Wednesday, May 9, 2012, was a magnificent display of Louisiana legislative ignorance and back-stabbing inconsistency. SB 47 breaks the contract with current state employees. It violates the Louisiana Constitution. SB 47 failed and then passed minutes later. It's mind-boggling.
But the whole process may be hitting the skids, despite Uncle Bobby's Wee Little Brown Shirts and Ivy League Junior Goon Squad watching and arm-twisting. They couldn't get the votes for the whole debacle. (However, if the package eventually passes, some key legislators will get "bridges to nowhere" in their districts. Just you watch.)
See the Advocate article that sums things up: http://theadvocate.com/home/2793101-125/votes-canceled-on-pension-revamp
Here's how they voted: http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=800069
Remember, May 9th was State Employee Appreciation Day. Irony taken to a pure science.
Teachers and retirees, you are the next to get Jindalized.
Teachers and retirees, you are the next to get Jindalized.
See my e-mail below:
<mwalsworth@legis.la.gov>; <gtarver@legis.la.gov>; bnevers@legis.la.gov; <bpeacock@legis.la.gov>; <fmills@legis.la.gov>; <dmorrish@legis.la.gov>;
<dmartiny@legis.la.gov>; <glong@legis.la.gov>; <akostelka@legis.la.gov>; <rjohns@legis.la.gov>; <jdonahue@legis.la.gov>; <acrowe@legis.la.gov>; <pcortez@legis.la.gov>;
<dclaitor@legis.la.gov>; <nchabert@legis.la.gov>; <cappel@legis.la.gov>; <jamedee@legis.la.gov>; <ballain@legis.la.gov>; <radley@legis.la.gov>;
<jalario@legis.la.gov>;<mwhite@legis.la.gov>; <alarioj@legis.la.gov>;<guillorye@legis.la.gov>;<adleyr@legis.la.gov>; <allainb@legis.la.gov>; <amedeej@legis.la.gov>; <appelc@legis.la.gov>; <chabertn@legis.la.gov>; <claitord@legis.la.gov>; <cortezp@legis.la.gov>; <crowea@legis.la.gov>; <donahuej@legis.la.gov>; <johnsr@legis.la.gov>; <kostelka@legis.la.gov>; <longg@legis.la.gov>; <martinyd@legis.la.gov>; <millsf@legis.la.gov>; <morrishd@legis.la.gov>; <neversb@legis.state.la.us>; <peacockb@legis.la.gov>; <smithj@legis.la.gov>; <tarverg@legis.la.gov>; <walsworthm@legis.la.gov>; <mwalsworth@legis.la.gov>; <jamedee@legis.la.gov>; <whitem@legis.la.gov>
Subject: Very disappointed in your vote on SB 47
Dear Senator,
I'm very sorry to see your vote on SB 47, very sorry indeed. I wish you would respect existing contracts and the Louisiana Constitution.
Your votes on retirement are making it inhospitable to work in higher education in Louisiana. We are going to be known as the worst place to do university work in the developed world, not just in North America.
When you are done, major scholars and researchers will prefer driving a yellow taxi cab in Chapel Hill, North Carolina to coming to Louisiana, and this state will suffer for decades to come. I will do my best to make sure they understand the climate here.
Should I expect complete devotion to the governor's plans for all of the upcoming retirement bills?
I'm a Louisiana citizen, born and bred, and I care.
Sincerely,
<dmartiny@legis.la.gov>; <glong@legis.la.gov>; <akostelka@legis.la.gov>; <rjohns@legis.la.gov>; <jdonahue@legis.la.gov>; <acrowe@legis.la.gov>; <pcortez@legis.la.gov>;
<dclaitor@legis.la.gov>; <nchabert@legis.la.gov>; <cappel@legis.la.gov>; <jamedee@legis.la.gov>; <ballain@legis.la.gov>; <radley@legis.la.gov>;
<jalario@legis.la.gov>;<mwhite@legis.la.gov>; <alarioj@legis.la.gov>;<guillorye@legis.la.gov>;<adleyr@legis.la.gov>; <allainb@legis.la.gov>; <amedeej@legis.la.gov>; <appelc@legis.la.gov>; <chabertn@legis.la.gov>; <claitord@legis.la.gov>; <cortezp@legis.la.gov>; <crowea@legis.la.gov>; <donahuej@legis.la.gov>; <johnsr@legis.la.gov>; <kostelka@legis.la.gov>; <longg@legis.la.gov>; <martinyd@legis.la.gov>; <millsf@legis.la.gov>; <morrishd@legis.la.gov>; <neversb@legis.state.la.us>; <peacockb@legis.la.gov>; <smithj@legis.la.gov>; <tarverg@legis.la.gov>; <walsworthm@legis.la.gov>; <mwalsworth@legis.la.gov>; <jamedee@legis.la.gov>; <whitem@legis.la.gov>
Subject: Very disappointed in your vote on SB 47
Dear Senator,
I'm very sorry to see your vote on SB 47, very sorry indeed. I wish you would respect existing contracts and the Louisiana Constitution.
Your votes on retirement are making it inhospitable to work in higher education in Louisiana. We are going to be known as the worst place to do university work in the developed world, not just in North America.
When you are done, major scholars and researchers will prefer driving a yellow taxi cab in Chapel Hill, North Carolina to coming to Louisiana, and this state will suffer for decades to come. I will do my best to make sure they understand the climate here.
Should I expect complete devotion to the governor's plans for all of the upcoming retirement bills?
I'm a Louisiana citizen, born and bred, and I care.
Sincerely,
Dayne Sherman
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Dayne Sherman, Writer, Speaker, Scholar
Web & Social Media: http://daynesherman.com/
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***This message speaks only for the writer, a citizen, not for any present or past employer.***
