Liberty and Justice for All!

Yesterday, Elliot Stonecipher was on the Jim Brown show and both of them agreed that we are not going to see real ethics reform unless we see campaign finance reform right along side it. You can listen to the interview here.

The interview discussed those issues that I have raised, that a politician can collect more than just the “campaign maximum” from an individual as long as that person owns several corporations.

One key point Mr. Stonecipher made was to a caller who was concerned that people want to believe in the Governor and questioned that Mr. Stonecipher was already questioning the plan of Governor-elect Jindal. Mr. Stonecipher said that he has tried to contact Mr. Jindal about his concerns to no avail. He then said this:

We will know when we see what passes the legislature what were really going to get in ethics reform. But my concern is the following. We…  are now in a place where Governor-elect Jindal has raised the expectations so high that at 55 years old I know we are never going to get to revisit this in my lifetime. Whatever it is he offers up, the people of Louisiana will say is ethics reform because they want to believe that. That will not make that true. So, I don’t have any agenda here accept trying to get the real deal done instead of a political deal done. And that I feel is the difference.

That is a great point. Just because people want to believe they elected Jindal to bring ethics reform, it does not mean that what Bobby Jindal will actually bring real ethics reform. We need to hold his feet to the fire and make sure we get that real ethics reform. The only way to get real ethics reform is to include real campaign finance reform. Real campaign finance reform includes, but is not limited to, eliminating corporate donations.

Edited to add this additional comment by Mr. Stonecipher:

Let’s remember and let me be specific about this. Bobby Jindal’s political goals and objectives are not best served by [his] really totally revamping the ethics apparatus in Louisiana.  … Now, the people who think I’m slamming Bobby Jindal believe that Bobby Jindal will just automatically do the things that are best for Louisiana. I’m sorry, nobody ever does that. That’s all I’m going to say. Im not throwing rocks at Bobby Jindal. Im saying they are political animals and they do what’s best for them and whats best for the state (we hope). But its a blend of the two. If bobby Jindal can send the old LA ETHICS #1 bill to the legislature … if he sends a bunch of easy changes to make and the legislature can pass it and pat themselves on the back …  its going to look like a political win and he gets to claim victory. I would conend thats the very thing Blanco would have done, the very thing Foster would have done … that is not in our best interest. It is in their political interest.

Very well stated! And as Jim Brown followed up, we don’t want to let someone hit a single and claim they hit a home run.

These are my personal endorsements for the elections tomorrow. I do suggest that everybody research the candidates for themselves and make their own decisions. I hope my suggestions help.   

Elections I can vote in:

Attorney General: James D. “Buddy” Caldwell, Democrat, Ballot # 23

I voted for Caldwell in the primary and I will do so again in the runoff. Royal Alexander just does not impress me at all and if he was a quality candidate, one would think that the Republican Party would get behind him a little more than they are already doing.

Jefferson Parish Sheriff: Newell D. Normand, Republican, Ballot # 82

I know people on the JPSO and this is who they want as their boss. They feel that he will bring the crimefighting abilities of Harry Lee without the questionable decisions. Their opinion is good enough for me.

Kenner Propositions 1-3: Yes to all.

I sat on the charter committee and these are some of the items that are needed. The text of the changes can be found here. On the first amendment, unlike the T-P, we felt that eliminating the residency requirement for department heads would unbind the hands of the Mayor in choosing quality people to work for the city. The T-P reasoning is just plain silly.

The current residency requirement provides an added incentive for key managers in the administration to do their best work.

Say what? The incentive for key managers to do their best work is for them to keep their jobs! I think they pump something into the air system at the T-P offices. On the second amendment, the section is no longer needed so the amendment remvoes it. The third amendment clarifies a situation that could occur now that the council president can come from a district seat. A vote no on the third amendment would keep the charter vague.

Elections I cant vote for:

State Representative, 92nd Representative District: Michael McMyne, Republican, Ballot # 55

Michael McMyne made fighting corruption in Kenner City Hall a top priority during his tenure as interim District 2 Councilman. He acted under the idea that doing the right thing is not always the popular thing. He helped to expose the actions of the Capitano administration and was one of the reasons that Phil Capitano lost in 2006. Tom Wilmont flat out lied to me when he stated that he would be running as a Democrat. His last minute switch was typical of Louisiana politics. I also fear that he might be getting support from what I have called “Capitano Light”. If so, and if he willingly accepts this help, then I have to question the ethics he will bring to his seat.

State Representative, 94th Representative District: Deborah Langhoff, Democrat, Ballot # 54

Deborah is a community leader who brings a passion for doing what is right. The passion for doing what is right is something that is sorely needed in the legislature. She narrowly missed the runoff in the special election earlier this year because of other Democrats pulling votes away from her and because of smear tactics from the LCRM. In this election, the incumbent states that his being the only candidate in this election to support Blueprint Louisiana qualifies him to support Bobby Jindal and his claims to support ethics reform. While Langoff did not sign Blueprint Louisiana (because she felt the plan was missing some important issues) Bobby Jindal did not sign Blueprint Louisiana either. And with the conflicts of interest that have been raised  about her opponant with the insurance industry, I firmly believe that Deborah Langoff is the only candidate that can bring true ethics reform. Deborah has also stated that she will bring campaign finance reform to ethics reform, which is worth 14 plusses is my book.

Steve Sabludowski, owner of BayouBuzz.com states:

It is unfair for a network of related-companies to contribute the legal limits to a single candidate (whether those candidates are republicans or democrats or even independents) .   That practice sends the wrong message when we are trying to say that

Louisiana is not for sale.  While disallowing government officials to work for government agencies or acting as consultants for lobbyists is a major focus of the Jindal ethics reform, there can really be no real reform if candidates can skirt election laws by pooling contributions from related businesses.  If

Louisiana really wants to get into the business of becoming the beacon of bright ethics light, it must start with the very way we handle and win our own elections.

The companies don’t have to be related in any way other than the fact that they are owned by someone. Is absolutely a circumvention of the explained intent of campaign finance laws to allow someone to donate the maximum amount allowed times the number of corporations he owns plus one.

I have a feeling that this is going to really take off soon. Let’s just hope that the politicians (who benefit from these loopholes) pay attention and realize that this is going to be what the majority of the citizens want. No true ethics reform can happen without campaign finance reform.

Over on Bayou Buzz, Jim Brown states:

Right now, Louisiana has loopholes in its campaign finance laws you could drive a truck through.  If the new Governor limits his ethics reform proposals to disclosure and limitations on just elected officials, he will give the perception of making some changes, but he will not be shutting the door on what are now widespread abuses.

Bobby Jindal needs to do more than just get a hit his first time at bat with the new legislature.  He needs to hit a homerun.  Closing campaign finance loopholes will give him a good shot at getting off to a good start that is perceived as both perception and substantive change.

I discussed this issue with him when I called into his show. The topic of discussion was about Bobby Jindal failing to follow his promise of not interfering with the selection of legislative leaders when he backed Chaisson for Senate President. I asked if anyone was surprised that Jindal would back down on this promise since he campaign on ethics and then promoted someone to his ethics team that used that violation of the campaign finance laws. I hope more and more people jump on this bandwagon. I have been trying to make a large noise about this for a while now and finally I think we are getting some traction!

I have been complaining for a while now about the huge loophole that exists in Louisiana campaign finance laws. The politicians would like you to believe that there are limits on campaign contribution for individuals. However, the truth is that the only limitation on campaign finance reform is the number of corporations you own.

Mike Stagg is someone who is also concerned about the problems that exist in campaign finance laws. He rightly points out that you cannot have meaningful ethics reform without real campaign finance reform. He also points out how Bobby Jindal is being a hypocrite on ethics reform after he appoints someone to his ethics committee who donated a total of $30K to his campaign.

We all need to stand up as concerned citizens and demand true ethics reform that includes eliminating campaign donations for corporations (just like the Federal Government does). Without it, any other ethical reform is meaningless and is just a window dressing to hide the true ethical problems that exist.