They’re called earmarks in Washington: special appropriations tacked on to the budget for the benefit of specific groups or purposes. In House Bill 1, the 2008-2009 operating budget for Louisiana’s state government, these groups are referred to as NGOs [nongovernmental organizations]. There are 66 listed in the bill, requesting $13,985,227.
Sure, many of the groups are recognizable and established organizations. But should fraternities, local festivals and a gun club be funded with our tax dollars? Some sound like the old “slush fund” groups formed and run by legislators. While there is more transparency this year with the projects and the representatives listed [instead of being buried], you still have to ask, “Why are any of these projects coming to the state for funding instead of raising it locally?”
There seem to be three champions of the NGOs. They are Reps. Herbert Dixon, Noble Ellington and Rosalind Jones. They have a combined 32 projects—about half of the total. I have listed their requests below, sourced from the Louisiana legislative Web site.
Here are their 32 projects:
Rep. Herbert Dixon, D-Alexandria: Arna Bontemps African American Museum, $200,000; Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Louisiana Inc., $50,000; Education Foundation of Epsilon Psi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., $100,000; First St. Mark Baptist Church Inc., $97,200; Mount Zion Community Development Corp.-Health and Wellness Ministry, $180,509; Pineville Concerned Citizens Inc., $35,000; Rapides Primary Health Care Center Inc., $384,600; Rapides Station Community Ministries Inc., $260,000; Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, $45,392; Sickle Cell Anemia Research Foundation, $50,000; St. James United People Church, $50,000.
Rep. Noble Ellington, D-Winnsboro: Catfish Festival Inc., $25,000; Franklin [Parish] Economic Development Foundation, $50,000; Franklin Parish Historical Society Museum, $25,000; Fresh Start Outreach Ministries Inc., $785,000; Industrial Development Board of the Parish of Caldwell Inc., $50,000; Old Bethel Baptist Church of Clarks Inc., $50,000; Schepis Foundation Inc., $75,000; Ward III Community Center Management Board, $90,000; Winnsboro Gun Club Inc., $25,000; Winnsboro Main Street Inc., $50,000.
Rep. Rosalind Jones, D-Monroe: Booker T. Community Outreach Project, $25,000; Concord Youth and Adult Community Association, $121,550; Dove Christian Community Services Inc., $60,000; East Carroll Council on Aging, $25,000; G.T. Services Inc., $40,000; I & I Educational Service Inc., $50,000; Northeast Louisiana Delta African American Heritage Museum, $50,000; Opportunities Industrialization Center of Ouachita Inc., $500,000; The New Way Center Inc., $132,128; Top Gun Boy Scouts of Ouachita, $30,000; Youth Academy for Leadership and Education Inc., $50,000.
The budget process is ongoing, and other projects could be added to the 66 along the way. It’s possible the Legislature could cut some of these too. They could also try to bury them in other department budgets as well, an old trick that Commissioner of Administration Angèle Davis is well aware of and I’m sure she is watching.
Congressional race: 6th District
No endorsement
The general election to replace Congressman Richard Baker is Saturday, May 3. It includes primary winners Democrat Don Cazayoux and Republican Woody Jenkins facing off with two independents, Ashley Casey [a serious challenger with ideas and some money] and Peter Aranyosi, and one “other party” candidate, Randall Hayes.
The problem with all of these special elections is the short time frame for new candidates and low turnout. We could see about one of five voters turn out to select our next representative to Congress. This seat will be up for election again this fall along with the presidential election.
I know three of the candidates personally—Casey, Cazayoux and Jenkins, and respect each of their abilities. But I do not feel strongly enough to endorse a candidate.
Remember to vote on May 3.
Mocking justice
Anthony Bell, who murdered people in a church in front of witnesses, was found guilty by a jury of five counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. He had fired his attorneys and represented himself. As they say, he had a fool for a client.
After being found guilty, he then fired himself and asked for his attorneys back for the sentencing phase, which was to start at 8:30 a.m. last Monday. His attorneys immediately asked for a two-month delay, which was denied. They were first given a few hours, then the Supreme Court allowed them a couple of days to prepare.
The attorneys had also asked for a mistrial, saying Bell “feels that the sequestered jurors may feel he is the cause of the delay and the continued burden of the jurors being sequestered.” He is the cause of the delay because he chose to be his own attorney and then quit.
It is this kind of foolishness allowed in the courtroom, behavior by the criminals and stunts pulled by attorneys, that makes the public sick to its stomach. We have to ask, “What about the victims?” I applaud the judiciary in the Bell case for not falling for this foolishness.
Keep the helmets
I have to disagree with Gov. Bobby Jindal on this one. If automobile drivers must wear seat belts and babies must be in car seats, then motorcycle riders should be required to wear helmets. I don’t see where “choice” would apply in one case and not the other. It is a safety issue. Your brain is better protected with a helmet if your skull hits the pavement—so use it. Leave this law alone.
National spotlight on B.R.
Today, President Bush flies into our city. Along with Jindal, he is co-hosting a fundraising event for state treasurer John Kennedy, who is a candidate for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Mary Landrieu.
Thursday, U.S. Sen. John McCain, the Republican presidential front-runner, visits Baton Rouge to join Jindal to speak at the 25th anniversary of the Business Awards and Hall of Fame banquet. The event, presented annually by Business Report and Junior Achievement, is sold out.
Thanks for caring
April 18 was the annual “Day of Caring” organized by the Capital Area United Way. The event matched local companies and their employees with projects submitted by area nonprofits and charities. The list of projects includes painting, repairing, landscaping and cleaning up.
This year was a milestone, with 98 companies participating, involving 1,585 volunteers [up from 250 last year]. They all joined together to adopt 59 projects for the day. Even athletes from LSU became involved and volunteered.
It was a great day for the Capital Region and the spirit of volunteerism. As chair of this year’s United Way campaign, I want to thank everyone who supported this effort. [If your company missed out on the Day of Caring you can still adopt a project by calling 346-5805.]
Comments
Posted by jsanderssr on April 22, 2008 at 12:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Re: Slush Funds
C.B. Forgotston published an updated list at www.forgotston.com yesterday. While there may be a couple of decent proposals in the lot, if it isn't good enough to be considered in the light of day through the regular process, it has no business being in the state budget.
Posted by BlinkEm on April 23, 2008 at 4:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
In your report: on mandatory helmet laws for LA you say "I don’t see where "choice" would apply... It is a safety issue. Your brain is better protected with a helmet if your skull hits the pavement—so use it."
According to the Louisiana Office of Public Health, 1,077 people DIED from a Traumatic Brian Injury (from head strikes) in 2004 [PDF - http://tinyurl.com/6abx8d]. Last year LA only had 1,877 motorcycle accidents total, and 93 died. Louisiana doesn't tell how many people in LA suffered a TBI, but if LA is comparable to Ohio, then you had 11,000 TBI's last year.[OH TBI's: http://tinyurl.com/4ycdoq at bottom]
According to Stacey Rye, Executive Director of Brain Injury Association of Montana, the average cost of a TBI is about $4,000,000 each over a lifetime [http://tinyurl.com/3n3dy5].
Let's say citizens from LA are only half a clumsy as people in Ohio: your total lifetime cost just for this years crop of TBI's would be $20,000,000,000 (billion).
Any successful businessman would cut their losses on the problem with the greatest cost::benefit ratio. Even a cheap helmet on the top of EVERY person in Louisiana would reap great benefit.
Ever watch "America's Funniest Home Videos?" Slip... Whoops! Head against the pavement, dock, dance floor or other non-movable and unforgiving obstacle. Funny, huh?
Can we expect you to be pushing a "Helmet on Every Head" law for LA anytime soon?
Posted by GeauxSam on April 23, 2008 at 3:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The pork must go especially when they are proposing cutting higher education. Our priorities must be on education, a sure way to end the poverty problem in LA.
Posted by superbeefinder on April 24, 2008 at 1:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There seem to be quite a few religious groups benefiting from these funds. Is it legal to give state money directly to a groups with "Baptist","Christian",etc in the name? Is there any oversight as to what the groups do with the money once they get it, or do we have to wait a few years for the Business Report to expose it?
Posted by jdavis on May 2, 2008 at 1:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The promise to do away with earmarks/slush funds was a significant reason Jindal was elected. His veto threat rules are reasonable. Jindal simply must follow through on this veto warning. Perhaps a few legislators might eventually catch on.
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