Strangest Weekend Story 1
As the full House and Senate return today, all eyes remain on the oil slick threatening our coast and efforts to minimize the long term impacts on our wildlife, people, and culture. But while most were fixated on the coast, The Scoop wanted to alert you to a couple of rather strange articles we encountered over the weekend.
On Saturday, the Baton Rouge Advocate editorialized that “nothing succeeds success like success” when evaluating President Obama’s job performance in the wake of the massive government takeover of our health care system. The Advocate further concluded that the “president’s stock is up and that might give some heart to his Democratic friends on the ballot” this fall. These claims of rising stock may come a shock to the American people who have unquestionably soured on the President.
When the president took office in January 2009 he enjoyed a 65% approval rate (30% disapprove), but today that approval rating is just 48% (54% disapprove). But it’s not just Rasmussen polling, the latest CBS/NYT Poll finds that Obama’s standing “on the ‘I feel your pain’ question is trending downwards” (10 points since Oct. 08), as is the percentage of Americans who feel Obama shares their values (down 9 points since Oct. 08). That same poll finds that just 34 percent of Americans feel the country is headed in the “right direction” and 59 percent say the country is on the “wrong track.”
If indeed, as the Advocate suggested, Obama’s stock is up; the American people certainly aren’t buying. But the Scoop is hopeful that the folks over in the Melancon campaign are reading the Advocate and not looking at the data. It would surely be a sight to see with Obama and Melancon arm in arm at a campaign rally here in Louisiana talking about all they’ve accomplished together.
Strangest Weekend Story 2
Speaking of Melancon, he had an interesting op-ed in the Shreveport Times on Saturday talking about the need for reforms on Wall Street. Melancon attempts to suggest that the bill he supports is the people vs. Wall Street and he’s on the peoples side, but that couldn’t be farther from truth. The bill is backed by Goldman Sachs and Citi Bank. Does anyone honestly believe these Wall Street firms would be for regulatory reforms that wasn’t in their financial best interest? Of course not. This bill institutionalizes “too-big-to-fail” and makes government bailouts for irresponsible firms inevitable.
And of course, the most ironic line in the entire article is Melancon’s assertion that one way to get our economy back on track is to cut government spending. He’s right of course, but his rhetoric doesn’t match his record. Melancon voted for the stimulus, Obama’s deficit driving budget, the financial bailouts and the auto bailouts. Maybe it’s time Melancon start practicing what he preaches.
You can read Melancon’s article here, and for a drastically different perspective from Senator Vitter here.
Remembering A Republican Leader
A memorial service honoring the late Haywood Hiller who passed away last week will take place today at Trinity Episcopal Church in New Orleans. Regarding the news of Mr. Hiller’s passing, Republican Party of Louisiana Chairman Roger Villere said “Haywood was one our states great conservative leaders. In 1960 he gathered with fellow college students in William F. Buckley’s Connecticut home to discuss the conservative movement, he fought hard to elect Governor Dave Treen as our first Republican Governor, and he served 25 years as Louisiana’s Republican National Committeeman. All his life he worked for the betterment of our party and we appreciate his efforts. Our hearts and prayers go out to his friends and family.”
Top Schedule:
3pm: The House and Senate convene
SCOOP NOTE: For a full list of committees meeting Monday, please visit the Louisiana Legislature’s website.
In The News Today…
New York Times: BP Is Criticized Over Oil Spill, but U.S. Missed Chances to Act
“Officials in the Obama administration began for the first time Friday to publicly chastise BP America for its handling of the spreading oil gusher in the Gulf of Mexico, calling the oil company’s current resources inadequate to stop what is unfolding into an environmental catastrophe. … BP officials said they did everything possible, and a review of the response suggests it may be too simplistic to place all the blame on the oil company. The federal government also had opportunities to move more quickly, but did not do so while it waited for a resolution to the spreading spill from BP, which was leasing the drilling rig that exploded in flames on April 20 and sank two days later…” link
Wall Street Journal: BP’s Worsening Spill Crisis Undermines CEO’s Changes
“Tony Hayward thought he had finally slain all of BP PLC’s demons. Now a new one has reared up, and it’s the size of Puerto Rico. BP’s chief executive is coming under mounting pressure over the vast spill spreading in the Gulf of Mexico, which was caused when a giant drilling rig there caught fire and sank, with the loss of 11 crew members. The oil, still spewing from the well on the ocean floor, threatens to blacken the Louisana shoreline, and BP’s reputation.” link
Advertiser: Jindal blasts reaction to crisis
“Gov. Bobby Jindal says he is tired of waiting for British Petroleum to assemble a plan for cleaning up Louisiana’s coast once the major portion of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill arrives. At a news conference Saturday after being briefed by BP, Coast Guard and state and local officials, the governor said he is ‘past the point of waiting for cleanup plans from BP’ and is assembling his own. ‘We continue to be concerned about BP’s ability to handle this,’ he said. ‘We’re doing everything we can to protect our coast, protect our way of life.’” link
Washington Post: Can Louisiana education reform survive teachers unions’ assault?
“Having thwarted efforts to revamp teacher evaluations in Florida, teachers unions are now aiming to block reform in Louisiana. An intense lobbying campaign is underway to defeat Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal’s ambitious education reform agenda. State lawmakers should follow his lead in standing up for student interests… Collaboration is the ideal outcome, but not if it is built on watered-down reform. Mr. Jindal is right to push for meaningful change.” link
ADVOCATE: Support high for teacher merit-based pay
“…’I think it will be well received, I think it will be overwhelming,’ said state Rep. Frank Hoffmann, R-West Monroe and sponsor of the bill. Pastorek agreed. ‘I am cautiously optimistic about the Hoffmann bill,’ he said. Backers say the change is needed because there is overwhelming evidence that teacher quality plays a huge role in student achievement…” link
Contact Your Representatives:
Our elected leaders in Baton Rouge are there to represent us. Let them know what you think about legislation by contacting them through email and by phone. link
Spread the Word:
If you know anyone who might be interested in receiving Session Scoop emails, please have them send a message to SessionScoop@lagop.com with the message “subscribe” in the subject line. Have a tip for the Scoop? Send us a message at sessionscoop@lagop.com.