Kennedy Video Blog "Sen. Hines mad at me"

We interviewed State Treasurer John Kennedy today and have the interview posted here at the KALB-TV Video Blog.

In the interview Kennedy answers a question from a blogger about the State Bond Commission issue and says the item is authored by Senator Don Hines because he is mad at Kennedy over the Bunkie Sugar Mill issue.

He outlines what he would do if he were "King for a Day" and no it is not replace Hines, but a three point plan for the state's load of cash.

That and an answer about running for governor.

Tell John Kennedy what to do with the money.

The Louisiana State Treasurer John Kennedy is in Alexandria today to discuss the loads of money our state will have for roads among other things. He has been pounding his fists and giving a message to the people about fiscal responsibility since being told in essence he can not do his job the "Recovery Authority" will. Remember them? They administer the Road Home program.

The idea behind this blog originally was to gather thoughts from the blogosphere and be a middle man in between the news maker and the public.

Do you have a question for Mr. Kennedy? We have an appointment with him later today.

Here are some links that might encourage you.
Daily Kingfish - Why State Treasurer John Kennedy is a Democrat.
About John N. Kennedy - Wikipedia
Look he has a blog! - John Kennedy Blog
The Town Talk - Our view: Accountability in letter of law, not in reality

We would be happy to pose your question to Mr. Kennedy. Our first question, what office are you running for next?

City of Alexandria sued over utility rates.

This is the item we ran tonight on KALB-TV.
The City of Alexandria is being sued in a class action lawsuit filed by Shreveport attorney Larry English.
The suit claims the city has over charged its rate payers for utility costs.

The lawsuit claims “...the City has over charged plaintiffs and class members on their utility accounts for a period of time dating from 1997 to the present.”

One note, English you may recall is the attorney for Bridgette Brown. Brown a local attorney was removed from the Cleco lawsuit by city administration.

The Cleco case is in mediation and last word has not publicly taken any steps forward.

We'll have more on this story as it develops and have been in contact with the Mayor's office for a response but have not heard back yet.

Do bigger public salaries equal better government officials?

I read with great interest the lapolitics newsletter today and thought of sharing an excerpt.

John Maginnis writes the following...
Increasing the salaries of politicians, especially those at the top, is always a tough sell, and the availability of resources seldom has anything to do with it.
With every election cycle one hears the lament about the lack of good people willing to offer themselves for public office. Yet what are we doing to make public service more attractive? Small wonder that fewer successful, well-adjusted individuals choose to endure the expense, stress, heartache and plain meanness of modern-day election campaigns for the honor and rewards of serving we the people.

He continues...

Last year, Attorney General Charles Foti, a retired sheriff, stirred up huge controversy and anger within the medical community and the public for arresting a doctor and two nurses following his post-Katrina investigation of mercy killing at a New Orleans hospital. It was assumed that he would face multiple viable challengers this year from the ranks of district attorneys and term-limited legislators. So far, the only takers are Buddy Caldwell, a district attorney eligible to retire, and Royal Alexander, a former congressional aide.
Foti sits on a big campaign war chest, but is he that strong or is the lure of the state's top legal office so weak? Where are the state's best legal minds or even politically ambitious lawyers, who could position themselves to run for governor or senator? They are making money, of course, having invested heavily in building their professional careers.
Even doubling the A.G.'s salary would not come near what top lawyers in private practice are pulling down, but doing so would make a one-term or two-term stint feasible, especially for some well-qualified district attorneys.

And finally...

On this subject a few years ago, Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu said, "You get what you pay for," and instantly regretted it. What he meant was not that he and other incumbents would work harder if paid more, but that more good people would offer themselves for the top levels of public service if they didn't feel they would be punished for it.

Comments?

Gas prices up - use the internet to find local cheap gas?

Here is the latest AP wire copy on the Lundberg Survey...

Gas prices up eleven cents nationwide
The Lundberg Survey says the average price of self-serve regular gasoline has hit a record high of three dollars, 18 cents per gallon.
That's up more than eleven cents over the previous two weeks. The previous record adjusted for inflation was three dollars, 15 cents per gallon in March 1981.
A gallon of mid-grade gasoline averaged three-29, and premium cost three-40, according to the latest Lundberg Survey of seven-thousand gas stations across the country.
Nationwide, the lowest price for regular fuel was two-87 in Charleston, South Carolina, and the highest was in Chicago at three-59 a gallon.

Central Louisiana prices are climbing and this brings up our Pain at the Pump program. The idea is to find as many people as possible that can form a network and find the least expensive gas prices. It may be just a few cents difference per gallon, but at these prices anything can help. Just post your comments and we'll see if the power of the Internet can help people save a little money.