Definition of good ole boy network: An informal, exclusive system of mutual assistance and friendship through which men belonging to a particular group, exchange favors and connections, as in politics or business.
Louisiana has seen its share of “good ole boy” governors, those who excelled in rewarding friends and punishing enemies. Men like Huey and Earl Long and Edwin Edwards come to mind, but now we have a female governor who is following in this sordid tradition, but with a twist: “good ole girl” politics. Throughout her career, Governor Kathleen Blanco has been known to carry a grudge and settle political scores like the best of them. It was never more on display than in the aftermath of this failed legislative session. After a disastrous session for Blanco, when her cherished cigarette tax went down in flames, she got her revenge by vetoing projects in the districts of some of her political enemies. Blanco excels in the type of politics taught by consultant/TV personality James Carville, “Don’t get mad. Don’t get even. Just get elected then get even.”
In House Bill 1, there were some 300 budget requests and all but 17 were approved by the Governor. In all she approved $36 million out of the $37 million in HB 1 projects, only vetoing a few, mostly in the districts of her political opponents. One request that was vetoed was for a well respected organization in St. Tammany Parish. In her victory over Bobby Jindal in 2003, Blanco lost St. Tammany Parish by a 70-30% margin. Recently, many well-heeled Northshore GOP business leaders contributed big bucks to a Blanco fundraiser in St. Tammany Parish hoping to cultivate a good relationship with the Democratic Governor. I wonder how they feel now because it was money wasted. Blanco vetoed an $89,000 budget request for the St. Tammany Art Association’s education center, which would have used the money to make the “Art House” ADA compatible and handicapped accessible. It was a worthy request for an organization with parish-wide support, but Blanco was unmoved. It is no coincidence that St. Tammany is the only parish in the state where Republicans outnumber Democrats and is the home of State Representative Diane Winston (R-Covington), who was critical of Blanco in her race for State Senate and State Senator Tom Schedler (R-Mandeville), who is Co-Chairman of the Republican Legislative Delegation.
Does this ring a bell? Blanco has given Saints owner Tom Benson a tough time in negotiations ever since she was elected. Could it be because Benson supported Bobby Jindal in the 2003 race? How about New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, another Jindal supporter? Nagin asked Blanco to supply $8 million to cover fire, police, health and other services the city is providing at Harrah’s Casino. This is money owed to New Orleans for services promised by the state; however, Blanco basically told Nagin to go jump in Lake Pontchartrain. After being flatly rejected by Blanco, Nagin had to settle for about 12% of his request, thanks to legislative intervention.
Blanco also vetoed several key projects in Jennings, the home of her political adversaries such as State Senator Gerald Theunissen and State Representative Dan “Blade” Morrish (D-Jennings). Previously, Theunissen was ousted from his chairmanship of the Senate Education Committee, while Morrish was conveniently overlooked for a house committee chairmanship. To add insult to injury, Blanco vetoed drainage improvements in Jennings and funding for the city’s W.H. Tupper Museum. Boy that Queen Bee can sure sting!
What projects passed muster with the Governor? Well, the Red River Film Festival received a nice grant and the Red River Parish Police Jury received $60,000 for equipment acquisitions. Who represents lucky Red River Parish with a booming population of 9,622? Lo and behold, it is none other than Blanco lieutenant and Speaker of the House Joe Salter (D-Florien). Also, Blanco handsomely rewarded her supporter State Senator Derrick Shepherd (D-Marrero) who made an audacious $200,000 request for a non-profit that did not even exist. Supposedly the money will go to the YMCA, but it will be funneled through an organization that was not even registered until after the session started. Shepherd earned Blanco’s gratitude by vowing to vote for the Governor’s cigarette tax twice, first as a State Representative and then as a State Senator, after he won a special election. He actually delayed taking his seat in the Senate, so he could make his vote twice as valuable to Governor Blanco. For such a friend, $200,000 is a mere pittance!
Other Blanco budget busters included obscure groups such as Riz Up Louisiana and Making Great Strides, which each pocketed $100,000. The “legendary” organization, Just Willing Foundation, which was chartered the day before the session ended received more taxpayer largesse, $25,000, thanks to Governor Blanco.
What is truly sad is that the Governor said we needed more taxes to give teachers a pay raise. Yet, the money was clearly available after the Revenue Estimating Conference located an extra $361 million and with a state budget of almost $19 billion. The level of waste in our state government is almost unimaginable. In addition to $36 million in HB 1 requests, of which many were clearly dubious, there is legislative “slush” funds of $16 million, which remain 100% funded.
By her partisan and punitive vetoes, Blanco has clearly shown all political observers that although she is governing, she is not delivering good government. As Earl Long said, “Someday Louisiana is going to get good government and they ain’t gunna like it.” Well, under Kathleen Blanco, that day has certainly not arrived, and maybe it never will in Louisiana.
Jeff Crouere is a native of New Orleans, LA and his Louisiana based program, Ringside Politics, airs at 8:30 p.m. Friday and 10:30 p.m. Sunday on WLAE-TV, Channel 32. Visit his website at www.ringsidepolitics.com and e-mail him at jeff@ringsidepolitics.com.
Source:
http://www.bayoubuzz.com/articles.aspx?aid=4590
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