LET’S SELL OUT OUR CITIZENS … AGAIN

Pierre Sez Thursday, March 17, 2016 Comments Off on LET’S SELL OUT OUR CITIZENS … AGAIN
LET’S SELL OUT OUR CITIZENS … AGAIN

When legalized gambling came to our state, it wuz called de solution to all uf our fundin problems for education and health care in our state.
Louisiana citizens were sold out so dat politicians would have mo money to blow on pet projects an political patronage jobs to hand to supporters. But voters in our state took de hook once again, an agreed to allow gamblin in our state.
Look back before dat, an you will see our gubment has legalized alcohol so dat taxes could be collected for education and health care, but have gone to pet projects an political patronage jobs to supporters.
We can go on listin mo taxes an fees dat have been voted on in de name uf savin our state from bankruptcy. An in each case, de good people uf our state have been conned into believin dat dis would be de last time such a tax would be levied.
Now we hear dat de legislature iz tinkin uf making marajuna legal in our state so az to tax it for education an health care.
Only las year Bobby Jindal got a bill trew dat would decrease de penalty for possession of de weed, settin de stage for dis next step … to sell out de people uf our state once again, in de name uf gettin money for education an health care … when we know darn well dat tax money will once again go to pet projects an deadheads in gubment.
Now, dem what’s been trowin de trial balloon around de capitol are quick to tell you dat de state uf Colorado got $135 million in weed tax last year, and $35 million went to education. Pro legalization folks say dat if legalization were taken to a vote in our state, it would pass. Probably would.
But just tink uf what we would be doin to our citizens. Besides, we just got boorayed wit an additional penny uf sales tax, which makes our sales tax de highest in de country. De call is for it to be only for 18 months, but dat’s already bein criticized by Jon Bell, who’s sayin it needs to be for longer. Have you ever known a tax to be temporary?
On dis one, we are bein snookered. When will enough be enough? When we stop sellin out our citizens?

Hey, John, Look In Your Own Backyard
Anyone who watches TV, listens to de radio or reads a newspaper haz heard treasury secretary John Kennedy complain about contracts, an how he would save money. Yet an article in de Baton Rouge paper points to at least once contract dat Kennedy haz dat iz wastin taxpayer money to de tune uf about $293,000 a year.
Now, former gov. Jindal had sent several notices to Kennedy to move to cheaper offices, but Kennedy ignored them.
Edwards has picked up de ball, now, an Kennedy haz been quick to jump on hiz case about wastin taxpayer money.
Kennedy iz runnin for de U.S. Senate now, to replace David Vitter, who ain’t runnin again. Boy, wait til Kennedy gets to Washington, den he will be like de kid in de candy store … wit taxpayer money.

Legislators Question Numbers
We all know dat de real numbers, an de numbers trown out by gubment, aren’t always de same. Take, for example, de numbers from de revenue estimatin folks, which our legislators, for years, have accepted as gospel.
De revenue estimatin folks iz a group uf economists who show up from time to time an explain to politicians how much money dey have to blow. Well, recently a buncha Republicans, an a few Democrats, had a closed-door, come-to-Jesus meetin wit dat group uf economists, wit regard to de numbers they are trowin out about de money dat new taxes will bring into our treasury.
Neil Abramson, de Republican chairman uf de Ways an Means Committee, who haz been on Edwards’ case since day one, wuz not pleased wit de answers from dem economists, an accused dem uf low-ballin what they claim dem taxes will bring in.

LHSAA Returns To Burton Complex
Once again, our area will host de boys’ high school basketball championship.
We applaud de Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau for all de hard work they have put into gettin dis tournament here again dis year. We also want to tank all de volunteers who gave dar time to make dis event possible.
Now, folks, dis event brings in thousands uf folks from trewout our great state, who will be comin here to see dar kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews win state championships. We are talking packed restaurants and filled-to-capacity hotels. Dat’s besides all de gaz dat visitors to our area will buy.
We encourage you to go to Burton an watch de best teams an players in our state. In a few years, you will see many of those same players playin for LSU, McNeese, Louisiana Tech, an other schools trewout our country.

Big Boys Takin De Gloves Off
Accordin to local reports, Westlake Chemical attempted to buy Axiall for $1.4 billion. Axiall refused de offer, an Albert Chao, Westlake Chemical’s president and CEO, announced dat his company wuz goin afta individual Axiall shareholders in a hostile takeover.
Lots uf power an money in dis one, folks. De Chao family haz long been known to treat employees very well. We gonna see a lot uf fireworks in dis one in de next few weeks an months.

Political Hall Uf Fame To Add Jones An Ieyoub
De Louisiana Political Hall Uf Fame will induct two from our area at a gaderin in Lafayette later dis month. Former Gov. Sam Jones and Richard Ieyoub will be inducted into de hall.
Jones wuz governor from 1940-1944. He ended 12 years uf Longism by beating Huey’s brother, Earl. Jones is remembered for creatin’ civil service as we know it today. He also put public bid laws into effect, an stopped de practice uf registerin to vote every year.
Ieyoub, who iz commissioner uf conservation, served as attorney general from 1992-2004. He wuz Calcasieu Parish district attorney from 1984-1992. As attorney general, Ieyoub won a multimillion-dollar tobacco settlement.

I’m In For 10
De Chamber Southwest haz adopted a slogan to help bring attention to de need for a new I-10 bridge: I’m In For 10.
Now, you know and I know dat de bridge needs to be replaced. George Swift points out dat a new bridge iz important, not only for our area, but for de whole nation, since we are part uf de energy corridor.
We understand 53,000 vehicles cross de bridge every day. An dat number iz expected to increase by 20,000 witin 10 years. Dat bridge wuzn’t built for dat much traffic, or for dem big trucks. So join in, an get a bumper sticker dat sez “I’m In For 10.”

We’re With You, Luvertha
City councilwoman Luvertha August expressed her disappointment at de cable service available in de Lake Area. August pointed out dat Suddenlink’s price increase, an de quality uf its service, should be addressed.
Same tune in Sulphur, Moss Bluff an Westlake. Other cities offer more choices, an we tink it’s about time sometin happens here.
August points out dat she fears elderly will not be able to afford cable service in de future, and, so will be denied weather information.

R.J. Will Be Missed
We were saddened to learn uf de recent passin uf longtime American Press ad man R.J. Grimes.
Grimes served his country in de U.S. Army for six years, and worked as an advertising rep for de American Press for 29 years. He loved his Mardi Gras, an all uf de krewe members.
R.J. Grimes will be missed.

Rudd, Lawrence Honored
If you recall when McNeese used to play all their baseketball games in the Civic Center, then you remember some uf de best basketball de school haz ever put on de court. Two uf de stars who played in de Civic Center were honored recently at de Burton Complex.
Edmond Lawrence and John Rudd had dar numbers hoisted, alongside that uf other notables, like Frank Glenn and Bill Reigel. Lawrence, who played from 1973-1976, still holds de rebound record for de Cowboys, and Rudd is second in all-time rebounds.
Tanks for de memories.

Deep Taughts While Watchin Tigers
Basketball On De SEC Network

10) How can columnist George Will possibly compare Donald Trump to Huey Long?
9) Ain’t it great dat St. Louis won its 12th state soccer championship last week?
8) Can I cross de Sabine an vote for president in Beaumont?
7) Why does it feel like I’m 6 in. off de ground when I ride in Max’s Mercedes?
6) How long does my neighbor tink I will put up wit hiz barkin dog?
5) Why iz Judge Judy so snappy wit everyone dat comes her court?
4) Can de Cowboys and Cowgirls continue dar winnin ways on de diamonds?
3) How many mo will jump into dis U.S. Senate race?
2) When can we expect gaz to start goin up again?
1) Who will win, Batman or Superman?

Final Shot
I axed my buddy Lefty if he’d watched de Academy Awards. He sed he wuz goin to, but he decided to go to eat crawfish at Busters in Elton instead. Dat Lefty really knows how to adjust hiz priorities.

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