Baton Rouge – Yesterday the bipartisan House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct announced, after a lengthy investigation, that U.S. Representative Charlie Rangel (D-NY) has been officially charged with a range of ethics violations.  The Republican Party of Louisiana questions why U.S. Representative Charlie Melancon (D-LA) continues to loyally stand by his Democrat colleague.

The Republican Party of Louisiana is demanding Melancon return Rangel’s tainted campaign cash.  In March of this year several of Melancon’s Democrat colleagues returned thousands of dollars worth of campaign contributions from Rangel.  But, Charlie Melancon has refused to return $13,000 from Rangel’s campaign committee and leadership PAC despite mounting evidence of Rangel’s illegal activities.

“It’s time for Charlie Melancon to publically reprimand Charlie Rangel, call for his resignation, and return the $13,000 he’s received from the ethically challenged congressman,” said Republican Party of Louisiana Deputy Chairman Charlie Davis.  “Melancon is clearly getting no support for his floundering campaign if he’s reduced to collecting campaign cash from trial lawyers in Canada and disgraced Democrat colleagues in the House.  Sen. Vitter is effectively fighting for Louisiana by passing flood insurance, protecting the Road Home program, working to lift the moratorium and fighting the liberal spending habits of Obama and Melancon.”

“[Jindal's] mantra is simple, ‘We don’t have time for meetings. We don’t have time for red tape and bureaucracy.  We’re literally in a war to save our coast. Every hour matters. Every day matters.’

And Jindal, unlike BP and the Obama administration, is taking action.  He has been in the affected areas of Louisiana every day since the spill, assessing the damage, talking to locals, looking for solutions…

In a recent news conference, he said, ‘So far we’ve not heard an alternative plan; all we’ve seen is bureaucracy and roadblocks.  We have told them ‘no’ is not an answer, ‘no’ is not a plan, ‘no’ is not acceptable.’

While he is furious with BP, he is also unhappy with the government…

‘We don’t understand why our federal government would be making excuses for BP,’ Governor Jindal has said. ‘They’re the responsible party. They’re the ones that caused this oil spill… it is their oil that is showing up in our coast and our wetlands and our marshes. It just makes sense that they pay to clean up this damage. ‘…

The BP oil debacle has again focused attention on Jindal, who has risen to the occasion with pistols blazing.  He is not playing politics, he’s looking for a way to solve the problem and help his people…

Despite the difficulties facing his state, Bobby Jindal is bullish on Louisiana.  After BP capped the gushing well, the Governor cautioned that it was not yet time to declare victory.  At the same time, he noted his faith in the people of Louisiana.

‘We know that we’re going to be successful in getting our way of life back,’ said Governor Jindal. ‘Our people are resilient, they’re tough.  They got through Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike.  And they’ll get through this oil spill as well.’”

Click Here To Read The Full Article In The Washington Times

“…It’s a little after 12:30 p.m. at the Port of New Orleans. Gov. Bobby Jindal has assembled a room full of local parish leaders and high-ranking state officials to unveil a four-point plan for revitalizing the Louisiana coast in the aftermath of the oil spill. It’s bold, transformative, even inspirational. In the absence of federal leadership, Jindal is forging ahead, taking control of a desperate situation.

Jindal is full of energy and enthusiasm as he commands the meeting. He works through his four items, then delves back in for a second go-around to explain them in more detail…

When the oil started spewing from the Gulf of Mexico three months ago, Jindal set his team in motion. The state’s emergency response website serves as the go-to source for information on the spill. Since April 22, it’s had more than 300 updates on everything from recreational fishing to requests for federal help.

Information overload? Not for Jindal. He’s constantly consuming data. This is evident at the daily briefing he attends on the oil spill. He asks pointed questions about the status of the cleanup, pushing for more details about oil sightings and skimmers…

Jindal’s four-point plan won’t be easy to implement or execute. He wants to put in place an ambitious coastal restoration project to restore the ecosystem, get fishermen back on the water quickly, lift the federal government’s offshore drilling moratorium and hold BP accountable for damages to the environment…

Through it all, Jindal has remained upbeat and optimistic…

Unlike Hurricane Katrina, which captivated the nation for months and years, the cleanup probably won’t generate the same level of attention or sympathy with the oil no longer flowing…

That’s not lost on Jindal. His response to last week’s good news: It’s too early to declare victory. ‘We have been fighting a war against this oil for months now and we know our battles don’t end even when the well is capped,’ he said.

Then, doing what he does best, he shifted from straightforward chief executive to awe-inspiring leader with a compassionate heart and optimistic outlook.

‘I have no doubt that we will come back stronger than ever before from this disaster, just as we have done in our recovery from four devastating storms in three years,’ Jindal said. ‘It’s the perseverance of the people of Louisiana that will ensure our successful recovery and fully restore our Louisiana Way of Life.’

If Jindal has no doubt Louisiana will persevere, it would be foolish to doubt him.”

Robert Bluey directs the Center for Media & Public Policy at the Heritage Foundation.

Click Here To Read The Full Article In The New Ledger

“Once again Charlie Melancon has aligned himself with Nancy Pelosi and her liberal allies in Congress to prove how effective he is at advancing legislation that harms the people of Louisiana,” said Republican Party of Louisiana Communications Director Aaron Baer.  “Louisiana voters are coming to understand that Charlie Melancon is effectively advancing the liberal agenda of outrageous government spending in Obama’s ‘stimulus’ and budget at the same time he’s gutting legitimate federal aide to those who need it most.”

Even Charlie Melancon himself recognized the disastrous impact of rescinding this recovery funding when he vowed to persuade to “try” and persuade a conference committee to eliminate that provision.  But, when it was time to stand up and be counted on the House floor, Charlie Melancon stood up not for the people of Louisiana but his liberal Democrat buddies in Congress.

Background:

U.S. House Of Representatives Strips $400 Million From Katrina Recovery Funds To Pay For War In Afghanistan, Gulf Coast oil spill, and FEMA. “The House passed an $80 billion emergency spending bill last week that would rescind nearly $400 million from Louisiana, part of $11.7 billion in cuts to make up for the cost of the legislation, which directs money to the war in Afghanistan, the Gulf Coast oil spill and FEMA.” (Editorial, “Members of Congress should not prey on Katrina funds,” New Orleans Times-Picayune, 7/7/10, link)

Representative Charlie Melancon Was The Only Member Of Louisiana’s Congressional Delegation To Vote With Nancy Pelosi And The Democrat Majority In Favor Of Cutting $400 Million From The Road Home Program. (H.R. 4899, CQ Vote #430, Motion Adopted 239-182: D 236-15; R 3-167, 7/1/10, Melancon voted Yea, Alexander, Boustany, Cao, Cassidy, Fleming, and Scalise voted Nay).

Melancon Vowed To TRY To Remove The Road Home Recision Yet Still Voted FOR The Legislation. “Reps. Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, Anh “Joseph” Cao, R-New Orleans and Charlie Melancon, D-Napoleonville, all vowed to try to persuade members to eliminate the Road Home rescission during negotiations in a House-Senate conference committee.” (Bruce Aplert, “House proposal cuts $400 million from Road Home,” New Orleans Times-Picayune, 7/3/10, link)

New Orleans Times-Picayune: “Members Of Congress Should Not Prey On Katrina Funds.” “Louisianians who lost their homes when the federally built levees failed might lose recovery dollars intended to help them rebuild. That’s because Congress wants to grab Road Home money to offset other spending.” (Editorial, “Members of Congress should not prey on Katrina funds,” New Orleans Times-Picayune, 7/7/10, link)

Plans For Road Home Funds Included Victims Of Contractor Fraud And Malfeasance & Contaminated Chinese Drywall. “The state had planned to use portions of the remaining funds to help people … who were victims of contractor fraud or malfeasance, to rehabilitate damaged homes that were among the 9,000 obtained from homeowners who decided not to rebuild, and to assist those homeowners who had problems with contaminated Chinese drywall. Also potentially affected, she said, are 3,000 people who have yet to close on their Road Home rebuilding checks, and an estimated 14,000 Road Home applicants ‘who have not yet completed their rebuilding.’ (Bruce Alpert, “Possibility of the loss of $400 million in Road Home money has Louisiana scrambling,” New Orleans Times-Picayune, 7/11/10, link)

Stripped Funding Will Leave 19,000 Louisiana Homes Blighted. “David Voelker, who chaired the Louisiana Recovery Authority, said that without the money, as many as 19,000 Louisiana homes — 6,600 in Orleans Parish — will remain blighted.” (Editorial, “Members of Congress should not prey on Katrina funds,” New Orleans Times-Picayune, 7/7/10, link)

Times-Picayune: “…[R]aiding Louisiana’s Road Home money would be a terrible injustice.” (Editorial, “Members of Congress should not prey on Katrina funds,” New Orleans Times-Picayune, 7/7/10, link)

New Orleans Democrat Mayor Mitch Landrieu: Stripping These Funds … An Affront To This Regions Recovery. “’Stripping these funds from the resilient, hard-working residents of our city, who are still recovering in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and now dealing with the BP oil spill, is an affront to this region’s recovery,’ New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said. ‘These actions are short-sighted and unjust.’ Landrieu said city neighborhoods “are still in desperate need of the support that these funds were intended to provide. The work of the state’s Road Home program is not done,’ he said.” (Bruce Alpert, “Possibility of the loss of $400 million in Road Home money has Louisiana scrambling,” New Orleans Times-Picayune, 7/11/10, link) ]]> http://lagop.com/2010/07/melancon-effectively-cuts-aid-to-hurricane-victims/feed/ 0 http://lagop.com/2010/07/melancon-enters-senate-race-why/ http://lagop.com/2010/07/melancon-enters-senate-race-why/#comments Wed, 07 Jul 2010 20:03:29 +0000 Administrator http://lagop.com/?p=2206 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 7th, 2010
CONTACT: Aaron Baer
225-389-4495

Melancon Enters Senate Race. Why?

In Case You Missed It…

What was Melancon promised?

Two hundred thirty-four years ago, at the dawn of our great nation, the Founding Fathers set a course destined to uniquely and permanently alter human history.

As we celebrate our nation’s independence with friends and family, we reflect on the timeless principles upon which our predecessors had the foresight to base our system of government.  It is by their words and deeds that we have the opportunity to flourish in this land of the free and home of the brave. The ideals for which they struggled cast the mold for a nation where opportunity could blossom and to which the weary eyes of the world would look for hope and inspiration as tribute to the enduring power of liberty.

On July 4, 1776, these courageous men etched in parchment the unalienable rights bestowed by our Creator; and ever since that day countless men and women from sea to shining sea have defended freedom and promoted liberty across the globe.  Today, we honor their sacrifices with gratitude, offering our steadfast resolve to face the challenges that lay before us.

For many in Louisiana, these trials do not lie dormant in the haze of an unknown future, but in the excruciating immediacy of the present.  We have now entered the 74th day of the gulf oil spill, a disaster of epic environmental and economic impact to the Louisiana way of life that has long endured for generations.  Just as we remember the patriots and statesman who struggled for the nation we are so fortunate to have inherited, so too must we consider those who struggle today to prevent their livelihoods from drowning in the mire of either oil– or bureaucratic incompetence.

We at the Republican Party of Louisiana wish you a happy and safe Fourth of July.  Enjoy the fireworks and cherish the fellowship with your family and friends, and observe not only the challenges overcome, but the challenges which threaten to overcome us.

Sincerely,

Roger Villere, Chairman

Villere Calls Out Obama, D.C. Democrats on Obstructing Oil Spill Visit

Villere says Democrats from Obama to Pelosi have done everything in their power to impede Louisiana’s recovery

Baton Rouge – Republican Party of Louisiana Chairman Roger Villere expressed his outrage today that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is blocking members of Congress from visiting the devastation of the Louisiana coastline.  Villere also offered Congressman Steve Scalise the full support of the Party in making sure members of Congress are able to visit the oil spill disaster area.

“President Obama has stumbled and stalled his way through this oil spill cleanup effort and now Nancy Pelosi is standing in the way of members of Congress who want to see the devastation firsthand,” stated Villere.  “It’s no surprise that some are starting to wonder why so many D.C. Democrats, from the President to Pelosi, seem content to leave the future of Louisiana and the Gulf Coast in such peril,” added Villere.

This most recent obstruction by Pelosi comes on the heels of information that after more than 70 days of oil gushing from the mangled Deepwater Horizon, President Obama has finally decided to allow American allies to assist in the cleanup process.

“Unless there is some extraordinary reason to prohibit this trip – which has yet to be communicated to us – this is an unacceptable departure from past practices,” said Representative Dan Lungren of California, the top Republican on the administration committee.

As to why Democrats were blocking Congressmen from seeing the coast, Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill, referred to “energy policies that have done nothing to secure our energy future”.

“These statements by Nancy Pelosi’s office shed even further light as to the real reason Democrats are blocking our recovery and cleanup efforts.  It’s time for Democrats to put aside partisan politics and catering to the liberal left and focus on getting the job done on cleaning up this mess that they’re helping to create,” concluded Villere.

New Iberia - Tonight, Republican Party of Louisiana Chairman Roger Villere joined Louisiana State Representative Simone Champagne (District 49) at Landry’s Seafood and Steakhouse in New Iberia where Rep. Champagne announced that she is changing her party affiliation from Democrat to Republican.

“Although I was elected as a Democrat in 2007, I have concluded after much discussion and prayer that I can no longer affiliate myself with a party that does not reflect my core values and beliefs,” said Representative Simone Champagne.  “The differences between the two major parties both in Louisiana and in Washington, D.C. have never been clearer and I must align myself with the party that most closely represents my vision for the 49th District and the future of this great state.”

Republican Party of Louisiana Chairman Roger Villere welcomed Representative Champagne to the GOP.  “With today’s decision, Rep. Champagne adds her name to a growing list of Democrats disaffected by their leadership’s pursuit of an increasingly liberal agenda,” said Chairman Villere. “We’re proud to count Rep. Champagne as the newest member of the Grand Old Party.”

Rep. Champagne’s announcement and the election of a Republican to replace retiring Representative Wayne Waddell (R-District 5) will result in the next legislative session beginning with 51 Republicans, 51 Democrats, and 3 independents.

“This is exciting news for the Republican Party of Louisiana,” said Chairman Villere.  “Prior to the legislative elections in 2007, Democrats had a 16 seat majority in the House of Representatives and today’s announcement means that deficit has been cut to zero.”

In his ruling, Judge Feldman found that moratorium was arbitrarily imposed saying “an invalid agency decision to suspend drilling of wells in depths of over 500 feet simply cannot justify the immeasurable effect on the plaintiffs, the local economy, the Gulf region, and the critical present-day aspect of the availability of domestic energy in this country.”

“Today’s ruling brings a sense of relief to thousands of Louisianians whose livelihoods are either directly or indirectly impacted by Obama’s drilling moratorium,” said Republican Party of Louisiana Chairman Roger Villere.  “Unfortunately, the decision seems to have already fallen on deaf ears at the White House.  The Obama Administration’s pledge to appeal today’s decision simply reinforces the hypocrisy behind Obama’s pledge to ‘spare no effort’ in responding to this spill.  Whether it’s the moratorium or job killing Cap & Tax legislation, Obama seems content on turning an environmental disaster into an economic nightmare.”

In Case You Missed…

Administration to appeal strikedown of offshore drilling ban

The Hill
By Michael O’Brien
June 22, 2010

“…White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said the administration would appeal a decision by a district court judge granting an injunction against President Barack Obama’s temporary ban on deepwater offshore drilling…

‘Continuing to drill at these depths without knowing what happened does not make any sense,’ Gibbs added.

The administration’s decision to ban drilling was likely ‘arbitrary and capricious’ and would do ‘irreparable harm’ to companies and individuals’ livelihoods, federal Judge Martin Feldman wrote in his decision. Feldman granted a preliminary injunction against the moratorium’s effects.”

Click Here For The Full Story In The Hill