Speaking Out - June 23, 2010

by Pete Abington

GOVERNOR VETO

Now that the repeal of the $15 drivers license increase has passed both the House and Senate it is on the governor’s desk to sign.. He could veto this bill for it was revealed in testimony that this was not just to cover the cost of the administration and office but also was going to produce a great deal of surplus money, approximately $35 million, to be used in the budget. Because it passed June 8, the governor must act on this bill by this past Monday, two days after this publication.

Due to the large margin of victory in the House, it would be impossible for the governor to override the veto as it passed the House overwhelmingly at 91-6. It is possible he could veto this in the Senate for it passed only 21-7, 11 non-voting. After reviewing these facts, the governor made a decision not to override the veto.

SCHOOL REFORM LEGISLATION

School reform legislation has passed both Houses with our local Sen. Long and Rep. Howard voting for it. The bill was stripped from its original form where it does not carry term limits election being imposed. It does prohibit school members from acting in an individual capacity to compel, coerce, interfere with personnel decisions. It also requires a 2/3rds vote to terminate a local superintendent’s contract in the middle of its term.

VITTER-MELACON POLL

Sen. David Vitter leads in two different independent polls released this week. A poll by Magellan Strategies done June 10-13 has Vitter leading 51-31. Another poll by Public Policies Polling done June 12-13 has Vitter ahead 46-37.

If you polled just Democrats, PPP shows Melacon leading Democrats 56 -22 while Magellan has Democrats ahead by 43-33.

Regardless of what the polls reflect, it shows an uphill battle for any Democrat to upset the Republican seat with the present approval rating is under 40%. It’s at 37-57 percent in Louisiana.

RED NECK STORIES

You just might be a red neck if...
...You buy brown sheets so you don’t have to wash them.
...Your sofa used to be a weight bench.
...Your favorite music comes from a check out counter at a truck stop.
...Your best china traces the career of Loretta Lynn.