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Post by Taureau on Oct 2, 2006 13:49:48 GMT -6
With all of the activity going on over the weekend, Chris Williams has to be breathing a sigh of relief. Don't you think?
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Post by coolboy on Oct 2, 2006 15:50:41 GMT -6
Taureau, maybe Williams can use this down time to work on his presentation he'll make to school children. Has anyone seen the video of his little speech at the courthouse? Can someone teach this Phd recipient to pronounce the word "argue" properly?
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Post by coolboy on Oct 3, 2006 13:20:09 GMT -6
I was just on the birdcage liner's website and there is a poll on the 4% raise LCG gave themselves. The question posed was, "Have the council members earned their raise?" The results are 92% no, 6% yes, and 2% no opinion. I wish I knew how many people have voted so far, but local officials should take notice. I'm excited for the next election, because this will be our opportunity to start with a new group of citizens that aren't so d**n self-serving.
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Post by abbd on Oct 3, 2006 16:09:24 GMT -6
Ya know Coolboy, something came to me today that I can't get out of my head. I see a parrellell between joey and Marie Antoinette. Remember Marie told the near starving masses (after she taxed them to near starvation) "let them eat cake". Just think after joey taxes us to near starvation and uses our own money to buy Mardi Gras beads to throw back at we peasants, I see this as taxing us for millions and throwing us "trinkets". I guess we should be thankful that joey gives us something back, with the "ruling class" we have in power now we might be lucky to have enough left to buy cake. P.S. just for you johnny, I didn't call him dunce ok? Just Marie.
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Post by zoe10850 on Oct 4, 2006 11:46:07 GMT -6
We still have not been told where all the excess sales taxes collected are going. Collections are at record levels, new growth has increased tax roll substantially, yet, our taxing bodies "roll forward" the millage rates to get even more of our money. Why on earth should we give more ?
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Post by abbd on Oct 5, 2006 6:31:33 GMT -6
We doin good yeah, first, one of our duncilmen gets convicted of hmmm whatever maybe destroying or defacing government property, now we get another of our duncilmen I guess being "sanctioned" by the Louisiana Supreme Court. What's that, two down and seven to go? Weird man weird.
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Post by Taureau on Oct 5, 2006 12:11:00 GMT -6
I am not aware of any group opposing the tax proposal increase. I have not seen any commercials on TV, radio or print opposing the tax proposal either. I know on this board, most of the comments I have read are against the new tax proposals. I wish there was an organized group voicing their disapproval of the tax proposal and encouraging voters to go out and vote no. I would support such a group. This past election we had 19% voter turnout. The election before we had 6% or 7% voter turnout. LCG employees and their family and friends will be out in full force and supporting the proposed taxes, while most of the rest of us will not even show up to vote. Yet, the ones that don't vote will still be complaining about the tax increases. Go figure.
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Post by Dorothy on Oct 5, 2006 15:41:03 GMT -6
I agree with an earlier post; If you do not vote in at least 50% of the elections held each year, you should forfeit your driving privileges. If nothing else, this would take a lot of the kids off the road. It would be easy to track with computers, and cost little. I am sure you would have a lot of failed tax initiatives as well.
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Post by coolboy on Oct 5, 2006 16:09:32 GMT -6
I know some countries that make election day a national holiday. I'm not saying we should do that, but my neighbor's boss wouldn't let him leave work to vote. Personally, I would've reported him, because that's a denial of my right as an American.
I also agree that there should be some sort of punishment for those that don't vote. Low voter turnout isn't just a problem in our city, but across the nation. When I went to vote a couple of months ago (Yeah, I was in that 7%), the place was empty! I didn't think there'd be a long line, but I at least thought a couple of citizens would already be there. It would be great we could get at least 50% of eligible voters to the polls on election days. At least we wouldn't have 7% of the population making decisions that affect all.
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jaguar
Junior Member
Posts: 55
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Post by jaguar on Oct 5, 2006 19:20:14 GMT -6
You know it's sad when you vote at a polling place for the second time in your life (I moved summer 2005) and they recognize you! That's what happened to me. So few people come out to vote that the commissioners recognize the few who do turn out.
I wonder if we'd have better voter turn out if we scheduled our election days on Tuesdays like other parts of the country.
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dd
New Member
Posts: 22
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Post by dd on Oct 10, 2006 8:07:45 GMT -6
Are there enough of us who are sick and tired of being sick and tired of the city/parish politics as usual to put together a collation of candidates for the next election? If we could find one candidate from each district who would agree to ten or more agenda items which they would all promise to support I cannot help but believe that we could get the silent majority, who sees no differences in the usual candidates, to turn out for an election which they could really make a difference. Comments!
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Post by LisaS on Oct 10, 2006 15:59:13 GMT -6
Well dd, in the old days, that was called "ticket". You voted for a collection on politicians who would uniformly pursue an agenda of their backers. I believe we have a ticket in power now; Ray & Kathleen Blanco run the state (not very well I might add), Jerry Luke LeBlanc runs state government through Div of Administration (and presumably at Ray Blanco's direction plus $185,000 salary), Conrad Comeaux, our Assessor and champion of higher taxes (was in background at every Blanco rally), Dr Mike Neustrom, our invisible Sheriff who calls Ray Blanco his other dad and even lives in their house, Dr Chris Williams, "chancellor" (title reminds me of the "Kingfish", head of mystic lodge on Amos & Andy, and about as ethical), Louis J Perret, Clerk of Court (and by the way, how does such a staunch republican support a democratic governess ?). Am not sure about our "mayor/president", but suspect he is part of the turncoat republicans as well. Now that is a ticket that has to go. I will vote for whoever runs against any of them.
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percy
Full Member
Posts: 101
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Post by percy on Oct 18, 2006 5:58:03 GMT -6
What is wrong with local government.
There was a story on the tube a couple of days ago that the outgoing mayor of Opelousas was going to receive 400 hours of sick leave. The retiring Opelousas elected police chief received sick leave and or vacation pay or comp time or the like too. When the outgoing parish president in Lafayette left office, he was paid sick leave.
Does anybody see anything wrong with these scenarios? These people are ELECTED OFFICIALS. The are answerable to no one except the voters at election time. They get paid for a days work whether they show up at 8 AM or 10AM or not at all. If they want to take a weeks vacation, they are gone. If they want to take a week sick leave, they are gone. They are still paid the same; so it begs to be asked , how in the world do elected officials accumulate leave, sick, vacation or otherwise?
I was told that the civil service board approved the president’s accumulation of leave in Lafayette. Big deal, that just makes it policy; it does not make it legal. So, again, how in the world do elected officials accumulate leave, sick, vacation or otherwise? Where is the legislative auditor, the DA ( oops, he is elected , maybe he accumulates leave too) Where are the reporters? Why aren’t they asking questions.
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Post by SB on Oct 19, 2006 3:01:40 GMT -6
That is a question I have had for a long time. How do they accumulate leave. That is a direct violation of LCG personnel policy. Who exactly gets to accumulate leave? Most lower level employees don't.
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dd
New Member
Posts: 22
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Post by dd on Oct 19, 2006 5:49:33 GMT -6
Commission dines on public dime Taxpayer funds used to fête, feed guests and employees Claire Taylor ctaylor@theadvertiser.com
Employees of Lafayette Regional Airport are treated to free lunches and cakes for their birthdays - paid for by taxpayers.
When one employee left the job this year, she and the staff were treated to lunch and she received two bouquets of flowers costing taxpayers $99.50, according to airport invoices.
ADVERTISEMENT Airport commission members, and in some cases their wives, sometimes dine after meetings at higher-priced Lafayette restaurants, running up bills as high as $551, which taxpayers cover. An airport Christmas party held Dec. 8 for employees, vendors and elected officials cost taxpayers another $2,487.30.
Opinions rendered by the Louisiana Attorney General's Office in similar cases suggest all of the above expenses are in violation of Article VII, Section 14 of the Louisiana Constitution.
Director of Aviation Greg Roberts disagrees.
Lafayette Regional Airport is governed by a seven-member commission appointed by the Lafayette City-Parish Council and area mayors. They receive no pay to serve, although an ordinance creating the commission allows them to be reimbursed "for necessary expenses in connection with their duties as members" of the commission.
The day-to-day operations of the airport are under the direction of Roberts, a paid employee who said he has been at the airport 14 years.
In 2005, out of $11 million in revenues going into the airport, more than $1.7 million came from property taxes paid by homeowners and business owners in Lafayette Parish, the 2005 audit shows. Other revenues came from rentals, parking, landing fees, grants, interest and more.
Christmas party: $2,487.30 Airport receipts show that on Dec. 8, the Airport Commission hosted a Christmas party at the airport catered by Townhouse Restaurant and Catering costing $2,487.30. Such spending may be a violation of the state Constitution, Article 7, Section 14.
In Opinion No. 05-0367 released Jan. 24, the Attorney General's Office told the Greater Baton Rouge Port Commission that "the payment or reimbursement for food, drink, or other expenses associated with parties and other types of celebratory functions from public funds is improper under Article 7, Section 14 of the Louisiana Constitution."
The Attorney General's office wrote in Opinion 91-589-A that public funds cannot be used to defray the cost of Christmas parties.
Roberts, who described the party as a "holiday social" even though airport receipts refer to it as a Christmas party, said he considers the party a promotional expense since those invited included travel agents, rental car representatives and fixed-base operators who do business with the airport. Also invited are public officials, professional consultants, business people and the news media, he wrote in a response to The Daily Advertiser's inquiry.
The Attorney General's opinion does not apply, he claims, because the event is "an annual marketing function..."
Employees dined Airport receipts show public money was spent on employees in the following instances:
# $140.71, birthday lunch at Johnny Carinos, March 29.
# $99.50, employee's farewell flower arrangement and roses, Flowers Etc., March 13.
# $97.82, employee's birthday lunch and cake, Joey's Specialty Foods, May 5.
# $73.17, lunch for employees' last day, Pizza Village, Feb. 8.
# $55.60, cookie bouquet for sick employee, May 12.
It is a violation of the Louisiana Constitution to spend public funds on employee birthday celebrations and gifts.
Attorney General Opinion No. 2000-39 rendered in February 2000 to the Plaquemines Parish Government said they cannot purchase gifts for retiring employees "because such purchase would be tantamount to a donation of public funds which is expressly prohibited by the Louisiana Constitution."
The Bayou Lafourche Fresh Water District was informed in Opinion No. 91-589-A that it cannot give $25 gift certificates to its employees for Christmas. To do so is a violation of Louisiana Constitution, Article 7, Section 14.
In his written response, Roberts called such expenditures "nominal" and said the airport commission does not consider the spending to be a donation of public funds to any individual employee, rather "an expenditure of funds on behalf of all employees to improve employee morale and productivity..."
"On a once a month basis, the airport commission may purchase a cake or have lunch or sandwiches delivered for all employees to share in honor of all employee birthdays which occurred that month," Roberts wrote.
The two instances cited by the attorney general involved specific gifts given to specific employees, Roberts wrote, "which is not, we believe the circumstance encompassed by a once a month birthday lunch or cake, or the delivery of flowers in respect of illness or death to persons close to the airport commission or its staff."
Receipts in the airport's files name specific employees receiving farewell flowers and birthday meals and cakes.
$600.83 meal 'reasonable' Airport commissioners are not to be paid for their service, according to the Lafayette Consolidated Government ordinance that reorganized the commission after consolidation.
A 2006 Attorney General Opinion allows for "coffee, soft drinks, a moderate meal or snacks" during a meeting may be appropriate "if the expenditure is reasonable."
"We believe (the meals) are a reasonable expense," Roberts wrote.
A December 2005 meal at Café Vermilionville cost $600.83. Among the six people listed as attending were three commission members - Chairman Jim Nunn, Charles Wyatt, Brenda Burley - and Roberts.
A June 2006 Visa card bill lists a $551.46 meal at Bella Figura of Lafayette. A handwritten note on the bill says it was attended by Roberts, Nunn and his wife, auditor Christie Dunn, and commission members Donald Higgenbotham, Wyatt, Burley, Paul Colomb and Allen Dugas.
Commissioners meet once a month at 5:30 p.m., so they miss meals with their spouses and/or families, Roberts wrote. Following the meetings, the commission members, along with guests who may be consultants and/or vendors dine out, allowing commissioners to learn about airport matters that may not be on the meeting agenda, he said.
"Furthermore, the businesses patronized by the commission are often members of the flying public who have contributed to the success of the airport," Roberts wrote.
Wining and dining Airport receipts indicate airport employees hosted vendors, FAA personnel and others at expensive meals.
A March 2 meal at Bonefish Grill cost $442.83. Roberts hosted Nunn and his wife and a representative of Republic Parking, receipts show.
A Visa bill dated April 18 indicates the airport staff spent $245.12 at Lafayette's restaurant for dinner with FAA Director Bill Mitchell, FAA inspector, Mike Burrows, Byron Wilcott and Greg Roberts to discuss an inspection.
Another $166.06 was spent March 22 at the Blue Dog Café for dinner and drinks with Mitchell. The receipt details alcoholic beverages were consumed with public funds.
Attorney General Opinion No. 02-0125 employs a three-prong test in reference to the South Louisiana Port Commission: the use of public funds must be sanctioned by a legal duty or obligation, serve a public purpose and create a public benefit not disproportionate to the value of the public funds spent.
The opinion examines "reasonableness" of business dinners and drinks where clients from the private sector "are the primary attendees."
Roberts cited the opinion to support his argument.
"It is not a matter of whether one eats donuts or ducks, drinks coffee or chardonnay that is the primary consideration. The primary concern is the reasonableness of the expenditure under the circumstances," the opinion states.
The airport commission meets at 5:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month in the commission meeting room, second floor of the airport. The meetings are open to the public.
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Post by abbd on Oct 19, 2006 6:13:24 GMT -6
More freaking fat pigs at the trough. I believe some of those folks listed on those receipts are QUITE wealthy! Why are we feeding these hogs? When will we finally get enough of this BS? The chairman(in my opinion) should resign immediately! The news media SHOULD lead the charge!
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dd
New Member
Posts: 22
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Post by dd on Oct 19, 2006 6:24:01 GMT -6
I believe it may be a violation of federal code for a federal employee to accept a gift from an entity in which he has authority over: A Visa bill dated April 18 indicates the airport staff spent $245.12 at Lafayette's restaurant for dinner with FAA Director Bill Mitchell, FAA inspector, Mike Burrows, Byron Wilcott and Greg Roberts to discuss an inspection.
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Post by zoe10850 on Oct 19, 2006 11:36:36 GMT -6
And the parish attorney says, "no one asked me". Fire the s.o.b.
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percy
Full Member
Posts: 101
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Post by percy on Oct 25, 2006 5:37:12 GMT -6
There was a very interesting story about the mayor of Opelousas accumulating sick leave. But the reporter did not ask " If the mayor were sick every day, would she have lost any salary or been otherwise docked any pay?" If the answer is no, than how can she be legally entitled to "accumulate leave?" How can any elected salaried official accumulate sick or vacation leave? How nice that the mayor filled out daily time sheets but the reality is, whether she did or not, she is answerable to only those people that elected her, she is salaried and not legally entitled to leave or vacation pay.
BTY, W Comeaux was paid leave when he left office. legal? No!
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ij
New Member
Posts: 44
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Post by ij on Aug 29, 2007 10:09:52 GMT -6
Took a look at our government in action last night. What a sorry bunch of doofusses we have as elected and appointed officials. If these guys can't even get our garbage picked up in a timely fashion, how do we expect them to govern correctly? We get what we expect.
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