Inspector General Street labels Burns “Exhibit A,” provides nonsensical response to forum question, followed by flippant response to one-on-one interview question.


Louisiana Inspector General Stephen Street

Prior to the start of the 2010 exhibition season of the New Orleans Saints, Budweiser sought to obtain exclusive rights to sell alcohol at Champions Square during the fast-approaching season.  Budweiser made clear its willingness to remit a $300,000 payment to the State of Louisiana to obtain such an exclusivity agreement.  The Commissioner of Alcohol Tobacco Control (ATC) at the time, Murphy Painter, refused to approve Champion Square’s liquor license with that stipulation because Louisiana law forbids such exclusivity agreements.

Painter was then strong-armed by then-Gov. Bobby Jindal to issue the license, and he indicated that he would do so only if Jindal’s then-Chief Executive Counsel, Stephen Waguespack, would draft a letter instructing Painter to issue the license.  Waguespack, clearly sensing the illegality of the exclusivity provision, declined to issue such a letter saying, “It would not be an efficient use of my time.”

Painter did not budge, so late in the evening on Friday, August 13, 2010, Jindal summoned Painter to his office and terminated him.  Meanwhile Louisiana Office of Inspector General (OIG) Investigator Shane Evans and others were dispatched to ATC to attempt to find justification for Jindal’s action.  Over three years later, OIG’s investigatory techniques were laid bare in an utterly laughable Federal trial (which prosecutors never dreamed would transpire going on the premise that Painter could not afford the $500,000 defense costs and would simply fold and accept a plea).

Though none of the alleged counts in the 29-count indictment (that even survived for trial) were much more credible (see details at preceding link), Federal Judge James Brady openly asked if two of those counts, for which Painter was indicted for using an ATC address database to mail sympathy cards to two colleagues whose mother had just passed away, “rise to the level of a Federal offense?”

The end result was a quick acquittal of Painter on all charges, after which Louisiana taxpayers had to pay his $500,000 in legal fees.  That doesn’t include the massive amount of wasted Federal taxpayer dollars (almost assuredly in excess of $1 million), the cost and man-hours of the OIG for its so-called “investigation,” the massive legal fees the State has incurred in defending the civil litigation Painter filed in 19th JDC for which yet another hearing is scheduled in early February, or any judgment that may ultimately ensue from Painter’s civil litigation.

So, because the OIG “takes referrals from the Governor” (see second block after clicking on “initiation” at this link) who technically cannot remove Street but who holds tremendous power over Louisiana legislators, who CAN remove Street, he is in no way, shape, or form “independent” from the Governor! 

Around the same time Painter experienced his cram-through of corruption at Jindal’s hands, Corey delaHoussaye, on contract with Livingston Parish to assist with cleaning up massive documentation problems the parish had with the Army Corps of Engineers in the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav, was  busy serving as an FBI informant to report $58 million in fraudulent claims to FEMA (especially noteworthy in the preceding link is FEMA attorney Linda Litke’s highlighted text entailing delaHoussaye’s role as a “confirmed FBI agent,” and referencing Street’s investigation of delaHoussaye as “reprehensible”).

Like Painter, delaHoussaye’s actions, which resulted in many irate contractors in Livingston Parish who weren’t paid for fraudulent invoices and who supported Jindal in 2007 and would be supporting him again in 2011, didn’t please Jindal.

Consequently, Jindal again ordered Street’s Office to “investigate” delaHoussaye.  Street didn’t let the fact that the OIG lacked jurisdiction to investigate a municipal agency because it is not a “covered” agency get in the way of an aggressive “investigation” of delaHoussaye.

That “investigation” included a 5:00 a.m., guns-drawn, full-blown raid on his home during which 19 Terabytes of computer files and hard-copy personal tax returns were seized.  The charge?  An allegation that delaHoussaye may have cheated the State of Louisiana out of $6,000 (out of $2 million in invoiced  charges) during which he was attending to personal business rather than actually working.

In addition to the lack of jurisdiction, also lost on Street, who, as a CPA, he should be cognizant of, was the fact that delaHoussaye never was an employee of the State of Louisiana but was instead an independent contractor.  The difference simply cannot be over-emphasized because, as Street should know, if the “employer” lacks the ability to control when, where, and how an “employee” performs his work, he is deemed an independent contractor.

What that means is that Livingston Parish (not the OIG) could investigate and charge delaHoussaye only if he did not work the number of hours he said he did!

It’s irrelevant when he worked the hours as long as he DID work them.  DelaHoussaye asserted that he worked more than the hours for which he billed and also argued that he had to camouflage the hours he reported as working in order to be able to meet with the FBI.

That whole matter was rendered moot, however, when 21st JDC Judge Brenda Ricks suppressed all of the “evidence” against delaHoussaye because the OIG lacked the jurisdiction to obtain it in the first place!

With those two high-profile instances of Street readily demonstrating that he is in no way independent of the Governor’s Office and after Street provided an excellent lead-in to a question by Sound Off Louisiana founder Robert Burns entailing New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Burns asked a simple question of Street at the January 30, 2017 meeting of the Baton Rouge Press Club which readily provided Street the opportunity to demonstrate that he is independent of the Governor’s Office.  Let’s watch Street’s nonsensical answer, shall we?

IG Stephen Street provides completely nonsensical “answer” to question posed by  Burns

Believing Street may just be flustered by a recent post of a major setback in Corey delaHoussaye’s own civil litigation against Street, Burns attempted to  provide Street with a second opportunity to answer his concerns about Street’s Office’s independence from the Governor’s Office.  Let’s watch Street’s flippant response, shall we?

Street, clearly uncomfortable with one-on-one questions from reporters, gets downright flippant with Burns regarding his question on the organization chart of other IG offices across the nation.

Well, you saw it folks, Street declared his office “independent,” so in his mind, it is so!  Keep on telling yourself that, Inspector Street!

Everyone can plainly see the reality is 180-degrees opposite and that you live in utter fear of being flushed by the Legislators upon pressure being applied on them from the Governor to fire you.

After all, Street is keenly aware that Jindal put extreme pressure on him to go after Painter and delaHoussaye, so why would he be exempt from such pressure being imposed by Legislators if he doesn’t “toe the line” and the Governor commands them to send him packing?

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Edwards’ Auction Board Vice Chairman James Sims explodes in anger over suggestion that Edwards sweep excess funds to close budget gap rather than resort to yet more tax increases.


Edwards Appointee LALB Vice Chairman James Sims

In the following video feature, Sound Off Louisiana founder Robert Burns directly suggests to Gov. John Bel Edwards that he exercise his authority to sweep excess funds existing in Louisiana’s various boards and commissions to help plug the FY ’17 budget shortfall rather than simply resorting to yet more tax increases and shows the angry, hostile reaction he receives from one of Edwards’ Louisiana Auctioneer Licensing Board (LALB) appointees, Vice Chairman James Sims:


Burns directly appeals to Gov. Edwards to sweep the excess funds of boards and commissions across Louisiana before resorting to yet more tax increases on Louisiana citizens and shows the incredibly hostile reaction he receives from Edwards appointee and LALB Vice Chairman James Sims.

Supporting Links:

1.   Kevin Boyd’s Hayride article outlining the pork barrel projects funded during the last so-called “budget crisis” during which young disadvantaged children were exploited in having to appear before legislators to beg for their funding not to be cut (which nobody in his or her right mind would ever dream of doing).  Basically, these children and their families are simply used like pawns on a chess board in order to conduct, as Hayride founder Scott McKay appropriately characterizes such episodes, “emotional terrorism.”   

2. Past videos of LAPA President Rev. Freddie Lee Phillips fighting to give Louisiana auctioneers a break on their annual license fee (watch the 5/6/14 video for the LALB’s version of the Jerry Springer show).

If you would like to be added to our Sound Off Louisiana email list to be notified of future Sound Off posts, simply scroll to the very bottom of this page (mobile devices) or to the end of the right-hand column (desktops) and supply your email address within the subscribe box.  You’ll then receive an automated email from Word Press, and all you have to do is click on the blue “confirm follow” bar contained within that email, and you’ll begin receiving great posts such as the preceding one above. 

Corruption of DAs Scott Perrilloux, Earl Taylor endangers the lives of all citizens on Louisiana roadways.


Livingston Parish District Attorney Scott Perrilloux

 


St. Landry Parish District Attorney Earl Taylor

 

In the following video feature, Sound Off Louisiana founder Robert Burns examines the rampant corruption in Livingston Parish District Attorney Scott Perrilloux’s office and St. Landry Parish District Attorney Earl Taylor’s office entailing 26-year-old Cody Bowlin’s driving episodes which expose drivers in Louisiana to the very real possibility of dying at his hands:

 


Burns reviews the plethora of corruption by Livingston Parish DA Scott Perrilloux and St. Landry Parish DA Earl Taylor entailing 26-year-old Cody Bowlin’s reckless driving episodes.

Supporting Documentation/Links:

1. Bowlin’s September 21, 2016 Baton Rouge Incident (arraignment / contempt hearing 1/30/17 @ 9:00 a.m. in Susan Ponder’s Courtroom).

2.  Bowlin’s June 11, 2016 St. Landry Incident  (“resolved” in 10 days with DA “investigator” Barry Soileau stating Bowlin “completed” Pre-Trial Intervention — in a RECORD 10 days — a program for which he was not even eligible because it is for FIRST-TIME offenders and he exceeded the age limit for eligibility).

CLICK HERE for an article in The Advocate regarding the St. Landry Sheriff’s Office expressing frustration with St. Landry Parish DA Earl Taylor entailing abuses of the Pre-Trial Intervention program (see second-to-last paragraph).

3. Bowlin’s October 27, 2015 Incident entailing drug possession (for which DA Scott Perrilloux merely invoked Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure 691 to dismiss the charges).

4.  Bowlin’s April 4, 2015 Incident of passing a stopped school bus with stop signs out and unloading young school children (for which DA Scott Perrilloux merely invoked Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure 691 to dismiss the charges).

5.  Bowlin’s March 17, 2015 Albany Incident (rear-ended vehicle directly in front of him at a stop light — “no contest” plea entered 12/05/16 after LSP Trooper Michelle Patt was not present — she was conveniently NOT subpoenaed by Perrilloux’s office).  She also never returned any of Sound Off Louisiana’s phone messages left by founder Robert Burns merely providing his name and a request for a returned phone call.

6.  Bowlin’s September 6, 2012 Incident wherein he crashed head-on on LA 16 under the influence of drugs (was ordered to enter a treatment program — the ONLY instance of a non-cover-up wherein the Court ordered him to seek help).

7.  Bowlin’s May 3, 2011 Incident entailing shoplifting allegations in Ascension Parish (drugs have to be paid for — after numerous failures to attend court dates and bench warrants issued, Bowlin is ultimately represented to have “completed” a Pre-Trial Intervention).

8. Bowlin’s membership page  on the National Auctioneer’s Association webpage, an auctioneer trade association which touts its “high ethical standards” (similarly to Gov. John Bel Edwards’ touting of  his “West Point Honor Code”).

9.  Bowlin’s feature article of December 5, 2016 in investigative journalist Tom Aswell’s Louisiana Voice blog which prompted the in-depth research outlined above.

If you would like to be added to our Sound Off Louisiana email list to be notified of future Sound Off posts, simply scroll to the very bottom of this page (mobile devices) or to the end of the right-hand column (desktops) and supply your email address within the subscribe box.  You’ll then receive an automated email from Word Press, and all you have to do is click on the blue “confirm follow” bar contained within that email, and you’ll begin receiving great posts such as the preceding one above.