Sound Off Louisiana

Rep. Alan Seabaugh, as he questions the germaneness of HB-12, authored by Rep. Walt Leger, of the Second Special Session.

In our previous feature, we went to excruciating lengths to demonstrate that the Louisiana Senate, and most especially Sen. Dan Claitor, R-Baton Rouge, failed to exercise even a modicum of bill scrutiny by not even questioning the constitutionality of HB-12 authored by Walt Leger in the most recent special session.

We singled Claitor out because, as explained in the preceding post, Sen. Claitor actually litigated a previous Act of the Legislature when it became readily apparent it was unconstitutional based upon an amendment’s germaneness and the bill having multiple objects.

Since Sen. Claitor has such past experience, one would have thought he would have severe reservations about HB-12.  Apparently, he did not.

We also singled Claitor out because, days prior to him opting to file litigation in 2014 over the constitutionality of the “Edmonson Amendment,” and months before the late C. B. Forgotson convinced Sound Off Louisiana founder Robert Burns to form a video blog, C. B. also strongly urged Burns to conduct a one-on-one interview with Claitor about the Edmonson Amendment.  Burns did so, and Sen. Claitor didn’t mince words entailing the problematic nature of the amendment.  Despite all this presumed knowledge on Claitor’s part, his name appears prominently among the 32 Louisiana Senators supporting the measure.

Rep. Seabaugh has now gone to great lengths to explain his actions of Monday night.  Being blunt, his commentary ought to be required reading for all students in Louisiana high school and college history classes, high school civics classes, and most certainly college political science classes!

With that in mind, we believe it’s time to highlight all 63 members of the Louisiana House of Representatives who chose to openly defy Rep. Seabaugh’s admonitions about constitutionality, the reinforcement thereof by Louisiana House Speaker Taylor Barras, and (by inference) the legal opinion of Louisiana House Clerk Alfred “Butch” Speer (who most assuredly gave Speaker Barras the guidance of how to handle Seabaugh’s question).

Before we do that, however, let’s provide what may likely be the shortest video of any Sound Off Louisiana post and show our subscribers a brief clip of Seabaugh’s challenging the germaneness of the bill and House Speaker Taylor Barras’ commentary thereafter:

Seabaugh poses question of germaneness of Louisiana Senate amendments to HB-12 and Speaker Barras provides an answer.

Now, we are about to itemize off the 63 members of the House of Representatives who openly defied the guidance depicted in the video above and voted in favor of HB-12; however, let’s make one point first.

Not content with one bite at the apple entailing a bill that would almost assuredly be judged unconstitutional in the courts, as the clock literally was ready to expire on the entire session Monday night, a motion was made to reconsider the measure.  Who made it?  Well, that would be Rep. Julie Stokes, whose quest for becoming Louisiana’s next Secretary of State now appears to be a complete joke.

Why do we say that?  Well, the bill would have needed to pick up seven more votes to pass.  Clearly, Stokes, whose name ironically won’t appear itemized below because she requested that her vote be officially changed from “yes” to “no” for the sole purpose of becoming a member of the prevailing side (thus enabling her to have the ability to request reconsideration), would have been one of those seven, thus making the deficit only six (as it actually was mere seconds after the vote and before Stokes requested the vote change entailing her own vote).

However, for Stokes to openly taunt Seabaugh in the manner we are about to present in the following brief video clip as if it were a pickup basketball game and she’s yelling and pointing “it’s on you, buddy” as if to be calling Seabaugh for a personal foul in the basketball game, is simply beyond the pale!

Stokes’ act of taunting someone trying to save Louisiana from needless litigation over a bill with clear constitutional challenges, at least in our minds, makes her abjectly unqualified to serve as our next Louisiana Secretary of State.  Here’s Stokes’ performance for those who may perhaps be more forgiving of it than us:

Rep. Julie Stokes’ open taunting of Rep. Alan Seabaugh.

All right folks. We now shamefully present to you the 63 members of the House of Representatives who voted in favor of HB-12 on its initial vote prior to the second video clip above:

CLICK HERE to ascertain whom your Louisiana State Representative and Louisiana Senator are if you’re not sure.  All you have to do is supply the brief requested information.  Thereafter, you can request your polling location and also whom your elected officials are.  When the list comes up, simply observe your Louisiana State Representative and your Louisiana Senator.  Then all you have to do is see if that Representative or that Senator’s name and photo appear below as having voted to blatantly ignore Louisiana’s Constitution and cast a vote in support of Rep. Walt Leger’s bill as hijacked and made unconstitutional by Sen. J. P. Morrell:  

(Red = Representative is term-limited and cannot run for re-election in 2019).

Rep. Mark Abraham, R-Lake Charles,
District 36
Phone:  (337) 475-3016 [email protected]  

Declared a member of AFP’s taker’s dozen.

Rep. John Anders, D-Vidalia
District 21
Phone:  (318) 336-5865  [email protected]

Rep. James Arms, III, D-Leesville
District 30
Phone:  (337) 238-7004  [email protected]

Rep. Larry Bagley, R-Stonewall
District 7
Phone:  (318)925-9588   [email protected]

Rep. John Bagneris, D-New Orleans
District 100
Phone:  (504) 243-7783  [email protected] 

Rep. Robert Billot, D-Westwego
District 83
Phone:  (504) 436-8929  [email protected]

Rep. Joseph Bouie, Jr., D-New Orleans
District 97
Phone:  (504) 285-1033  [email protected] 

Rep. Ken Brass, D-Vacherie
District 58
Phone:  (225) 265-9005  [email protected] 

Rep. Chad Brown, D-Plaquemine
District 60
Phone:  (225) 687-2410  [email protected] 

Rep. Terry Brown, I-Colfax
District 22
Phone:  (855) 261-6566  [email protected] 

Rep. Thomas Carmody, R-Shreveport
District 6
Phone:  (318) 862-9956  [email protected] 

Rep. Barbara Carpenter D-Baton Rouge
District 63
Phone:  (225) 771-5674  [email protected] 

Rep. Gary Carter D-New Orleans
District 102
Phone:  (504) 361-6600  [email protected] 

Rep. Robby Carter, D-Amite
District 72
Phone:  (985)748-2245 [email protected] 

Rep. Steve Carter, R-Baton Rouge
District 68
Phone:  (225)362-5305  [email protected] 

Rep. Charles Chaney, R-Rayville
District 19
Phone:  (318)728-5875 [email protected]

Rep. Patrick Connick, R-Marrero
District 84
Phone:  (504)371-0240  [email protected] 

Rep. Kenny Cox, D-Natchitoches
District 23
Phone:  (855) 844-8583  [email protected] 

Rep. Greg Cromer, R-Slidell
District 90
Phone:  (985) 645-3592  [email protected] 

Rep. Royce Duplesis D-New Orleans
District 93
Phone:  (504) 568-2740  [email protected] 

Rep. Franklin Foil, R-Baton Rouge
District 70
Phone:  (225) 342-6777 [email protected]

Rep. A. B. Franklin D-Lake Charles
District 34
Phone:  (337) 491-2320  [email protected] 

Rep. Randal Gaines, D-LaPlace
District 57
Phone:  (985) 652-1228  [email protected] 

Rep. Jerry Gisclair, D-LaRose
District 54
Phone:  (985)798-7707  [email protected]

Rep. John E. “Johnny” Guinn, R-Jennings
District 37
Phone:  (337) 824-0376  [email protected]

Rep. Jeffrey Hall, D-Alexandria
District 26
Phone:  (318) 487-5661  [email protected] 

Rep. Jimmy Harris, D-New Orleans
District 99
Phone:  (504) 243-1960  [email protected] 

Rep. Kenny Havard, R-Jackson
District 62
Phone:  (225) 634-7470  [email protected] 

Rep. Lowell “Chirs” Hazel, R-Pineville
District 27
Phone:  (318)767-6082  [email protected]

Rep. Stephanie Hilferty, R-Metairie
District 94
Phone:  (504) 885-4154 [email protected]

Rep. Dorothy Hill, D-Dry Creek
District 32
Phone:  (800)259-2118 [email protected] 

Rep. Frank Hoffmann, R-West Monore
District 15
Phone:  (318)362-4130  [email protected]

Rep. Frank Howard, R-Many
District 24
Phone:  (318) 256-4135  [email protected] 

Rep. Marcus Hunter, D-Monroe
District 17
Phone:  (318) 362-3440  [email protected] 

Rep. Katrina Jackson, D-Monroe
District 16
Phone:  (318) 343-2877  [email protected] 

Rep. Ted James, D-Baton Rouge
District 101
Phone:  (225) 343-3633  [email protected] 

Rep. Patrick Jefferson D-Homer
District 11
Phone:  (318) 927-2519  [email protected] 

Rep. Sam Jenkins, D-Shreveport
District 2
Phone:  (318) 632-5970  [email protected] 

Rep. Robert Johnson, D-Marksville
District 28
Phone:  (318) 253-8891  [email protected] 

Rep. Sam Jones, D-Franklin
District 50
Phone:  (337) 828-7778 [email protected]

Rep. Edmond Jordan, D-Baton Rouge
District 29
Phone:  (225) 359-9480  [email protected] 

Rep. Terry Landry, Sr., D-New Iberia
District 96
Phone:  (337) 373-9380  [email protected] 

Rep. H. Bernard LeBas, D-Ville Platte
District 38
Phone:  (337)363-0152  [email protected]

Rep. Walt Leger, III D-New Orleans
District 91
Phone:  (504) 556-9970  [email protected] 

Rep. Christopher Leopold, R-Belle Chase
District 105
Phone:  (504)393-5649  [email protected] 

Rep. Rodney Lyons, D-Harvey
District 87
Phone:  (504) 510-5417  [email protected] 

Rep. Tanner Magee, R-Houma
District 53
Phone:  (985) 858-2970 [email protected] 

Rep. Denise Marcelle, D-Baton Rouge
District 61
Phone:  (225) 359-9362 [email protected] 

Rep. Joseph Marino, I-Gretna
District 85
Phone:  (504) 361-6013 [email protected] 

Rep. Jack McFarland, R-Jonesboro
District 13
Phone:  (318) 259-4275  [email protected]

Rep. Dustin Miller D-Opelousas
District 40
Phone:  (337) 943-2900  [email protected] 

Rep. Barbara Norton, D-Shreveport
District 26
Phone:  (318) 632-5887  [email protected] 

Rep. Vincent Pierre D-Lafayette
District 44
Phone:  (337) 262-2330  [email protected] 

Rep. J. Rogers Pope, R-Denham Springs
District 71
Phone:  (225) 667-3588  [email protected] 

Rep. Steve Pylant, R-Winnsboro
District 26
Phone:  (318) 435-7313  [email protected] 

Rep. Eugene Reynolds, D-Minden
District 10
Phone: (318)371-3092 [email protected]

SEAT NOW VACANT

Rep. Jerome “Dee” Richard, I-Thibodaux
District 55
Phone:  (985) 447-0999  [email protected] 

Rep. Robert Shadoin, R-Ruston
District 12
Phone:  (318) 251-5038  [email protected] 

Declared a member of AFP’s taker’s dozen.

Rep. Patricia Smith D-Baton Rouge
District 67
Phone:  (225) 342-7106  [email protected] 

Rep. Joseph Stagni, R-Kenner
District 92
Phone:  (504) 465-3479 [email protected]

Rep. Major Thibaut, D-New Roads
District 18
Phone:  (225) 638-3811 [email protected] 

Rep. Malinda White, D-Bogalusa
District 75
Phone:  (985) 730-2147  [email protected] 

Rep. Jerome Zeringue, R-Houma
District 52
Phone:  (985) 876-8823  [email protected] 

Final tally by party affiliation:

Democrat       38
Independent   3
Republican    22

TOTAL        63 (there were 41 “no” votes)

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Rep. Alan Seabaugh, as he openly questions the germaneness of Senate amendments to HB-12 by Rep. Walt Leger.

In 2014, though he first denied having done so, State Sen. Neil Riser had to ultimately admit to being the author of the so-called “Edmonson Amendment.”  That amendment, which was a stealth attempt to boost former LSP Col. Mike Edmonson’s pension by approximately $55,000/year, was ultimately challenged as unconstitutional by Riser’s colleague, Sen. Dan Claitor.  Prior to Claitor’s suit, the Louisiana State Police Retirement Board (LSPRB) hired a high-profile law firm in Florida to delve into whether the law passed by the Legislature granting Edmonson that pension boost was constitutional.  That firm issued a report which stated that the law was unconstitutional on multiple fronts, two of which were germaneness and multiple objects, thus providing pretty solid grounds beforehand for Claitor’s litigation.  In 19th JDC, Judge Janice Clark wasted little time issuing a declaratory judgment stating that the law was unconstitutional.

Sound Off Louisiana subscribers will easily recall our recent feature entailing members of the Louisiana House of Representatives voting 76-28 in favor of HB-27 by Lance Harris, which would increase Louisiana’s sales tax rate by 1/3 cent.  As was easily predictable, the Senate committee hearing Rep. Harris’ bill jacked it up to 1/2 cent, eliminated more exclusions, and eliminated the five-year sunset.  That wasn’t enough for Senate Committee Chairman J. P. Morrell and Democratic Party Chairperson Karen Carter Peterson, however.  Fearing that Harris may exercise dominant authority and walk away from his own bill as a result of their amendments (which Harris had readily told Morrell and Peterson would have “no chance” of passing the full House), they went a step further.  They also amended HB-12 by Rep. Walt Leger to effectively become a mirror image of Harris’ bill.  In so doing, if Harris played hardball, their logic was they could depend upon the more receptive fellow Democrat, Walt Leger, to obtain their objective of approximately $642 million in increased taxes (vs. the approximate $380 million Harris’ bill in its original format forecast).

In the following seven-minute video, highlights of Peterson’s hostile treatment of Harris are captured entailing the amendments, as are the “hijacking” of Leger’s bill to mirror Harris’ bill, Leger presenting his amended bill, Rep. Seabaugh questioning the constitutionality of the bill (based on the germaneness of the amendments), Speaker Barras’ response, and the ensuing episode of embarrassing and unprofessional conduct of State Rep. (and candidate for Secretary of State) Julie Stokes:

Final hostile and cantankerous days of 2018 second Special Session entailing HBs 27 and 12, respectively.

Speaker Barras’ wording in responding to Rep. Seabaugh is not just some “off the cuff” commentary!  We can all rest assured that his commentary is a verbatim quote of House Clerk Alfred “Butch” Speer, who is a very well-respected and knowledgeable attorney.  Hence, had the House actually taken a second vote on HB-12 (the vote near the end of the video above was a vote to reconsider, which passed, but Seabaugh succeeded in his efforts to extend the clock to midnight and thus make any second vote on the measure clearly an illegal vote and thus no vote transpired) and it somehow miraculously gotten 70 votes (it would not have), then any taxpayer could have filed a lawsuit similar to Claitor’s above entailing the constitutionality of the law!  Trust us, someone would have even if it would have to have been Sound Off Louisiana founder Robert Burns.

Hence, Alan Seabaugh served as a savior of inevitable litigation which almost certainly would have been a lost case by the State of Louisiana.  The state’s entire budget and operations would have been thrown into utter chaos as money from the sales tax would have to have been escrowed and ultimately refunded to consumers based on proofs of payments (people would have been urged to save all receipts).

Seabaugh’s reward?  Well, first there was the “it’s on you, buddy” (entailing another special session) statements and accompanying hand gestures by Rep. (and candidate for Secretary of State) Julie Stokes depicted in the video above as if it were a basketball game and she was taunting Seabaugh on committing a personal foul.  That highly unprofessional conduct was immediately followed by commentary by Rep. Anders about his “disappointment” as depicted in the above video.  Next came an outrageous, insulting, and inexcusable commentary by the aforementioned Sen. Peterson in which she even went so far as to openly question Rep. Seabaugh’s spirituality.  Then for the cherry on the ice cream, we have The Advocate’s piece on the Republican Caucus’ statement on a next special session complete with a FREAKING TWEET FROM GOVERNOR EDWARDS in the center of the article with a depiction of Seabaugh’s closing statements and the following notation:

WATCH: “Yes, I’m trying to run the clock out.” A minority in #lalege intentionally ruined the special session and are forcing cuts to higher education, TOPS, sheriffs, district attorneys and children and family services. They put politics over people in LA. #lagov #lalege

12:27 PM – Jun 5, 2018

What is most disturbing about all this?  Well, here are several items:

1. Why didn’t ANY Senator challenge the constitutionality of Leger’s bill, especially Sen. Claitor?  With the Edmonson Amendment, it could be argued it was done in the dead of night on a bill nobody was paying any attention to (all true) when dozens of bills were in a similar posture.  That CERTAINLY cannot be argued in this case as HB-12 was the focus of the ENTIRE Louisiana Senate.  So, why did they place Rep. Alan Seabaugh in the position of having to be the voice of reason to question the constitutionality of the bill?  Perhaps many of them know full-well that it’s unconstitutional but fear the wrath of Sen. President John Alario and/or Gov. Edwards had they dared question it!

2. How it is that Gov. Edwards can suddenly be oblivious to the constitutionality concerns of a proposed bill like HB-12?  After all, as depicted in the video below, he certainly said “it got by me,” and faulted himself for his inability to properly vet the bill entailing the “Edmonson Amendment.”  That certainly can’t be said of this measure, for which Edwards was acively lobbying for the passage!  So, what gives, Governor?  Regarding the “Edmonson Amendment,” on July 21, 2014 then-Rep. (and Gubernatorial candidate) John Bel Edwards appeared before the Baton Rouge Press Club.  The late C. B. Forgotston, who is largely responsible for Sound Off Louisiana‘s blog being formed, strongly encouraged future blog founder Robert Burns to attend and, if no member of the “mainstream media” posed the question, to ask of Edwards his thoughts on the amendment.  C. B. correctly predicted the mainstream media would avoid the issue (similarly to what they did recently with Dardenne and the mailing of those Medicaid letters), so Burns posed the question (and Edwards, sensing no member of the “mainstream media” had intentions to pose it, even thanked Burns for doing so).  Here’s the question and Edwards’ response in its entirety:

7/14/14 BRPC question by Burns to Edwards entailing Edmonson Amendment (Ironically, Edwards references Sen. J. P. Morrell as the author of the bill into which the controversial “Edmonson Amendment” was inserted by Riser).

3. How can the mainstream media outlets readily aid Gov. Edwards in his scapegoat characterizations of Seabaugh and others and fail to even mention Seabaugh’s concerns (nor Barras’ responses to those concerns) about the constitutionality of HB-12, for which Seabaugh is faulted for blocking and then being the “big bad boggie man” that “intentionally ruined the special session” as per Gov. Edwards’ quote above?

For us, the answer to question # 3 is simple:  The mainstream media is guilty of full-blown journalistic malpractice!

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Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, who recently announced the launching of an investigation regarding two matters presented by Sounnd Off Louisiana entailing the Lafayette Parish School System.

In today’s Sound Off Louisiana feature, we reveal the fact that, as reported by KLFY (Channel 10 – Lafayette), Attorney General Jeff Landry has launched an investigation entailing two Sound Off Louisiana investigative features:  1) the massive legal fees incurred by the Lafayette Parish School System entailing the firing (and subsequent defense of wrongful termination litigation) of former Superintendent Pat Cooper, and 2) alleged improprieties on the part of Kevin Martin, head of the cosmetology department of the W. D. and Mary Baker Smith Career Center within the Lafayette Parish School System.  That KLFY feature follows:

KLFY feature of May 22, 2018.  CLICK HERE to view the actual letter sent by Lafayette Parish District Attorney Keith Stutes to Burns.

In addition to the KLFY feature above, WWL (Channel 4 – New Orleans) aired this feature on May 17, 2018, two days after our feature on the lawsuit filed by former Louisiana State Police Commission member Calvin Braxton.  Here’s video of WWL’s feature:

WWL feature of May 17, 2018 on Braxton’s litigation.  CLICK HERE for the consent agreement reporter Katie Moore holds up during the feature.

We are presently working on an extensive and in-depth investigative report on happenings and circumstances surrounding the “resignations” of both Cathy Derbonne, the former Executive Director of the Louisiana State Police Commission (LSPC) and Braxton, former LSPC member.  As our subscribers will recall, Derbonne sued the LSPC earlier this year.  The first hearing (a Peremptory Exception of No Cause of Action filed by the LSPC) on her litigation is scheduled for Monday, June 4, 2018 at 9:30 a.m. in Judge Morvant’s courtroom.  We’ll be there to cover the outcome of that hearing, and will report the ruling back to our subscribers along with the aforementioned investigative report.  We KNOW you’re going to find that to be a fascinating post!!

If you would like to be added to our Sound Off Louisiana email list to be notified of future posts, simply go to our home page and scroll to the bottom (mobile devices) or to the top of the right-hand column (desktops).  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.