Month: June 2018

Today’s Sound Off Louisiana feature entails a Louisiana Legislature Wall of Excellence for the 20 Republican members and one Democrat member of the Louisiana Legislature who voted “no” on every sales tax measure throughout the 2018 sessions:

Louisiana Legislature Hall of Excellence outlined by Sound Off Louisiana founder Robert Burns.

Rep. Beryl Amedee, R-Houma, District 51, Phone:  (985) 858-2967    amedeeb@legis.la.gov
Final Term:  2024.

Rep. Raymond Crews, R-Bossier City, District 8, Phone:  (318) 716-7532  crewsr@legis.la.gov
Final Term:  2024.

Rep. Rick Edmonds, R-Baton Rouge, District 66, Phone:  (225) 295-9240  edmondsr@legis.la.gov 
Final Term:  2024.

Rep. Julie Emerson, R-Carencro, District 39, Phone:  (337) 886-4687    emersonj@legis.la.gov
Final Term:  2024.

Rep. Reid Falconer, R-Mandeville, District 89, Phone:  (985) 792-5185    falconerr@legis.la.gov
Final Term:  2024.

Rep. Raymond Garofalo, Jr., R-Chalmette, District 103, Phone:  (504) 277-4729    garofalor@legis.la.gov
Final Term:  2020.

Rep. Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, District 82, Phone:  (504) 838-5433    henryc@legis.la.gov
Final Term:  2016.

Sen. Sharon Hewitt, R-Slidell, District 1, Phone:  (985) 646-6490    hewitts@legis.la.gov
Final Term:  2024.

CLICK HERE for a great feature article in The Hayride on Sen. Hewitt’s Senate Floor speech on “the burden on the everyday taxpayer,” which is complete with a video of her speech.

Rep. Valarie Hodges, R-Denham Springs, District 64, Phone:  (225) 791-2199  hodgesv@legis.la.gov
Final Term:  2020.

Rep. Dotie Horton, R-Haughton, District 9, Phone:  (318) 949-2463  hortond@legis.la.gov
Final Term:  2024.

Rep. Barry Ivey, R-Central, District 65, Phone:  (225) 261-5739  iveyb@legis.la.gov
Final Term:  2020.

CLICK HERE for the feature referencing Rep. Ivey’s assistance on recognizing the problematic nature of the Louisiana Auctioneer Licensing Board.

Rep. Sherman Mack, R-Albany, District 95, Phone:  (985) 567-3677    macks@legis.la.gov
Final Term:  2020.

Rep. Blake Miguez, R-Erath, District 49, Phone:  (337) 937-8827    miguezb@legis.la.gov
Final Term:  2024.

Sen. John Milkovich, D-Shreveport, District 38, Phone:  (318) 676-7877    milkovichj@legis.la.gov
Final Term:  2024.

CLICK HERE for the feature referencing Sen. Milkovich’s assistance on recognizing the problematic nature of the Louisiana Auctioneer Licensing Board.

Sen. Beth Mizell, R-Franklinton, District 12, Phone:  (985) 839-7714   mizellb@legis.la.gov
Final Term:  2024.

Rep. Jay Morris, R-Monroe, District 14, Phone:  (318) 362-4270  morrisjc@legis.la.gov
Final Term:  2020.

Sen. Jonathan Perry, R-Kaplan, District 26, Phone:  (337) 643-6425   perryj@legis.la.gov
Final Term:  2020.

Sen. Neil Riser, R-Columbia, District 32, Phone:  (318) 649-0977   risern@legis.la.gov
Final Term:  2016.

Rep. Alan Seabaugh, R-Shreveport, District 5, Phone:  (318) 676-7990  seabaugha@legis.la.gov
Final Term:  2020.

CLICK HERE for Rep. Seabaugh’s “fire and brimstone sermonette” entailing the 2017 attempted gas tax increase (second feature).

Rep. Kirk Talbot, R-River Ridge, District 78, Phone:  (504) 736-7299    talbotk@legis.la.gov
Final Term:  2016.

Rep. Mark Wright, R-Covington, District 77, Phone:  (985) 893-6262     wrightm@legis.la.gov
Final Term:  2024.

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State Rep. Kenny Havard, R-Jackson

In today’s Sound Off Louisiana feature, founder Robert Burns exposes the rank hypocrisy of State Rep. Kenny Havard, R-Jackson, as readily demonstrated in a vote on HB-10 sponsored by State Rep. Paula Davis, R-Baton Rouge, to raise $55,000/hour in state sales taxes on Louisiana’s citizens (0.45%) effective July 1, 2018:

Burns outlines Havard’s hypocrisy.

Support Links:

NoPennyRenewal.com (to be overhauled to reflect ALL legislators voting for Davis’ bill, those who sponsored other bills or who voted for even a single sales tax increase in 2018 among the plethora of bills voted on to do so).

Ted James’ BRPC presentation, which was devoid of ANY mainstream media coverage (likely in an effort to prevent his divisive words from derailing Edwards’ sales tax measures).

Advocate’s article by Tyler Bridges, which prompted the IMMEDIATE birth of NoPennyRenewal.com linked above.

Havard’s HB-3, a mirror image of Davis’ HB-10.

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. 

Louisiana Rep. Edward “Ted” James, D-Baton Rouge

On Monday, June 18, 2018, Louisiana Rep. Ted James, D-Baton Rouge, appeared before the Baton Rouge Press Club, and virtually no prominent Republican in Louisiana escaped his wrath.  Though Attorney General Jeff Landry received the most blistering attacks, let’s begin with Louisiana House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, because James’ sharp criticism of him is the most relevant for the nine days that remain in the current special session of the Louisiana Leglislature:

James slams Henry, even going so far as to make a (presumed) joke about his height and that height ruling Henry out for getting James’ vote for office.  James also slams Henry’s initial plans for hearings on Louisiana’s Appropriations bill (HB-1).

Next, let’s move on to the most stinging words of the presentation, which were reserved for Attorney General Jeff Landry:

James’ sharpest words of criticism were reserved for Attorney General Jeff Landry.

Next, let’s take a brief pause to see a clip of the one Republican for whom James had praise and why, and that would be Rep. Barry Ivey, R-Central:

James commends Ivey for, in James’ words, “telling the public what we already knew” in terms of tax reform dying to “deny Gov. Edwards a win.”

Running a close second to Attorney General Jeff Landry on James’ harsh attacks was U. S. Sen. John Kennedy.  Let’s take a peek:

James has no complimentary words for U. S. Sen. John Kennedy and openly states that he hopes Kennedy runs against Edwards in 2019.

James’ quickest condemnation was reserved for colleague Rep. Alan Seabaugh, R-Shreveport.  Let’s take a look at how fast he covered that criticism:

James briefly criticizes Rep. Alan Seabaugh.  Perhaps such criticism (in which James didn’t even reference Seabaugh’s name) was obligatory on orders from Gov. Edwards, but perhaps it was so short because at this point in time nobody even challenges Seabaugh’s constitutionality concerns (which may only validate James’ obvious concerns entailing Seabaugh being “about to become a Federal judge.”)

This next feature ought to provide more than a few laughs.  James is questioned about the “poor people’s campaign” and its funding, and James wastes no time defending the demonstrations:

James defends demonstrations of the “poor people’s campaign.”

Meanwhile, James took great pride in absolutely slamming Americans for Prosperity, to include a blatant
misstatement which our great friend Scott McKay assessed at the preceding link (it is WELL worth the brief time required to read his feature and the accompanying video of James bumbling and stumbling out of his false narrative on AFP).

James also criticized former Gov. Bobby Jindal (and we take no exceptions to his points because even some of the most conservative members of the Louisiana House like Alan Seabaugh have acknowledged the shortcomings of former Gov. Jindal entailing fiscal matters), but he refuses to acknowledge any shortcomings of Gov. Edwards on failing to deliver on statutory dedications nor his blocking of HB-760 this past session to permit Louisiana legislators to have the same transparency entailing the budget as the Governor enjoys (spoiler alert:  he takes a jab at Louisiana House Republican Caucus Chairman Lance Harris as well):

James re-directs statements entailing Gov. Edwards back to a failure on the part of Republicans to muster up votes.  Without a doubt, there IS some truth to what Rep. James says, and that’s a key premise behind the AFP taker’s dozen.

Last but not least, James provides his assessment of EBRP Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome’s prospects on her proposed 1/2 cent sales tax for 30 years to fund road improvements in East Baton Rouge Parish, and we doubt she’ll be thrilled with what he has to say:

James on EBRP Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome’s tax proposal’s prospects.

CLICK HERE for Rep. James’ presentation in its entirety.

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.