009. The five riverboats and the track casino in that market have been facing increased competition from Indian nation casinos in Oklahoma.In Lake Charles, where direct competition is more isolated for three riverboats and a track casino, the tally is just about the same in comparing 2008 and 2010, although down 5.8% from 2009. The 2008 figures were skewed by September when two major hurricanes chopped at as much as $20 million from the historic monthly count.I

n the New Orleans area, which has two riverboats and a track casino along with the land casino, gambling revenue is down 9.4% in the three-quarter comparison of 2008 to 2010 and down 2.9% from 2009. The boats and the track casino generally appeal to a local market, while Harrah's — more aimed toward tourists and the convention business — typically posts big months during such events as Mardi Gras, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the Essence Festival and big-ticket sporting events.But more outlets want to get into the competitive fray, despite the slower times.

Pinnacle hopes to open its $357 million riverboat casino-hotel project in Baton Rouge in December 2011. That market, which currently has two gambling boats, has seen a 13.3% drop in revenue from the first three quarters of 2008 to the first three of 2010."I think a new casino will grow that market, but it will be at the expense of the other operators," said industry analyst Cory Morowitz of Galloway, N.J.-based Morowitz Gaming Advisors. "There's not enough room otherwise."Three groups have filed for the 15th and final riverboat license allowed by Louisiana law. Two want another Lake Charles casino, while the other wants another suburban New Orleans boat.Louisiana regulator Morgan said he hopes a decision on the winner will be made by March.

In Mississippi, Gaming Commission executive director Larry Gregory said no new projects are near fruition, but investors continue to express interest in the state, especially along the coast."We have had a lot of interest over the past year. People coming down here and looking and wanting to move forward with something. But in today's economy, it's difficult to fund these projects," Gregory said. "The coast is prime for development. But it's not just us. You look at mature jurisdictions all over, not new ones, there are just not many projects."Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.

Speaker Tucker Announces New Wind Turbine Plant In Michew

2010-09-02T09:06:00.000-07:00

Speaker Jim Tucker spoke to the Monroe Chamber of Commerce Wednesday. He reviewed the Tucker Commission on Higher Education, the LaGrad Act of 2010, the Louisiana state budget, and redistricting at the federal and state level. Tucker took credit for killing the BP contingency fee legislation proposed by Senate President Joel T.Chaisson and other trial lawyers.

Absent from the meeting were Senator Francis Thompson and Senator Bob Kostelka; house members Rick Gallot. Noble Ellington and "Rozz" Jones.

There was no mention of the v-vehicle.

The loudest applause line was when Tucker announced that he would try to keep two congressional districts in the north part of the state.

Just in passing, Tucker mentioned a new wind turbine construction company was opening Michoud. To be built by a British Company called Blade Dynamics, it promises to create 600 jobs by the year 2015 (http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2010/08/wind_firm_to_plant_600_jobs_in.html

Accompanying Tucker to the north Louisiana meeting was District 105 Representative Ernest D. Wooten who announced he will probably be running for the senate soon, presumably against Chaisson.

University of Louisiana System Votes To Do Away With Tenure

2010-08-27T09:18:00.000-07:00

The University of Louisiana System Board could vote to weaken its tenure policy at its meeting Friday morning. Instead of declaring financial exigency, which it clearly could do in view of the predicted post stimulus cuts for next year, the Board may vote instead for the death of a thousand cuts for the eight colleges they oversee.

Randy Moffitt is the person proposing this change and he no doubt has tenure himself coming from the faculty at Southeastern Louisiana University with Dr. Clausen. If the Board declared financial exigency he could not return to a classroom if he was relieved of his duties by the Board. And that goes for all of the academic vice presidents, deans and department heads in the system that have always had a tenure safety net to fall back on.

Once the word gets out in the higher education community that University of Louisiana System has weakened its tenure policy, it will be more difficult for its universities to recruit capable faculty to teach and do research without paying a lot more money. And that is exactly the opposite of what Board will say they are trying to do which is save money.

Pit Bulls and Cock Fights Used as Networking Tool for Drug Traffickers

2010-08-09T11:44:00.000-07:00

AUG 09 -- LAKE CHARLES, La. + The main organizer and supervisor of a lucrative drug trafficking organization responsible for transporting kilogram quantities of cocaine and marijuana from the Brownsville, Texas area, was sentenced on August 5, 2010 to 12.5 years in federal prison, followed by five years supervised release. Pedro Mendez Ramos, 41, of Church Point, La., was sentenced by U. S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi for Continuing a Criminal Enterprise and Money Laundering Conspiracy.

Ramos and seventeen others were indicted on a variety of drug trafficking, money laundering and firearms charges following an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation dubbed “Operation Fowl Play” and “Rio Gallo.” While under Ramos’ direction, this drug trafficking organization was responsible for transporting and distributing cocaine and marijuana from the Brownsville, Texas area to the Church Point, La. area. From Church Point, the drugs would then be distributed to Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, and other parts of Louisiana. Large amounts of drug proceeds would then be transported back to Brownsville, Texas and ultimately, Mexico. Ramos, an avid pit bull and cock fighter, with over three hundred gamecocks and sixty fighting pit bulls of his own, utilized these illegal events as a networking tool in order to recruit members to transport and sell cocaine and marijuana for his organization. The organization utilized various methods to conceal their cocaine, to include tractor trailers and trucks with hidden compartments and gamecock cages with false bottoms. The Ramos organization was supplied cocaine and marijuana directly from members of the Gulf Cartel, a multi-national drug trafficking organization located in Matamoros, Mexico.

At one point, the Ramos organization had amassed so much cash from the sale of cocaine that Pedro Ramos attempted to purchase Canal Oil Refinery, an oil refinery located in Church Point, La. in order to launder the organization’s drug trafficking proceeds. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), in conjunction with state and local law enforcement agencies, seized approximately 111 kilograms of cocaine and approximately 1.8 million dollars from members of Ramos’ drug trafficking organization, along with real property with an estimated value of one million dollars located in both Louisiana and Texas.

Special Agent in Charge Jimmy S. Fox III of the New Orleans Field Division stated, “The coordinated efforts of this investigation not only exposed and dismantled a sophisticated drug trafficking organization, it also helped to cease the brutality and unspeakable cruelty of animals at the hands of inhumane individuals.” U. S. Attorney Finley stated: “Organized drug trafficking threatens our safety, disrupts our communities, and destroys lives. This case is an example of how federal, state and local partnerships can succeed in dismantling large international criminal organizations. Our office is committed to combating drug trafficking in this district.”
For full story please visit us at www.DEA.gov.
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Alabama Gambling Lobbyist "2 million. It's only a drop in the bucket"

2010-02-25T11:57:00.000-08:00

Report: Ala gambling interests gave $2.2M to PACs2/22/2010, 1:06 p.m. CSTKIM CHANDLERThe Associated Press(AP) — MONTGOMERY, Ala. - During the last three days of 2009, Alabama gambling interests wrote checks for more than $2.2 million to political action committees, according to campaign finance reports.The money flowed as the state gears up for election season and a legislative and legal battle that could decide the fate of electronic bingo in the state.

Gambling opponents say it's difficult for them to compete with the deep pockets of bingo operators, while a lawyer for the state's largest casino downplayed the contributions, calling them "a drop in the bucket" compared to what's given overall in a major election cycle.Dog track and bingo casino owner Milton McGregor, along with his two tracks, was the largest contributor among the gambling interests, according to a review of 2009 campaign financial disclosure reports.McGregor and his two tracks gave nearly $1.6 million spread out among more than 30 PACs run by lobbyists and political consultants, according to a sampling of campaign finance records.

Almost all of the money was given in the final three days of 2009.McGregor owns VictoryLand in Macon County, the state's largest bingo casino with more than 6,000 machines. McGregor also owns the Birmingham Race Course -- which could be allowed to have bingo machines under legislation pending in the Alabama Legislature.The state Senate might vote as soon as this week on a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow 10 non-Indian bingo casinos across the state. The measure would be subject to voter approval in a November referendum.

The Poarch Band of Creek Indians gave more than $600,000 to political action committees run by their lobbyist, John Teague. Most of those contributions were dated Dec. 31. The Poarch Creeks operate bingo casinos in Montgomery, Atmore and Wetumpka. Teague also handled nearly $1 million of the contributions from McGregor's tracks.

Other contributors included Greenetrack and Ronnie Gilley, developer of the Country Crossing entertainment center and bingo casino in Houston County.The review of campaign records included 86 PACs that frequently have handled contributions from casinos and their owners. It did not include money contributed directly to candidates or any contributions by lawyers or public relations firms that represent the casinos, because those individuals and firms also represent other clients.

"This is just the tip of the iceberg," said gambling opponent Joe Godfrey, executive director for the Alabama Citizens Action Program. Godfrey said he believed bingo operators will invest tens of millions of dollars in campaigns and advertising because they stand to make "hundreds of millions" off gambling.Godfrey said the casino donations make it difficult for gambling opponents to contend for influence in the halls of the Alabama Legislature. And he said much more money will be poured into a statewide public relations campaign if the bingo measure goes before voters."We can't compete with the advertising and everything else," Godfrey said.

But a lawyer representing McGregor and VictoryLand said the contributions by his clients are "a drop in the bucket in a general election cycle in Alabama" during which every major state office is up for election."VictoryLand and Mr. McGregor's contributions are a matter of public record and so is his position on gaming, but ultimately he is only one man with one vote," John M. Bolton III said."VictoryLand and Mr. McGregor firmly believe that the people of Alabama should have the right to vote on a constitutional amendment that clearly defines bingo, strictly limits and regulates its operation, and generates significant revenue for education, social services and each county in the state," Bolton said.Gov. Bob Riley has been fighting to shut down the bingo operations, arguing the slot machine look-alikes are not what was intended when voters approved constitutional amendments allowing charity bingo operations.

McGregor and other bingo operators contend their machines are legal and that technology allows gamblers to play quick games of bingo electronically.Three of the state's major casinos -- VictoryLand, Country Crossing and White Hall Entertainment Center in Lowndes County -- closed after Riley's Task Force on Illegal Gambling sent large numbers of troopers to raid VictoryLand and Country Crossing last month.The task force did not have a search warrant during the raid attempts, but Riley's task force commander argued a search warrant was not needed if law enforcement officers witnessed a crime in progress.___Information from: The Birmingham News, http://www.al.com/birminghamnews© 2010 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

colorado community college headmaster grossly overestimated revenue to sell ammendment 50 to Colorado voters.

2009-12-22T10:09:00.000-08:00

New gambling revenue falling far short of forecastBy Andy Vuong The Denver PostPosted: 12/20/2009 01:00:00 AM MST

Nancy McCallin, president of the Colorado Community College System, says community colleges may receive just $2 million to $3 million from gambling taxes during the first year of new games and table limits. The 2008 ballot measure that eased gambling regulations was pitched as a way to bolster the ever-slimming budgets of the state's community colleges.

Much of the additional tax revenue generated from higher bet limits, 24-hour gambling and new table games would go to the schools, an estimated $29 million during the first year and $222 million over five years."Anything that's going to add over $200 million over the next five years . . . is very good for us," Nancy McCallin, president of the Colorado Community College System, said in November 2008 shortly after it was disclosed that voters had approved Amendment 50.

Now, more than five months after the gambling changes took effect in July, McCallin says community colleges may receive just $2 million to $3 million from gambling taxes during the first year. Despite a sparkling first month, the Amendment 50 changes — which came as gamblers were cutting back on casino trips amid the economic recession — haven't boosted revenue by nearly as much as initially projected.

A Denver Post analysis based on the first five months of data shows colleges could receive $4.4 million during the first year, if business stays at the current pace."We knew that it was going to be a year where we didn't have a whole lot of information, and so we knew that any of the projections were going to be a guesstimate, at best," McCallin said last week.Community colleges won't receive gaming funds until September. As required by the measure, the money has to go toward classroom instruction and financial aid.McCallin said she won't make plans on how that money will specifically be used until May, when the budgeting process for fiscal 2011 begins.

This year, state funding for community colleges was cut from $142 million to $106 million, though much of that was made up with one-time federal funding, she said.For fiscal 2011, community colleges face an $11 million cut, with no assurance that federal funding will cover the gap."That's happening the same time when our enrollment is surging, so we're going to see some substantial cuts next year," McCallin said.

Casino revenue is up 8.5 percent this fiscal year, which began in July. Industry officials initially projected growth of 20 percent to 25 percent.In November, only Black Hawk casinos saw a revenue gain, posting a 13 percent increase, according to data released last week by the Colorado Division of Gaming. Central City and Cripple Creek casinos each reported declines of about 5 percent.

Even with lower-than-expected revenue from the changes, there are concerns among historic-preservation officials that community colleges are set to receive too much of the gambling tax. When voters approved casino gambling in Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek nearly two decades ago, the intention was to use the tax revenue to help restore and preserve the historic mining towns.Dan Love, president of the board of directors of Colorado Preservation Inc., said community colleges stand to receive "a disproportionately large share" of the revenue.

As it stands now, existing recipients of gambling tax revenue, which include the state historical fund and general fund, would receive $97.7 million this fiscal year (a 3 percent increase from fiscal 2009), before regulatory expenses are subtracted. Anything generated above $97.7 million is earmarked for Amendment 50 recipients, with 78 percent going to community colleges and the rest going to the various casino cities and counties.

With a projected $106 million in gambling tax revenue for fiscal 2010, based on five months of data, Amendment 50 recipients would receive $8.3 million, before regulatory and other charges. After those charges, the Amendment 50 pot drops to an estimated $5.7 million."We weren't doing this for a single increase in funding," McCallin said. "We were in this for the longer term. And longer term, we know that the gaming industry will turn around as the economy turns around and we'll see increased revenue."

Gambling is not Economic Development

2009-12-16T10:58:00.000-08:00

December 15th, 2009 How Has the Recession Affected The Gambling Industry?

The recession has led to many people becoming more conservative with their spending, and this could be bad news for gambling revenues, as casinos nationwide experience huge drops in attendance and overall money spent. In order to combat consumers who are less willing to roll the dice with their dwindling savings, casinos are desperately trying to find ways to stay afloat.Atlantic City Recent numbers out of Atlantic City, the weekend gambling location for New York’s risk takers, have see decreasing returns from last year, taking in 13.4% less this November compared to 2008.

According to a report by USAPlayers.com, each of the cities 11 casinos reported a decline in earnings last month, with the biggest losses experienced in the table games, which saw a 21% drop from last year. Slot machines dropped as well, but slightly less, only 9.5%.Some casinos have cashed in their chips, deciding that they are not willing to continue to take losses in an economy that doesn’t seem will be sending customers back to the craps tables anytime soon.

The Boardwalk Casino, one of Atlantic Cities oldest gambling establishments, will soon hand over its casino to lender Wells Fargo.Las VegasEven Las Vegas isn’t immune to this latest trend, seeing an industry-wide drop in revenue of 11.6% from a year ago. October marked the 22nd straight decline in revenue, reaching its lowest point since 2003.

In an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, senior director of marketing for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority Kevin Bagger said that while attendance has started to recover, consumers are still spending less.“We’re happy to see the increase in volume, but consumer spending is still impacted by the broader economy,” he said.

Because of the drop in earnings, casinos have been forced to cut down on employees; MGM Mirage laid off over 1,000 of its workers last year. Casinos are one of the major sources of jobs in Las Vegas, employing around 27% of the total workforce, according to author and former Caesar’s Palace gaming instructor Barney Vinson.

Not Recession Proof After AllThe numbers coming out of the gambling industry over the last year seem to disprove the thought that gambling is a recession proof industry.

There are some who claim that even as consumers personal incomes decline and unemployment rises, gambling will remain constant or even increase as people become desperate for quick ways to increase their money. However, with revenue losses forcing casinos nationwide to increase layoffs, and less strict gambling laws leading to competition for traditional gambling centers like Atlantic City and Las Vegas, it seems the recession may hit harder, and last longer, for the gambling industry.

Here's To You Mrs. Wilkerson

2009-12-10T12:41:00.000-08:00

Mrs. Kathy Wilkerson will assume a coordinator’s position at the soon-to-be re-engineered Monroe, News Star according to well placed sources in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana.

Like Gannett’s Hattiesburg, MS, American is to its Jackson, MS, Clarion Ledger, the News Star is scheduled during the next calendar year to be down-sized to just a bureau of the much more important Shreveport Times.

It’s sad for Ken Stickney, who is really running the News Star day and night while Mrs. Wilkerson and her hubby are doing the North Side Monroe social scene, most recently in ULM’s Brown Hall Row I for the Tom Friedman talk. He will probably be down-sized as well after the publisher who delayed his long over due retirement finally departs N. 4th Street. It’s a second smack down for him.

Maybe after the dust settles, Ken and Kathy can get on the Louisiana State Teat with their spouses at Delta Community College and the University of Louisiana Monroe, respectively.

2009-12-10T12:06:00.001-08:00

caldwell loser big time

2009-11-25T09:15:00.000-08:00

mark your calendar, today, Monroe city judge fred amman has been tapped by lincoln parish da bob levy's law firm, hudson, potts, and bernstein, to be judge marcus clark's replacement on the 4th district court.

even police juror "guy" smiley's wife, laurie burkett is withdrawing her candidacy. charley heck can't be far behind, jeff joyce too.

poor walt caldwell he gave big bucks to clark's campaign on the promise that he would be the heir to his seat. and this even after he vanished from the vote on the tax for the v-vehicle.

label caldwell loser!

national political corruption

2009-11-24T12:56:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009
Senator's Affair Revealed in Text Message
By AP / KEVIN FREKING
(WASHINGTON) — A Nevada man whose wife had an affair with Sen. John Ensign said he discovered the relationship after intercepting a text message around Christmas in 2007.
"How wonderful it is. ... Scared, but excited," it read.
Doug Hampton recounted the text message during an interview taped for broadcast Monday night on ABC's "Nightline." The interview covered a lot of ground already made public since Ensign, R-Nev., admitted to the extramarital affair in June, but provided new details about how the affair was discovered as well as the senator's reaction when Hampton confronted him. (Top 10 Political Sex Scandals: Sen. John Ensign)
The acknowledgment of the affair has led to a huge fall from grace for a man that many viewed as a rising star within the GOP. He's now fighting to complete a second term in office that continues through 2012.
The Hamptons and Ensigns had been close family friends for years. Hampton told "Nightline" he confronted Ensign when both families were present during a Christmas Eve gathering. "John cries like a kid. Puts his head in his hands, cries like a little boy," Hampton said, adding that he heard remorse and panic in his old friend's voice but now believes it was disingenuous.
Hampton continued to work for Ensign as his co-chief of staff. He said that the two went on a trip to Iraq in February 2008. He said he was having troubles with his telephone and asked to borrow Ensign's to call his wife. He said Ensign scrolled to a listing for Aunt Judy instead of Cindy Hampton. "And then I realize, Wow, wow, something is seriously wrong," he said, that the affair was still going on. (Top 10 Political Sex Scandals: Kwame Kilpatrick.)
Hampton makes clear through the interview he isn't going away quietly and believes Ensign abused his power in pursuing the affair. Ensign's legal team has said it's confident that all laws and ethics rules were followed in the case, which includes Ensign helping Hampton gain employment with a lobbying firm as well as Ensign's parents providing the Hamptons with a payment of nearly $100,000 that they described as a gift. "I truly wish that I could publicly respond to each one of Doug Hampton's allegations," Ensign said. "They are full of half truths and untruths. I will cooperate with any investigation because I have not violated any law or Senate ethics rule. If Doug Hampton violated federal law and rules, I did not advise him to do so, I did not suggest that he do so, and I did not cooperate with his doing so."

cofer told faculty no furloughs at ulm if they taught for free, now what?

2009-11-24T12:36:00.000-08:00

Priorities at ULMposted Tuesday, August 4th, 2009 @ 10:34 pm
The University of Louisiana-Monroe unveiled its plan on Monday to cope with a $4.5-million reduction in state funding for the 2009-2010 fiscal year, which began July 1.Like every publicly funded higher education institution in Louisiana, ULM faced a cut in state appropriations for the new fiscal year. The higher education community as a whole was dealt a more than $100 million budget cut. The cut was necessary in light of a more than $1 billion budget shortfall the Legislature encountered during its regular session. The 2009 regular legislative session adjourned in late June.According to ULM, the university will not renew contracts for 36 faculty and other staff members to deal with its reduction in state funding in the new fiscal year. More than 41 vacant faculty and staff positions will be eliminated. Also, staff members at ULM will take furloughs from one to four days depending upon their annual salary. Staffers who make less than $30,000 per year and ULM law enforcement personnel will not be affected by the furloughs. Faculty members won't be affected by furloughs either.According to Laura Harris, a spokesperson at ULM, no tenured or tenure-track faculty members were terminated to aid the university's efforts to balance its budget, which must be approved by the governing board at the University of Louisiana System later this month.If Harris is correct, ULM was wise not to terminate any tenured or tenure-track faculty members. Tenured and tenure-track faculty represent the backbone of any university.In the meantime, let us recall what ULM proposed earlier this year when we learned the higher ed community in Louisiana faced a more than $200 million budget cut for the new fiscal year. At the time, ULM President James Cofer proposed that the university should eliminate some 49 tenured and/or tenure-track faculty positions to deal with ULM's share of higher ed's budget cut. Thanks to some fast-and-loose budgeting employed by the Legislature, higher ed was dealt a roughly $100 million budget cut instead of a more than $200 million cut in the new fiscal year.Let us recall as well that when we learned the higher ed community would be asked to trim its expenditures in the new fiscal year, literally every university president in the state called on the Legislature to raise taxes to offset proposed budget cuts for higher ed. Thankfully the Legislature ignored higher ed's bellyaching.While we regret to witness any of Louisiana's institutions of higher education deal with a reduction in state funding, we would do well to remind ourselves of why universities exist in the first place. They exist to educate people.That said, we are a bit disturbed by ULM's decision to spare its athletic department—for the most part—in sharing in cuts the university leveled to balance its budget. After all, ULM is projected to use some $2.7 million in state funding to prop up its athletic department in the 2009-2010 fiscal year.ULM should rethink its position on athletics versus education.If the university sticks to its guns, so to speak, we'll have a clear understanding of what's important at ULM and what's not.
http://www.ouachitacitizen.com/news.php?id=4645

louisiana political corruption

2009-11-24T12:31:00.000-08:00

Impeachment hearings open today for Judge Thomas Porteous
By Jonathan Tilove
November 17, 2009, 7:05AM
A federal court refused Monday to issue a temporary restraining order to block the opening of congressional hearings today into the potential impeachment of U.S. District Judge Thomas Porteous of Metairie.
Judge Thomas PorteousBut Judge Richard Leon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia said attorneys for Porteous may still file for a preliminary injunction later this year, though he counseled that their chances for success are a "very, very long shot."
Richard Westling, representing Porteous, said he will consult with his client and let the court know his decision Nov. 30.
Irvin Nathan, general counsel for the House of Representatives, argued against the temporary restraining order, saying that if Leon had granted it, it would have been the first time in history that a court had tried to block any kind of congressional hearing.
"There is not a case in our history in which a court sought to keep a congressional proceeding from proceeding," Nathan said. Leon agreed that granting the restraining order would have been "beyond extraordinary."
The hour-long hearing was held in the federal courthouse in Washington, a few blocks from the Capitol.
At issue is whether Congress, in considering impeachment, is violating Porteous' Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination by using testimony he was required to give under a grant of immunity from criminal prosecution to forumlate strategy and prepare witnesses in making the case for impeachment.
Nathan argued that the Justice Department long ago decided not to prosecute Porteous and that impeachment is explicitly not a criminal proceeding. It is also, he said, a congressional responsibility wholly beyond the power of the court.
Westling countered that impeachment is, in effect, a "quasi-criminal'' proceeding that could lead to Porteous being removed from office and barred from holding future federal office. That would happen if the House impeaches Porteous and the Senate convicts him.
Leon told Westling there was "just no precedent" for his pleading that Porteous' Fifth Amendment rights were being compromised in the impeachment proceedings. Westling replied that impeachment cases are very rare, and that he does not think there has ever been an impeachment case where immunized testimony was being used to help construct the case against the defendant.
Even without a temporary restraining order, Leon said, Porteous faces no imminent danger of lasting harm. While the House Judiciary Committee task force will hold its first hearings today and Wednesday on the Porteous case, Leon said the full House probably will not vote until the spring on whether to impeach Porteous and send his case to the Senate for trial.
Eight potential witnesses have been granted immunity to testify before the impeachment task force.
Before his appointment to the bench, Leon was counsel to Congress in the investigation of three sitting presidents, including in the Iran-Contra and Whitewater cases. He was nominated to the bench by President George W. Bush.
Porteous was nominated by President Clinton.
Among other things, he stands accused of making false statements in his personal bankruptcy filing, on his annual financial disclosure forms and on his applicaton for a bank loan, and not disclosing financial gifts from lawyers who appeared before his court.
While he continues to receive his salary as a judge for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, he is not allowed to hear cases.
. . . . . . .
Jonathan Tilove can be reached at jtilove@timespicayune.com or 202.383.7827.
© 2009 NOLA.com. All rights reserved.

Good News from Connecticut:Slots Revenue Down

2009-10-13T10:23:00.000-07:00

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State budget may take hit from slots
State budget may take hit from slots
Published on 10/13/2009 in Home »State »State News
Hartford (AP) - Connecticut officials say this year's state budget could end up further in deficit because of declining slot machine revenues at the two casinos in the state.
Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun give Connecticut 25 percent of their slot machine revenues, under contracts with the state.
State officials say there could be a $50 million deficit in slot machine revenue when the fiscal year ends June 30, 2010. That's in addition to the $500 million deficit Comptroller Nancy Wyman is predicting for the year.
State officials planned for a 1 percent increase in slot machine revenue this year and a 3 percent increase next year in the current two year, $38 billion budget. But both casinos reported slot revenue declines of more than 10 percent in August.
"Regional"

States Face Drop in Gambling Revenues

2009-09-10T12:03:00.000-07:00

September 10, 2009
States Face Drop in Gambling Revenues
By IAN URBINA
CINCINNATI — Casinos and lotteries in most states are reporting a downturn in revenue for the first time, resulting in a drop in the money collected by state and local governments, according to new state data.
The decline comes as states are rapidly expanding gambling in hopes of stemming severe budget shortfalls, and it indicates that gambling is not insulated from broader economic forces like recessions, as has been argued in the past.
The drop has led some gambling experts to wonder whether the industry is reaching market saturation, whereby a limited number of gamblers with a fixed amount of money to bet is being split across a growing number of gambling options.
States that have been invested in gambling the longest have been hit hardest. Illinois reported a $166 million drop in tax revenue in fiscal year 2009, from 2008; Nevada had a $122 million drop, and New Jersey $62 million.
In hopes of enticing more gamblers, New Jersey lawmakers have repealed a smoking ban, and in Illinois they are considering allowing free drinks on riverboat casinos.
“The data shows that states take a real chance in depending on gambling because this revenue is not likely to keep pace with growing budgetary needs,” said Lucy Dadayan, a senior analyst at the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government at the State University at Albany, which will release a report on the subject next week.
“In the absence of new types of gambling, it can become a zero-sum game as states compete for the same pot.”
Others, however, argue that the current decline is temporary, and that the industry has plenty of room to expand. Some experts expect revenues to bounce back, but doubt they will be as robust as they were before the recession.
The 12 states that have casinos made $4.5 billion in fiscal year 2009, which ended June 30, a 7.4 percent drop from last year, according to the state data. Among the roughly 42 states with lotteries, 38 reported data indicating that they made $14.5 billion this year, a 2.6 percent drop compared with the earnings from the same states last year.
Gambling critics have long maintained that it provides short-term revenue at the expense of long-term social costs, like increased crime and addiction. But the new data also shows that the revenue collected by states and local governments is decreasing while competition for it is on the rise. Still, state leaders are looking for ways to get a piece of the earnings.
Here in Ohio, Gov. Ted Strickland, a Democrat and former Methodist minister, reversed his opposition to gambling and, in conjunction with the legislature, issued a directive allowing video slots at the state’s seven racetracks.
In Colorado, voters last year backed an increase in betting limits at casinos, and Missouri voters approved the end of limits on how much a gambler can lose. “We need those slots like nobody’s business,” said Mildred Cox, 77, who for 28 years has run the concession stand at River Downs here, one of the seven horse racing tracks slated to receive some of the state’s 17,500 proposed new slot machines. “Look at this place, it’s desolate.”
Across from her, a crowd of older men, betting tickets in hand, stood staring at several televisions mounted on the wall showing races in other states and Canada.
As a bell rang, the horses sprinted by, competing for a winning prize of $4,600. But the men barely broke their concentration from the televisions.
“You can’t attract the best horses and the biggest bettors with purses like that,” said Ms. Cox, pointing outside at a largely empty grandstand.
Thirty years ago, gamblers had to go to Las Vegas or Atlantic City to bet legally. Now, a dozen states have commercial casinos, 12 have “racinos,” or slot machines and other games that are installed at racetracks, 29 states have Indian casinos, and at least 42 states and the District of Columbia, have lotteries.
“When budgets get tight, expanding gambling always looks to lawmakers like the perfect quick-fix solution,” said John Kindt, a professor of business and legal policy at the University of Illinois who studies the impact of state-sponsored gambling. “But in the end, it so often proves to be neither quick nor a fix.”
Crime jumps 10 percent in areas with casinos, personal bankruptcies soar 18 percent to 42 percent and the number of new gambling addicts doubles, Mr. Kindt said. Predicted state revenue often falls short and plans frequently get tripped up by legal fights or popular opposition, he said.
In Delaware, for example, Gov. Jack Markell said in March that he wanted to legalize sports betting in casinos, which he said would bring in $53 million in the first year to help plug an $800 million budget shortfall. But the plan was blocked by a federal court in Philadelphia on Aug. 24 on the grounds that it would undermine confidence in professional sports.
In Ohio, Governor Strickland reversed his stance on video slots at racetracks based on a “conservative” estimate that the new machines would net more than $760 million to the state.
But the slots are not likely to arrive here any time soon because a lawsuit is pending before the Ohio Supreme Court that argues that the plan should be placed before the voters. The slots may also get overtaken by a proposed constitutional amendment that will be on the November ballot and would allow four full-fledged casinos, one each in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo.
Still, Frank J. Fahrenkopf Jr., president of the American Gaming Association, said states had plenty of reasons to want to expand gambling.
“Even though our revenues are down during the recession, bringing a casino into a community will still provide new jobs, new tax revenues, new opportunities for local vendors and other benefits that didn’t exist before,” Mr. Fahrenkopf said. “It isn’t surprising that as consumers are tightening their wallets, and with less discretionary spending for entertainment, they are spending less when they visit casinos, too.”
About 60 percent of people who participate in casino gambling have cut back on spending on the activity, according to a 2008 national survey conducted by the association.
Despite the downturn, revenue from racinos grew this fiscal year, producing $2.9 billion in taxes and fees in 12 states compared with $2.7 billion the year before, a 6.7 percent increase.
But Ms. Dadayan of the Rockefeller Institute said the racino windfalls might be short-lived because slot profits usually soften with time as their novelty wears off and more states add machines.
If Pennsylvania and Indiana, where slots are new, are excluded, the total slot revenue from the other 10 states with racinos actually fell by $76 million in fiscal year 2009, a 4 percent decline.

Sen. Voinovich: "When it comes to gambling you can't be half pregnant".

2009-09-07T09:43:00.000-07:00

Friday, September 04, 2009 Reginald FieldsPlain Dealer Bureau ChiefColumbus- U.S. Sen. George Voinovich, a longtime gambling opponent, called out Gov. Ted Strickland on Thursday for flipping his position on gambling and authorizing slot machine betting at Ohio racetracks. Voinovich, speaking during a news conference called to oppose the slots plan and a separate casino issue, raised his voice, pounded a lectern and twice referred to God as the source that has helped opponents beat back every prior attempt at full-fledged gambling here. Strickland's office responded, saying the Democratic governor knew he would be criticized but offers no apologies for making the tough call for slots to help balance Ohio's budget.

Voinovich, a former Ohio governor and Cleveland mayor, recalled how Strickland joined him in 2006 to oppose a gambling ballot proposal and came out against another gambling proposal just last year, saying it was bad for Ohio families and not the route to economic recovery. Strickland's plan, backed by the state legislature and approved in July, legalizes up to 17,500 slot machines at Ohio's seven horse-racing tracks under the authority of the Ohio Lottery. "Based on his past comments, he knows this is not in the best interest of Ohio families," Voinovich charged. "These slots will run 24 hours a day and be available to even people who aren't old enough to buy alcoholic beverages. "And I think he's got to understand," the Republican senator continued, "that when it comes to gambling, you can't be half-pregnant. The expansion of the lottery is opening the door to full-blown gambling in this state." Strickland's office took Voinovich's criticism in stride, saying it had few other options for balancing the budget for the next two years in light of Ohio's depressing economic outlook. Strickland is counting on the slots plan to bring in $933 million between now and June 2011. "The world changed tremendously about a year ago with the collapse of Lehman Brothers when Ohio began to face a lingering national recession which led to a shortfall in this state," said Strickland spokeswoman Amanda Wurst.
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http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2009/09/sen_george_voinovich_blasts_sl.html

Oh The Pain!

2009-09-01T14:14:00.000-07:00

The University of Louisiana Board of Supervisors met one week after they partied hearty with Pat Banitar (Patricia Mae Andrzejewski to her friends) at the Paragon Casino in Marksville, LA, and rubber stamped the "plan" from the lsujc/nelscu/nlu/ulm to furlough surviving faculty and staff and fire 36 faculty and staff. The lies, Cofer told the faculty that if they taught for free no one would be fired; Cofer told the NewsStar there would be no furloughs because the faculty were working for free; Cofer told KNOE TV there would be no programs eliminated. Economics, Occupuational Theraphy, Philosophy, Entrepreneurship, and Home Economics have been killed, forever. Aviation, Agriculture, and Dental Hygiene are on life support. But who cares about the chronic illnesses at ULM? Well obviously not the governor's people on the Board of Supervisors.

Maybe the Board of Regents and her highness Sally Clausen EdD will do something this week at their board meeting. She hired Cofer. Or the Regents who have budget authority over all higher education might block these furloughs and firings. But alas, the closest board member to Monroe, LA, is the morally and professionally conflicted District Attorney of Lincoln Parish and of counsel at Hudson Potts and Bernstein law firm, Robert Levy.

Louisiana Mississippi casinos stop new construction, loose jobs

2009-08-18T13:25:00.000-07:00

Written by LAN SAYRE
NEW ORLEANS (AP) – With the recession tightening gamblers’ wallets, Louisiana and Mississippi state-licensed casinos registered drops in wagering revenue in April.
Mississippi casinos recorded an 11.7 percent fall from $232.8 million in March to $205.4 million in April, the State Tax Commission reported Tuesday.

In Louisiana, riverboat casinos, Harrah’s downtown New Orleans casino and the four slot casinos at racetracks won $202.6 million in April, down 7.1 percent from $218.1 million in March, state police reported.

It was the fourth consecutive month of revenue drops for Louisiana casinos, which, for some time, had resisted economic pressure and enjoyed strong figures while markets such as Nevada and New Jersey experienced double-digit drops.

Mississippi casino winnings from January to April dropped 7.9 percent this year to $872.8 million from $947.8 million for the first four months of 2008. In Louisiana, the drop was much less: 1.5 percent to $864.9 million from $878.5 million.

Industry analysts said Indian reservation casinos are offering competition for Texas customers of casinos in the Shreveport-Bossier City area of northwest Louisiana. Indian-operated casinos in Florida also are stepping up competition for Mississippi Gulf Coast casinos that draw from eastern Gulf states.

Larry Gregory, executive director of the Mississippi Gaming Commission, said the results show regional, drive-to markets are faring much better during the recession than larger gambling meccas.
“People are just not hopping on a plane and going,” Gregory said.
Mississippi Gulf Coast casinos won $92.7 million last month, down from $101.9 million in March, while those along the Mississippi River took in $112.8 million, down from the March figure of $130.9 million.
“We’re still seeing the same amount of visitors, but they’re apparently not spending as much,” Gregory said.

In Louisiana, the Shreveport-Bossier City market, which has five riverboats and the Louisiana Downs track casino, took in $64.8 million last month, down from $69.4 million in April. The Lake Charles market, with three riverboats and the Delta Downs track casino, won $53 million, a slide from $58.1 million in March. Both markets are heavily dependent upon Texas gamblers.

The New Orleans market, which has two riverboats, the downtown casino and the Fair Grounds track casino, won $54 million in April, a fall from $58.4 million in March. The two riverboats in Baton Rouge won $17.9 million in April, a drop from March’s $18.8 million.
The single riverboat in the Morgan City area took in $4.4 million last month, down from $4.6 million in March. The Evangeline Downs track casino at Opelousas won $8.6 million in April, a dip from $8.7 million in March.

The two states’ figures do not include Indian reservation casinos, which are not required to publicly report winnings.

The slowdown in both states is cutting casino employment and delaying new casino projects.
According to the American Gaming Association, casino jobs fell 6 percent – or 1,830 – year in Mississippi to 28,740, while employment in Louisiana dropped 4.1 percent – or 740 jobs – to 17,268.

In Biloxi, Harrah’s Entertainment Inc. has put the $700 million Margaritaville Casino & Resort project on hold. In Louisiana, Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. has received five-month delays in its plans for two riverboat casino projects totaling $600 million for Lake Charles and Baton Rouge. In addition to a slowdown in play, casino companies find construction financing virtually impossible to get because of the national credit meltdown.

Last Supper for James Cofer EdD this Saturday

2009-08-14T20:04:00.000-07:00

When the parents of the meager number of 2009 Summer graduates of ULM enter Fant-Ewing Coliseum, they will greeted by an extra chair on the head stage for Her Highness the Commissioner of Higher Education, Sally Clausen EdD ($377,000 salary). Seems she called at the last second demanding a place.

The last time Sally came for a tête-à-tête with a president at ULM it was Lawson Swearingen, Jr. JD. During their private din-din in the Tower of Power, she lowered the sword of Damocles on Swearingen. He was gone in a few months after, although half of his salary was still paid from the ULM operating budget until last year.

This time Sally is coming to sup with James Cofer Ed.D ($252,886 salary on the table), and the odds are very good that they won’t be talking about the mostly women faculty and staff assassinated this summer by him and his Gang of Four; nor will they be discussing the myriad of successful academic programs he and the Gang of Four have killed; nor will they be talking about the miserable failure of his athletic programs.

No one in the legislature or the boards of higher education and control really cares a wit about faculty, staff, academic programs, or students for that matter. Sally and Jim will be talking about the $80,000,000 in debt that Cofer has saddled the state with for the construction of “dormitories.”

You see up to now Cofer has only been paying a smidgen of the interest on this money from the ULM budget. This school year he has to start paying all the interest and when the final domino falls in a couple of years he will have to pay the principal too. For a school with enrollment levels being maintained by concurrently enrolled high school students who do not occupy dormitories, where is the money going to come from?

So Saturday Jimmy will be served his last supper a la Swearingen by Sally and Airmark Inc. Sayonara Jimmy Boy.

Gambling Bills in the 2009 Louisiana Legislature

2009-06-28T13:58:00.000-07:00

Monroe, LA: There were 13 gambling bills submitted to the 2009 Louisiana Legislative Session: SB 192, SCSR1, HB123, HB124, HB361, HB844, SB192, HB596, HB635, HB714, HB844, HB886, and SB188 excluding HB1, HB2 and HB881 that referenced gambling. The greatest number submitted involved riverboats (6), next was video poker (4), and last was video bingo (3).

SB188 by Alario expands the use of revenues produced from the gaming fee collected by Jefferson Parish from riverboat gaming (gov.sig) and included a special one-time expenditure not to exceed one million dollars to provide for construction, repairs, or rehabilitation of storm-damaged properties for the towns for Grand Isle and Lafitte was signed by the governor. HB361 by Templet amends provisions of the law regarding designated representatives (requires a video poker licensee to obtain conviction records of a job applicant to determine if the applicant meets the suitability requirements provided for in Subsection A, whatever) was signed by the governor. HB124 by Wooten for truck stop video poker was sent to the governor.

HB714 by Norton, HB596 by Williams, HB635 by Kleckley, HB886 by Williams, SB192 by Long and HB 844 by G. Smith failed to get out of committee or were voted down in the House. SCSR1 by Long is interesting because it authorizes a study of the impact of video bingo in Louisiana and the effect on the charitable organizations that receive a portion of the proceeds. Apparently this was a dump of SB192 which would have prohibited video bingo in parishes that outlawed video poker.

Cofer On Clausen's Hit List

2009-06-19T06:38:00.000-07:00

Monroe-The rumor mill is repeatedly reporting that James Cofer's ($252,886/yr on-the-table President of the Local University) employment contract will not be renewed. This time they are coming from Dr. Sally Clausen's Regents Headquarters in Baton Rouge. Well placed sources say Cofer will be replaced on an interim basis by Clausen's long-time friend and the Vice President of Student Affairs, Wayne Brumfeld. Perhaps that explains why Cofer was nowhere near Piyushi Jindal's press conference on the V-Vehicle last Wednesday, June 17, 2009.

The Gamblers Never Sleep

2009-06-19T06:26:00.000-07:00

Monroe-The Monroe Downtown Development group currently run by city employee Myra Gatling held a triple-secret meeting yesterday, June 18, 2009 at Wayne Williamson's Office, WilStaff. Revealed at the meeting was a revised plan by Wayne Williamson, devoted member of First Baptist Church of West Monroe, to bring a gambling boat to Monroe. This time it's the Isle of Capris from Shreveport. During the meeting Mr. Williamson, who is reportedly mending fences with his current wife, stated flatly that every elected official was in favor of his idea except State Senator Bob Kostelka. Williamson said also that he planned to have the legislation that exempted the Ouachita River from the list of navigable waterways in Louisiana and written by former Speaker of the House Jim Dimos declared unconstitutional. That would lower the flood gates so to speak for high stakes gambling in Monroe.

V-Vehicle: Smoke and Mirrors So Far

2009-06-17T13:56:00.000-07:00

East Ouachita Parish-Piyush Jindal showed up at the old Guide Plant today around 11:30 am to announce that the taxpayers of Louisiana and these United States would be paying $82, 000,000 real dollars to GNF Architechs and Gray Construction to remodel the plant and to build a new one beside it to manufacture an as of yet undiscribed concept car called the v-vehicle, in three years!

Friends this is the new economic investment model. The State of Louisiana and these United States of America builds a turnkey-ready company and hands it over to a private investment group for about 10 cents on the dollar.

Does this remind you at all of the Alaskan bridge to nowhere? The Louisiana bridge to nowhere? A pig in the poke is what we used to call it. Betting on the come is another phrase for it. Most recently build it and they will come covers it.

Shades of there’s a sucker born every minute. What is it granddad used to say, “If it sounds too good to be true; it is” The last person to offer turnkey businesses was EWE: the gambling boats and the nursing homes. He’s still in jail. So who is going to jail on this deal? It won’t be the concept peddlers from San Diego, that’s in California you all.

Walter Abbott Announces A New Lincoln Parish Political Blog

2009-06-12T11:52:00.000-07:00

Long-time anti-gambling force in Louisiana, Walter Abbott, has announced the formation of a new political blog in Lincoln Parish Louisiana. He says he will cover city council meetings, police jury meetings, Sparta aquifer meetings, Louisiana Tech public relations bashes, and the like. He will be a healthy competitor for John Hays, Publisher of the Morning Paper. Good luck Walter!

Cofer Secretly Applies For Another Job Away From North Monroe

2009-06-12T11:45:00.000-07:00

BREAKING NEWS-COFER SECRETLY APPLIES TO BE COMMISIONER OF EDUCATION IN MISSISSIPPI

Cofer has done it again, applied for yet another job in higher education, commissioner of education in Mississippi. He probably only told one person in north Monroe that he had applied, the chairman of the University Foundation whose step-son he has given a $100,000 plus salary while he is dismissing tenured faculty left and right. And guess what, he didn’t get the job. Cofer is now 0-3 in getting jobs away from north Monroe.

One little fact has leaked out about his application. Seems a retired Mississippi State University business professor showed up to talk with decision makers about Cofer getting the job and told them how Cofer had tried to use political influence to get his doctorate in business from Mississippi State. He didn’t get it though. He’s got and EdD from University of Arkansas Little Rock.

Oh, why did he tell the Chairmn of the University Foundation what he was up to, why so that chairman could go out and get him some more money from the Foundation account. And for what? Cofer promised when he got his current job he would increase enrollment to 10,000; it’s 8754 and ever falling; and he promised a 60% graduation rate. The American Enterprise Institute reports that his school has a graduation rate of 32%.

2009-02-22T12:47:00.001-08:00

February 20, 2009 (Ran In www.thenewsstar.com February 22, 2009)

Dear Editor:

Presidential candidate Jindal has announced that he might not take the federal stimulus money available for Louisiana; yet at the same time Mr. Jindal announces that Louisiana is nearly $2,000,000,000 in debt. Clearly Mr. Jindal is not concerned about the people who elected him to office. Mr. Jindal is more concerned about attracting a perceived national voting base important only to someone running for president.

Mr. Jindal came into office with a $2.000.000.000 surplus. Where has all the money gone? Mr. Gingrich one of his presidential campaign managers states on national television that Mr. Jindal is doing a wonderful job; that in spite of the difficult economic times Mr. Jindal has created new jobs in Louisiana. But the only jobs Mr. Jindal has created are 4,500 state jobs. So much for capitalism.

First of all Mr. Jindal has never held a real job. He has lived off of taxpayer’s money from start to finish: first for Congressman McCrery, then for Governor Foster, then for Senator Breaux, then as a Congressman, and now as a Governor. Mr. Jindal has never received a real check and never paid any real income taxes. A word for someone like Mr. Jindal is opportunist

If you want to see your governor Louisiana, then you had better be in North Carolina, Virginia, Iowa, Texas, Arkansas, or Florida. And you had better bring money!

2009-02-07T09:03:00.000-08:00

Dear Editor:

Well there he goes again; Governor Jindal flew off for two days to North Carolina. While Louisiana “burns” up in debt, Governor Jindal goes off a “fiddling” around for presidential campaign contributions in Charlotte and Raleigh/Durham. What will it take to get our governor.to sit at our desk and work day in and day out to turn our economy around?

For example, it seems there is a company, NUCOR, in North Carolina that was considering building a steel manufacturing plant in Louisiana. It would seem logical to visit North Carolina to seal the deal and get NUCOR to come to Louisiana. But logic is not politic. Now it has been reported that NUCOR will probably go to Brazil instead.

A KNOE straw poll taken after the governor’s junket was reported by the AP showed that well over 60% of those voting thought Governor Jindal should not have made the trip. The last time polls were that bad was when Governor Jindal went AWOL on the legislative pay raises. Maybe Governor Jindal will stop all the gallivanting around for the same reason he stopped the pay raise, his election poll numbers are tanking.

U.S. States Losing Bets On Casinos, Other Gambling

2009-01-16T12:09:00.000-08:00

from my friend ms. berlin:

U.S. states losing bets on casinos, other gambling01.15.09, 05:09 PM EST By Karen Pierog and Jim Christie CHICAGO/SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 15 (Reuters) - A number of U.S. states this decade bet the house on winning a share of legalized gambling's swelling jackpot. Industry revenues reached $91 billion in 2006, the latest year for which data is available from the American Gaming Association, thanks to a spree of casino openings beyond Nevada and New Jersey, states that long ago opted to sanction casinos. But with the U.S. economy in a year-long recession and consumers hoarding cash should hard times continue, casinos may no longer prove cash cows for state coffers -- as Kansas can attest. Kansas enacted a law for the first state-owned casinos in the U.S. in April, 2007, betting that $200 million could be raised annually for debt reduction, capital improvements and property tax relief. Now nearly two years later, private casino developers such as Penn National Gaming, LLC, and International Speedway Corp have dropped their plans for three out of the four casino sites, citing ailing economic conditions world wide. The Kansas Lottery, which is overseeing the state's foray into gambling, has reopened the bidding process but Keith Kocher, the state's gaming facilities director, doubts Kansas will meet the $200 million estimate. 'We feel certain we'll have bidders but probably for more scaled-down projects than before,' he said. With the U.S. economy in recession, consumers are reining in spending, including dollars many would have feverishly gambled in better times. States that had bet on the casino boom earlier this decade helping fill their coffers may be in store for a losing streak. 'This is not a long-term budget balancer,' said Robert Ward, deputy director of the Rockefeller Institute, which studies state and local government. 'There is a danger that the big growth period (for casinos) may be coming to an end.' ILLINOIS CASINO BIDS MISS TARGET In Illinois, officials had planned on pulling in $575 million from the sale of the state's long-dormant 10th casino license to help balance its fiscal 2009 budget, which is at least $2 billion in the red. But none of the three bidder finalists offered that much and the Illinois Gaming Board last month tapped the lowest bidder, Midwest Gaming & Entertainment LLC. It bid $125 million for a casino in the Chicago suburb of Des Plaines, along with a pledge of $10 million annually over 30 years. None of that money is expected to flow to the state in time to help the current budget, according to a legislative financial commission. Meanwhile, state tax revenue from the nine existing casinos dropped 32 percent to $46 million in December compared to $67.6 million in December 2007. California is likewise collecting weaker-than-expected revenue from the state's Indian casinos. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger early in his administration touted tribal casinos as an important source of new revenue for the state government. Today, however, tribal leaders fear hard times are in store for their casinos. One tribe recently wrote to Schwarzenegger to inform him it would halt an expansion of its gambling operations, which had held the promise of additional revenue for the state. 'Tribal casinos and other casinos nationwide are experiencing a lot of issues with relation to the pullback in consumer spending,' said Jason Dickerson, gambling policy analyst at the California Legislative Analyst's Office. 'There seems to be a broad consumer pullback on gambling,' Dickerson said. 'There was among some a view that casino gambling was this endless source of revenue that would never stop growing. But what we've seen in this recession is that that's just not true.' The recession has also deflated expectations in Ohio, where the state introduced Keno in August to raise money for primary and secondary schools. So far the wagering game has generated $45.6 million in sales, raising about $11.4 million for education. That is below projections it would achieve $292 million in sales its first full year with $73 million earmarked for schools. 'Those initial projections are high considering what the economy is at this point,' said Marie Kilbane, a spokeswoman for the Ohio Lottery. (Reporting by Karen Pierog in Chicago and Jim Christie in San Francisco, Editing by Chizu Nomiyama) Keywords: MUNICIPALS CASINOS/ (karen.pierog@thomsonreuters.com; 1 312 408 8647; Reuters Messaging: karen.pierog.reuters.com@reuters.net)Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved.

Defeat Gambling Issue In Teller County Colorado

2008-12-17T09:50:00.000-08:00

Dear Editor (Colorado Springs Gazette):

I strongly oppose the vote in Teller County to expand gambling in Cripple Creek. The limits on gambling were placed there for good reason: gambling destroys families.

For one example, just look at what happened in Woodland Park (Teller County, CO) where a long-time finance department worker embezzled $582,922 for gambling from the school district's general fund, and that happened with the current limits on gambling.

Family members told arresting officers their mother "had attempted suicide" and left a note admitting her guilt. Just imagine what affect this tragedy will have on the family unit, husband and two sons.

I urge all of my friends at the Family Forum to call all of their friends in Teller County and urge them to defeat this family ruining measure.

Dewey Lee Fletcher to be named Chief of Staff in 4th CD

2008-12-09T13:42:00.000-08:00

Unusually reliable sources report that Louisiana Ouachita Parish public relations executive Lee Fletcher will be named Chief of Staff by newly elected Louisiana 4th District Congressman John. Sweeny. Fletcher worked for 5th CD Congressman John Cooksey for about two years until he was allegedly eased out. Before that Fletcher worked for 5th CD Congressman Jim McCrery. Fletcher ran for 5th CD Congressman against Rodney Alexander and was defeated when his votes were diluted by Religious Right candidate Jack Wright. Word is Fletcher will be the real Congressman in the Shreveport until Dr. Sweeny, like Dr. Cooksey before him, figures Fletcher out.

Mr. Jindal AWOL

2008-12-06T10:24:00.000-08:00

Dear Editor:

To Mr. Shexnayder, Ph.D. (The NewsStar, December 5) instead of the wunderkind you defend, what you see is definitely not what we get.

Instead of doing his job in Louisiana when all the paper mills are closing, he's in Iowa campaigning for president. He arrives in his helicopter after the International Paper company announces the loss of 540 jobs in Bastrop to offer his “condolences”. He announces a "secret meeting" of his handlers with "officials" at Smurfit-Stone in Hodge after they have already closed the plant.

He goes to Philadelphia to meet the president-elect, but won't answer phone calls from the press asking how he traveled there in the face of the stink about the three car companies privately flying to D.C. for a bailout.

He goes to Florida for the republic governor’s conference and the Beacon Hill Institute’s Competitiveness Report announces that Louisiana is next to last in attracting and retaining businesses that contribute to economic growth He ran the state health department and the American Public Health Association announces Louisiana is the unhealthiest state in the United States.

Mr. Jindal was AWOL when he ran the health department, AWOL when he ran higher education, and he's AWOL now as governor.

SECOND CASINO PULLS OUT OF KANSAS

2008-11-25T10:47:00.001-08:00

HARRAH’S FOLLOWS PENN NATIONAL OUT OF KANSAS Posted: November 24, 2008
How quickly things can change in just a few months. Harrah’s Entertainment became the second developer to say “thanks, but no thanks” to Kansas, dropping its plans to develop and operate a state-owned casino in Sumner County. Citing the "current economic conditions and the unprecedented disruption in the financial markets," the company will not build the proposed $535 million resort the south-central part of the state, according to a statement. The statement said it "was impossible" to finance the project now. Back in August, the Kansas Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board awarded a Harrah’s Entertainment-led partnership, Sumner Resorts-Harrah’s, one of fourth licenses to develop the new casinos in the state. Penn National was also awarded one of the contracts, but pulled out of the deal, claiming a tribal casino that opened this summer posed too much competition in a small marketplace. Cherokee County, where Penn National won its contract, has since sued the Pennsylvania-based operator for more than $52 million in damages and has won a temporary order from a local judge attaching a lien to a $25 million state gambling “privilege fee” that was due to be refunded to the company.

2008-10-24T14:57:00.000-07:00

from a very gifted writer i know

Just this evening I went to Central Market to get some chicken and vegetable kabobs for grilling. I'm wearing an Obama t-shirt that says "VOTE NOV 4th" on it and I'm just passed the bokchoy and Chinese eggplant, when a nebbish man in his late 40's approaches me.
"I just voted!" he says in fortissimo. An "I VOTED!" sticker on his shirt confirmed this.

"Great, I voted on Monday", I responded, now passing the hot house cucumbers.

"...but I didn't vote for that guy" he continues, pointing to my shirt. Editor's Note: (the post thought scenario has me slapping him like Sidney Poitier in In The Heat of the Night at this point)

"How long have you hated America?", I asked curtly.

He is clearly taken aback by my jab, but his retort is undecipherable.. drowned out by the guffaws of my fellow Austinites (arrugula eating liberals, whose ears had perked from beyond the pummelos and blood oranges). His lips kept moving, but I was relentless with scathing commentary that crescendoed at "Javoll, mein führer! Javol, mein führer!'.
...And that's when he reached for the onion.

It was the size of a baseball, and his thumb rubbed the dry skin like a pitcher waiting on a sign. He must've thought he was an "old guard" Texas gun fighter until the snickering made his blood boil right there in front of the comice pears. In the end it was less like Sergio Leone in the produce aisle and more like a grade school stand off. After he threw the onion back into the pile (knocking several to the floor), both parties walked away upset. I felt a little like a bully, partly because the crowd was on my side. But don't bullies always start the fights? I didn't start this fight, but I didn't stop it either. I wanted it. Palpable catharsis. Revenge. For 8 years of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Guilty and shamed by my soiled reputation as a citizen of this world. So... I let Joe the Plumber have it. I stuck the knife in and twisted off the handle, deepening the social divide I so despise (and have repudiated) in an unconscionable attempt to assuage my anger. But still "the blood dries slowly" Kafka said...and old wounds die hardly.

I hope he doesn't beat his wife.

Ruth Ulrich Elected As Louisiana's Republicn National Committee Woman

2008-08-27T11:20:00.000-07:00

Breaking News

According to non-country club republican sources, the Honorable Kay Kellogg Katz has been replaced as Louisiana’s National Republican Woman’s Representative. By a vote of 144-27 (84% of the votes cast) Ms. Ruth Ulrich (www.ruthulrich.com) of Monroe was elected and will represent Louisiana at the National Convention in Minnesota. As I recall some $122,259.58 (Campaign Finance Report Dated 10/03/2007) was raised to return Ms. Katz to office last Fall precisely because she was a member of the National Republican Committee. Makes a grown person wonder.

Dean of College of Pharmacy Resigns Suddenly

2008-08-26T13:42:00.000-07:00

Breaking news

Dean Lamar Pritchard of the ULM College of Pharmacy e-mailed his faculty on Friday, August 22, 2008, to announce that he was resigning his position. There was a mad scramble by the administration to cta's. Here's the skinny. During the 2008 legislative session the Dean was in Baton Rouge visiting with the northeast Louisiana Delegation and asking for money for the School of Pharmacy. The legislators responded, "We gave you money last year. Why are you asking for more?" The Dean's response was, "We didn't get the money you gave us last year!" The legislators, all men and women of courage, called the administration asking/demanding an explanation of the Dean's remarks in Baton Rouge. Again, ever adroit at cta's, the administration said there must be some mistake. Yeah, the mistake was the Dean talked to the legislators! There's more involving the accreditation process, promises made but unfunded by the administration, but that's inside pool.

Will The Pall Never Lift From The Side Of Monroe North Of Forsythe?

2008-08-16T13:55:00.000-07:00

Will the pall never lift from the side of Monroe north of Forsythe? They woke up Wednesday morning to an above-the-fold 8 X 10 of school board member Mrs. Brenda Shelling hugging, have you, the neck of the new superintendent of the Monroe City School System--the fired-twice old superintendent of the Monroe City School System!

What is a body on the side of Monroe north of Forsythe to do? It surely shakes their faith in old man Machiavelli who, of course, currently resides among the-powers-that-be on the side of Monroe north of Forsythe.

You see, Ms. Shelling was quite literally wined and dined at the fashionable Sage Restaurant by the side of Monroe north of Forsythe to get her vote to fire the superintendent, and she did it once, along with the Rev. Rodney McFarland, 5-2 Then Rev. McFarland reversed his vote on a second vote, but Ms. Shelling stuck with the side of Monroe north of Forsythe, 4-3. Moving forward, you say?

So let’s get a gaggle of people—some who don’t even live in Monroe-- to spend a lot of time searching for a new superintendent, pay the interview expenses of a bunch of gullible candidates, and pay an old member of the school board (OldMSB) from the side of Monroe north of Forsythe an annualized salary of $112,000 to jerk their collective chains. A formula for success, you say?

Then Wednesday night forsaking the advisory committee’s time, the search expenses, the jerk your chain OldMSB’s expenses, all of her gifts, favors and gift-givers, Mrs. Shelling votes to keep the superintendent she voted twice to fire. As the Sage once said, “The best laid plans of mice and men (and Machiavelli) often go awry".

Did the ULS Board Approve International Travel for Two Of President Cofer's Employees

2008-08-11T09:22:00.000-07:00

July 31, 2008

President Randy Moffett
University of Louisiana System
1201 N 3rd St.
Suite 7-300
Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Dear President Moffett:

I have enclosed an article from the Monroe News Star which states that the University of Louisiana-Monroe will pay for the travel expenses of two of its employees to China for the opening of the Olympics. If my memory serves me correctly, international travel must be approved by the Board of the Louisiana System. Since the article indicates this trip was thrown together at the last minute, I just wonder if board approval has been granted for the trip by two of Dr. Cofer’s employees. I would appreciate it very much if you would check into this and let me know if Board approval was granted for this trip.

Show Trial of the 21st Century Begins in Monroe

2008-08-08T12:27:00.000-07:00

Show Trial of the 21st Century Begins in Monroe, LA

The ghost of Huey P. Long was surely present this morning to witness the preliminary hearing for the Friends of Francis (Thompson) show trial in U. S. District Court in Monroe. Magistrate Karen Hays was presiding.

But there was no Senator Francis Thompson.

Present were a slice, dare I say all, of Richland Parish landed gentry. All the wives, ex-wives, girl friends, ex-girlfriends, servants, fully three generations of Thompsons and their political cronies were part of a standing room only crowd in the court room.

Starting with Mr. Coenen and his notorious attorney Mike Small of Alexandria, each defendant was called to the bar to be sworn in and Mirandized. Magistrate Hays read a description of the charges and the potential sentences and fines to each defendant and asked them if they understood the charges and penalties. In each case they answered in the affirmative. In each case their attorneys entered a plea of not guilty on all charges. The United States is represented by Ms. Mignon Griffin.

It would not be a stretch to say that these normally jovial and back-slapping politically powerful folks were deadly serious today. I am sure some sphincter muscles were seriously puckered up under those imported Brooks Brothers suits.

Could this be the “last hurrah” for the Thompson clan? Will they soon join their political buddy Edwin Edwards in the Marksville Federal Pen? Stay on-line for more information.

University of Louisiana Monroe in the News

2008-08-04T09:30:00.000-07:00

Remember that report about Northeast University not paying $347,989.04 in payroll taxes (Tax Lien with UCC, Bk 2694, pg. 278 in The Ouachita Parish edition of the Legal Recorder, Inc. dated July 8, 2008)? Well it turns out not paying payroll taxes to the IRS is a federal crime. For example, the Department of Justice July 30, 2008) just announced the sentencing of a former Fort Worth nursing home executive to 10 years in federal prison for among other things not paying payroll taxes. President Cofer may be doing the perp walk very soon!

Oh my, the August 1, 2008, The Morning Paper, the best investigative newspaper in Louisiana, reports that Northeast University only received $2,000,000 from this year’s capital outlay budget. Here’s the complete list: McNeese State $34.99 million, ULL $24.62 million, Louisiana Tech $21.96 million, Grambling $14.13 million, Northwestern State $17.25 million, Southeastern Louisiana $10.1 million. In a year when the Louisiana budget was bursting with dollars, northeast got $15 million less than the average awarded to all the members of the University of Louisiana System. Rumor has it that, just like before President Swearingen got the ax from Sally Clausen, the Louisiana legislature is cutting off the money to President Cofer before he gets the ax from President Moffett!

gambing in kansas

2008-07-21T11:22:00.000-07:00

This letter to the editor was published in the Wichita Eagle Beacon, Friday, July 18. 2008.

Dear Editor:

This past weekend I visited family in Wichita and was appalled to see the amount of uncritical coverage your paper gave to gambling: three reporters and over 1,000 words.

It truly saddens me what has happened to Kansas since I left in 1969 with my graduate degree.

Gambling my Midwestern friends is not economic development. Gambling preys on those less fortunate folks who already cannot provide for themselves. Gambling destroys families Gambling buys local politicians like so many sacks of wheat. Gambling leaves a pittance behind temporarily and takes the lion's share of the profits to Las Vegas.

I urge all those who voted to keep organized gambling out of Wichita to join with their neighbors in Mulvane and Wellington to oppose gambling with every fiber of their bodies. For Gambling like a buzzard will suck the last morsel off the bones of a decaying and dying community. .Just come visit Louisiana last in everything good and first in everything bad if you don’t believe it.

RUMOR HAS IT

2008-07-18T11:16:00.000-07:00

RUMOR HAS IT……..

Today is former Ouachita Parish police juror Kim Golden’s last day as administrative assistant to Monroe Mayor James Mayo. Her replacement is former Ouachita Parish police juror, the Rev. King Dawson.

James Cofer late of the race to become President of the University of Louisiana System is being sued by the Federal Government for $347,989.04 in unpaid payroll taxes for contract employees.

James Dupree currently terminated superintendent of the Monroe City School System has the four votes needed to return to his job for one more year.

Rumor has it that Monroe City Councilman and winner of a recent million dollar lottery will resign his position and cake walk into a 4th district court position. It’s possible that Mr. Johnson is legally blind, which by all accounts is a requirement for a district court position in Ouachita Parish.

Finally, rumor has it that Monroe City Councilman Jay Marx will be resigning his position because of an “ethical problem” involving his hardware store doing business with the City of Monroe. Of course, who knows what an “ethical problem” is anymore under the Jindal administration?

U Can't Play The Game Without A Program

2008-07-10T13:49:00.000-07:00

Yours truly would truly love to be running for congress in the 5th Congressional District, but that would mean I give a damn about Louisiana. Here is a list of those signing up to run in the Fall taken from the wwl web site. If any body asks where biggs is this weekend you just tell them I've gone to the courts, tennis that is.

List of qualifiers to run in this fall's electionsWWL.com Reporting
1st Congressional DistrictSteve Scalise (i), R-JeffersonJim Harlan, D-Lacombe"Vinny" Mendoza, D-Ponchatoula

2nd Congressional DistrictWilliam Jefferson (i), D-New OrleansTroy ``C'' Carter, D-New OrleansHelena Moreno, D-New OrleansByron Lee, D-MarreroCedric Richmond, D-New OrleansJames Carter, D-New OrleansKenya Smith, D-New OrleansJerry Jacobs, No Party-New OrleansMalik Rahim, Green-New Orleans3rd Congressional DistrictCharlie Melancon (i), D-Napoleonville.

4th Congressional DistrictWillie Banks, D-LacampArtis ``Doc'' Cash, D-ShreveportPaul Carmouche, D-ShreveportJohn Fleming, R-MindenJeff Thompson, R-Bossier CityChris Gorman, R-ShreveportJohn Milkovich, D-Keithville

5th Congressional DistrictRodney Alexander (i), R-QuitmanAndrew Clack, R-Rayville

6th Congressional DistrictWilliam ``Bill'' Cassidy, R-Baton RougeDon Cazayoux (i), D-Baton Rouge

7th Congressional DistrictCharles Boustany (i), R-LafayetteDon Cravins, D-OpelousasLouisiana

Supreme Court, Associate Justice, 1st DistrictRoland Belsome, D-New OrleansGreg Guidry, R-Nine Mile PointJimmy Kuhn, R-Ponchatoula.

Louisiana Supreme Court, Associate Justice, 5th DistrictCatherine ``Kitty'' Kimball (i), D-Ventress.

Public Service Commission, District 1Jack ``Jay'' Blossman Jr. (i), R-MandevilleJohn Schwegmann, No Party-Metairie

Public Service Commission, District 5Foster Campbell (i), D-Bossier City.

Don't you just love those nicknames y'all.

Series on Gambling Continues

2008-07-08T14:11:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, I vigorously oppose gambling in all forms; it's a bad deal for Louisiana. Here's more reasons why from 2theadvocate.com

Marsha Shuler went to the ethics board (now completely vacant under Governor Jindal) to survey the 2007 income that legislators, their spouses and businesses received from government entities and the gambling industry. Here is a little of what she found.

Forty-four out of 104 current Louisiana House members reported government or gambling-related income by either themselves, their spouses or their businesses in 2007 as did 19 of 38 current Louisiana Senate members.

I am, of course, most interested in the money from gambling, so here goes. Rep. Ernest Wooten, R-Belle Chasse, the chair of the Louisiana House committee with oversight over gambling laws, received $16,000 from Redman Gaming of Louisiana LLC, a video poker business. The husband of state Senator "Queen" Ann Duplessis, received $43,500 from Churchill Downs Horse Racing Company. Rep. Willie Mount, D-Lake Charles, a lawyer, received $3,573 from Redman Gaming of Louisiana LLC. Rep. Ricky Templet, R-Gretna received $9,197 from Metro Gaming & Amusement Company. Rep. Jerry Gisclair, D-Larose, received $65,000 in radio station income from gambling interests. Rep. Gordon Dove, R-Houma, reported that a restaurant in which he is part owner receive $23,328 from B & L Amusements Company, related to video poker operations. My Texas Instruments calculator says that's $160,598 from gambling to legislators.

The Secretary of State's Office reports that Metro Gaming and Amusement is at 1800 Lafayette St., Gretna, 70053. President is Beuregard H. Miller, Jr., 77 Derbes Drive, the Vice-President is Arthur S. Lawson, Jr., 20 Derbes Drive, and the Secretary/Treasurer is Manuel J. Licciardi, 237 Fairfield Dr., all of Gretna. [It also reports on a Metro Gaming Investments, L.L.C. of 1800 Lafayette St. Gretna, LA 70053. Members are Manuel J. Licciardi, Arthur S. Lawson, Jr., and Beauregard H. Miller, Jr.]

Churchill Downs Louisians Horseracing Company, L.L.C. is located at C/O C T Corporation System, 8550 United Plaza Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70809. Managers are Robert L. Evans, Steven P Sexton, and Randall E Soth all of 700 Central Avenue, Louisville, KY 40208

Finally, Redman Gaming of Louisiana, L.L.C. is located at C/O Frank J. Relan, 2424 Marietta Street, Kenner, LA 70062. managers are James P. Koehler, Frank J. Relan, and Bennie F. Relan all of 2424 Marietta Street, Kenner, LA 70062

There is no listing for B&L Amusement Co.

As you can read, gambling is an equal opportunity employer, republicans and democrats alike.

Speaker Tucker (On the Legislator's Pay Raise, "I' regret, but . . .

2008-07-02T11:00:00.000-07:00

from the times picayune

House speaker regrets handling of raise
But higher salaries needed, Tucker says
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
By Meghan GordonWest Bank bureau

Facing a room full of Algiers constituents, House Speaker Jim Tucker said he regretted the way he and fellow legislators went about their pay raise campaign, but he continued to defend its merits.

"If we had to do it over again, we sure wouldn't do it this way, that's for sure," he told about 100 people at Holy Cross College.

Tucker, a Republican, joined fellow Algiers legislators Rep. Jeff Arnold and Sen. David Heitmeier, both Democrats. Citizens had pointed questions for Tucker and Arnold, asking them to defend their votes to double their base salaries. Heitmeier, meanwhile, faced a much friendlier crowd.
"I voted no," he said, pretending to hand the microphone back to Tucker to the room's laughter and applause.

Tucker, who played a pivotal role in the bill's passage, is one of six lawmakers targeted with recall campaigns. The public vitriol subsided somewhat when Gov. Bobby Jindal vetoed the bill Monday, going back on his promise to lawmakers that he wouldn't intervene. The issue became the most controversial topic of the Legislature's session that ended last week.

Ursula Murphy of Algiers told the lawmakers that she was appalled to watch them boost their own pay when, back in the 1980s, she would have to trek to Baton Rouge every year as a Jefferson Parish school nurse to host ice cream parties as a ruse for begging for minuscule raises. She said her salary increased from about $10,000 to $17,000 in a decade.
"All you said was, 'I want the money,' and gave no explanation," she told them.
Murphy said she finally feels like a professional now that she works in the private sector as an occupational health nurse.

Tucker said he didn't support a similar legislative pay raise in 2005 because he said teacher pay was poor. He vowed not to tackle the issue until Louisiana made specific strides in financing public education.

"This year, teachers are going to go above the Southern regional average for the first time in history, and we've fully funded K-12 and higher education -- extremely important goals," he said.

With those accomplished, Tucker said, he found it appropriate to examine lawmakers' $16,800 annual salaries, which haven't grown in 28 years.
Arnold and Tucker both blamed bloggers and radio broadcasters for using false statements to stir up the controversy.

"The information that was put out, particularly through the blogs and through the radio, was so wrong in so many instances that it was hard to even begin to come back with the facts," Tucker said.

He said the legislation would not have given lawmakers fatter retirement benefits because politicians elected after 1999 aren't eligible for retirement. He said commentators also spoke of free cars and free health care plans that don't exist.

The duo also defended the proposed raises on the rationale that the Legislature must be a cross-section of the state's populace, not just the wealthy. Tucker said that while recruiting people to run during the last wave of elections, at least a dozen people turned him down on the basis of pay alone, including teachers, lawyers, a dentist and an architect.

"I saw that as a real problem for the state, because we have to have people of all walks of life to serve in the Legislature," he said.
Arnold said he was laid off from his bank job in the first week of the legislative session. He said his boss mentioned his long hours as a legislator as one reason he was selected in the round of staffing cuts.

Arnold said he felt justified voting for the raise and that he didn't take it lightly.
"It was definitely the hardest vote I've ever taken in the Legislature," he said, contrasting a somber scene in the House to the Senate's ebullient mood epitomized by the bill's author, Sen. Ann Duplessis, D-New Orleans, pumping her fist in the air.

Mark Jaunet of Algiers asked Tucker and Arnold what they learned from the process, if they had to do it all over again.
Arnold responded: "I would go to the governor and say, 'Give us a number you can live with. You give us the bill, and we'll run with.' "

Don Costello of Algiers said that plenty of good work done in the session has been overshadowed by the raises. He said the lawmakers just picked a terrible time to broach the subject, given the economy and gas prices. "Thank you for everything you've done," he said, generating vigorous applause.

Tucker agreed that the timing was horrible and said the only palatable avenue might be taking it out of the hands of the Legislature entirely with a constitutional amendment approved by voters. "I can't think of a good time to take up this issue," he said, returning to the difficulty of recruiting worthy lawmakers. "To see the possibility of (the Legislature) not being the best that it can be in the future bothers me."
. . . . . . .
Meghan Gordon can be reached at mgordon@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3785.
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Kostelka, 'I went to [Baton Rouge} to serve not to go broke

2008-07-01T09:46:00.000-07:00

Sen. Kostelka who admitted on KNOE that he voted to triple his salary remained defiant in his comments to the NewsStar reporter Greg Hilburn in the aftermath of the Governor’s veto of a bill doubling his salary. Yesterday, before the veto he told a constituent in a telephone call that the Governor was shallow and had no courage. I guess because he knew the Governor was going to veto the bill. He continued in that vain in the interview after the veto.

Can you imagine, here’s a guy who has served one four-year term at the current salary rate plus this year’s chair’s salary, about $30,000, and over $90,000 in retirement (assuming his appeals court salary was $150,000 and you use his KNOE interview multiplier of 60%) and about $100,000 as a "rain maker" for the Bole’s law firm steadfastly remains unrepentant in defeat. And that does not include what he reported he has in his re-election campaign fund.

“I went to [Baton Rouge] serve not to go broke!” he said arrogantly on KNOE.

I guess (like President Clinton) it all depends on what broke is; but I am confident that a lot of people in his senate district would relish the opportunity to be as broke as Bob Kostelka is!

Jindal Touches The Third Rail

2008-06-30T11:34:00.000-07:00

Today at 11:00 AM CDT Governor Jindal, shortly after the latest poll showed that the Governor Jindal’s approval rating had fallen to 40%, Governor Jindal announced to the press that he was vetoing the legislator’s pay raises.

The voter's writing has been on every wall in Louisiana, but the Governor Jindal blithely ignored their messages. Instead he stammered and stuttered inane reasons for not vetoing the legislator's pay raise from Shreveport, to Ruston, to Baton Rouge.

Finally, when the polling information reached his desk, Governor Jindal ran for cover, just the way he did when he was running Health and Hospitals and when he was running The Board of Trustees for State Colleges and Universities. Without his patrons, Mike Foster and John Breaux, when he was on his own, Governor Jindal touched the third rail.

Well, What Evil Works In The Hearts Of Men?

2008-06-26T21:39:00.000-07:00

Yesterday the U.S. Attorney in Shreveport, Donald Washington, announced the indictment of two Friends of State Senator Francis Thompson and his brother. The charge mail fraud involving public servants profiting from the sale of land to the state of Louisiana (i.e. Poverty Point Reservoir). All three, Michael L. “Mike” Thompson, Terry D. Denmon, and William R. “Billy” Coenen, Jr.have lawyered up. “Mike” Thompson age 59 has retained M. Allyn Stroud 48 year’s old of Weiner, Weiss & Madison of Shreveport. Terry D. Denmon age 64 has retained Carey B. Underwood 32 year’s old of Davenport, Files and Kelly of Monroe. “Billy” Coenen, Jr. age 61 has retained the one and only “We’ll clean their clock in court” J. Michael Small (age unknown) of Alexandria, who I believe represents Mr. Thompson in a previous indictment.

So, how long will it take the federales to turn one or more of these “honest and dedicated public servants” and get them to role over on their “decent” colleagues? How long before the second shoe falls on other Friends of Francis Thompson (FOF), other members of his family, and possibly the Senator himself? Only the Shadow knows and he ain’t talk’n r’ght now!.

A Pall Settled Over All Of Monroe, Louisiana

2008-06-26T09:46:00.000-07:00

Sometime after 2 PM yesterday a pall settled over all of Monroe, Louisiana, north of Forsythe Avenue, for it was at that time that the NewsStar web site reported that “Randy” Moffett the president of Southeastern Louisiana University, a 1-AA sports school with two directions in its name was named the new president of the University of Louisiana System and not Republican James Cofer, the president of the University of Louisiana at Monroe, a 1-A sports school with one direction in its name.

It seems that the board doing the selecting decided to choose the steak rather than the sizzle. That is the board selected the chief executive that had real accomplishments like an ever growing enrollment rather than the one who said during his interview yesterday his most outstanding accomplishment was changing the name of the school mascot. They decided on the executive who had done more with less than the one who had done less with more. Kudos to the board.

Betrayal

2008-06-25T12:25:00.001-07:00

Betrayal, that's all I can call it. My Monroe City Councilman Ben Katz who repeatedly has criticized Mayor Mayo to me and many others voted resoundingly with the Mayor last evening at the City Council meeting. The issue: a series of amendments to the City's ordinances on Trash and Garbage; the most onerous being an amendment to fine, I am sorry City Attorney Summersgill/Tew, to levy a fee on an offender--not clearly defined--of $50 the first week after the transgression and doubling for every week thereafter---and with no warning.

Mr. Katz had said to me in a private conversation before voting yes to introduce the ordinance anyway, that he could not support this unenforceable ordinance. He also said he didn't care if old people and handicapped people were fined!

The community comments to these amendments were very responsible, supportive of cleaning up the city but suggesting with a carrot approach rather than with a stick. Cindy Smith, and officer in north Louisiana Interfaith was supported by seven members of InterFaith as she spoke about a more reasonable approach for the City to take, one less threatening. Baron Powell, Jimmy Inzina, and several others spoke in the same vain pointing out the practical problems of enforcing such a punishment on untraceable trash dumpers.

Persuaded by these comments the Chair of the City Council, Mr. Red Stevens, offered a motion to delay implementation of the ordinance vote by ninety days to allow for conversations with the public, saying that he was impressed by the suggestions and ideas from the community speakers. Mr. Robert Johnson seconded the motion. It was defeated by Mr. Gilmore, Mr. Marx, and Mr. Katz. Then on the original motion to implement the amendments, the vote was the same Mr. Gilmore, Mr. Marx, and Mr. Katz. Mr. Stevens and Mr. Johnson opposed.

Once again the Monroe City Council caved to the Mayor. A reasonable thinking Louisianan must conclude that Mr. Katz, who is offended by everything the Mayor does, traded his vote for the Mayor's support of his wife during the recent election for House of Representatives. Pitiful!

LOUISIANA LEGISLATIVE RAISES MAKE THE NY TIMES

2008-06-24T10:09:00.000-07:00

FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES

June 24, 2008
Legislators Raise Pay, and a Governor Pays the Price
By ADAM NOSSITER
NEW ORLEANS — The reformist image of Gov. Bobby Jindal, considered by Republicans a top potential vice-presidential choice, has recently taken a beating after Mr. Jindal refused to veto a sizable pay increase that Louisiana legislators voted for themselves this month.
The increase would more than double the salary of the part-time legislators effective July 8, to $37,500 from $16,800, with considerably more money available once expenses are added in. It has touched a nerve in this impoverished state.
Conservative talk-radio show hosts and bloggers have denounced it, newspaper editorials have inveighed against it — The Times-Picayune of New Orleans called the increase “greedy” and its main proponent “shameless” — and the legislators themselves received floods of e-mail messages from angry constituents.
More confounding to many citizens here than the action by the lawmakers is the inaction of Governor Jindal, who came into office this year with promises to overhaul Louisiana’s reputation for dubious ethics.
During his election campaign, he vowed to prohibit legislative pay raises. Once elected, he quickly pushed through a package of measures increasing the Legislature’s transparency and stamping out conflicts of interest, basking in the subsequent glow of his image as a youthful Ivy League reformer doing battle in a shady subtropical outpost.
That image and his solid standing with the religious right helped propel Mr. Jindal, a 37-year-old former Rhodes scholar, into the front ranks of Senator John McCain’s possible running-mate choices. But now some conservative critics are saying the pay-increase episode demonstrates weakness as well as Mr. Jindal’s unreadiness for the prime time of the vice presidency.
“This pay raise is devastating him,” said Moon Griffon, a conservative talk-radio host with a wide following in northern Louisiana, the most Republican and evangelical part of the state. “I’ve gotten over 5,000 e-mails from people who say they voted for him, and who say they would never vote for him again.”
Mr. Griffon added, “People don’t like hypocrisy, and they like somebody with guts.”
The legislative session ended Monday, and Mr. Jindal now has two weeks to veto the pay increase, though he has given no indication that he will do so.
Even while denouncing the money lawmakers are giving themselves, the governor has tried to depict the matter as an internal legislative affair that does not require his meddling.
“I will keep my pledge to let them govern themselves,” the governor said in a statement last week after the State Senate passed the increase, backing off a rejection of the raise, though he also said he was “very sorry” about it. Editorialists and radio show hosts have since had a field day juxtaposing that “pledge” to the Legislature with the promise Mr. Jindal made when he was running last fall to “prohibit legislators from giving themselves pay raises.”
Jim Brandt, president of the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, an independent good-government research organization in Baton Rouge, said voters did not appreciate a broken pledge.
“It puts a real dent in any sort of reform credential of either the governor or the Legislature,” Mr. Brandt said.
That theme of perceived weakness is echoed by other political experts.
“No matter where I go, they certainly are disappointed, and they are using some very unkind words related to his spine,” said Bernie Pinsonat, a pollster in Baton Rouge. “It’s pretty ferocious.” He added, “I’m quite positive his base is very upset with him.”
The legislators have not had a base pay increase since 1980 and complain that with the governor frequently calling them into special session, their job is no longer part-time. The increase would put salaries in the upper tier for similar part-time legislatures, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Mr. Brandt agreed that some sort of modest raise could be justified — an independent commission recommended a 12 percent increase several years ago — but said the 123 percent rise, with additional increases pegged to inflation, was “problematic.”
Mr. Jindal’s strategy was apparently based on a desire not to jeopardize the other elements he won in his legislative wish list, like a voucher program for private schools in New Orleans, or restoring spending cuts made by fiscal conservatives in the Capitol.
“He was not about to give the Legislature any excuse to block his reform agenda,” said the governor’s spokeswoman, Melissa Sellers, adding: “The governor has opposed the legislative pay increase loudly every step of the way.”
But the furor over the pay raise has put in the shadows the rest of his program, and other bills pushed by conservatives sympathetic to him, like one the Legislature overwhelmingly approved allowing science teachers to use “supplemental” material that critics say is merely a stalking-horse for teaching creationism.

bobby's folly

2008-06-23T15:11:00.000-07:00

June 18, 2008

Dear Editor:

By awarding itself such incredible raises, the Louisiana legislature has stuck its collective finger in the eye of every single voter in Louisiana. What they have done is worse than any other government we have ever had in Louisiana.

If Governor Jindal does not veto this legislative insult to the voters, then he is no better than Edwin Edwards or Huey Long. In fact he might go down as the worst governor we have ever had. Whatever he turns out to be, if he doesn’t correct this egregious affront to the voters, he certainly is no reform governor.