Correction 6/5/05: A reader email alerts me to an error in this article: Trahan voted for the bill, not against it as I originally reported in the summary table below. I must have misread the officially tally that I’d linked to in the paragraph above. My bad. (Strikethroughs denote the original mistake and red text the corrections.)
The state-wide franchise bill backed by BellSouth moved through the bowels of the House today. (You may correctly assume I think this bill s__t. Insert appropriate scatological jokes here.)
This is the same bill that strips localities of their property rights in regards to Telecom (and only telecom) companies. Local governments ability to make contracts that serve the interests of local citizens based on their ownership of local rights of way would be usurped by and handed over to corporations. The most immediate effect will be to exempt AT&T/BellSouth from the current rules that require that cable service be offered to all in a community by any corporation that leases their property. AT&T has been insisting that it won’t pay a dime in franchise fees, and doesn’t have to pay attention to local desires about how its land is used and what is placed on that land. In some places it has sued to forbid local governments from exerting their property rights and in others it has been sued for ignoring them. In all cases it is clear that AT&T believes it has no obligation to pay franchise fees. This will have a huge impact on local income. Lafayette gets $900,000 a year and New Orleans got $5,000,000. That’s based on cable income. Every dollar BS takes from Cox will mean another dollar in taxes that someone in those cities has to pay.
There has seldom been so raw an example of our state representatives selling out the interests of localities to boost the profit margin of one of the world’s largest corporations. Their mothers would be ashamed.
The bill passed 73 to 26. If you like to see a list of the heels and heroes visit the page detailing the final vote. If your representative is a heel you really ought to let him or her know.
Here’s how Lafayette’s reps did. Even up. That sad showing is twice as good as the state average. I expect that’s pretty much a product of Lafayette’s first hand experience with the untrustworthy nature of BS. No better than the state’s average and that’s a real shame.
Ernest J. Alexander | Hero | Republican |
Clara Guilbeau Baudoin | Hero | Democrat |
Wilfred T. Pierre | Heel | Democrat |
Gillis J. Pinac | Heel | Democrat |
Joel C. Robideaux | Heel | Independent |
Donald Mark “Don” Trahan | Republican |
Pinac, who represents the sliver of Lafayette that includes Duson was particulary embarrasing though. As the chair of the committee he has used his leadership role to pretty consistently help the telecos out on several bills. Maybe the mayor of Duson should give him a call. though. As the chair of the committee he has used his leadership role to pretty consistently help the telecos out on several bills. Maybe the mayor of Duson should give him a call.
1) a unit of local government is not equivalent to a locality governed by such a government.
2) neither localities nor their governments have rights. people have rights. governments have power.
3) local government units are technically and legally creations and units of the state government. local governments are therefore subordinate to the power of the state government.
4) I don’t necessarily agree with the way things are but I do believe that history shows that we are better served when service providers are allowed to compete with fewer impediments rather than with more.
Congrats on your nomination for best blog.
David
Hi David,
I’m trying not to be too inflammatory…:-) Maybe I ought to say that the state in its majesty is stepping in to strip us all of our property rights. That might be closer to your formulation.
But really, my usage here is common, accepted usage. Corporations talk about their “rights” all the time. And in actual, material fact, they DO have enforceable rights. I can’t see that we can’t say the same about local governments.
Local governments are regarded as creations of states…as once was the federal government (but, hey we had a little war over changing that definition). In point of fact this presumption has been a pretty big bone of contention over the years. Louisiana is a “home rule charter” state and the independence of local governments that opt for home rule is guaranteed (in different degrees) for home rule governments.
Lafayette, New Orleans, Baton Rouge and a host of others are home rule localities. There are real legal issues about skirting this principle and “pre-74” home rule charter municipalities are included in this law by weird and possibly illegal language that grants them the constitutionally demanded legal exemption on the one hand but takes it away by forbidding them to do anything in “contradiction” to this law. Talk about talking with a forked tongue. (Why bother? Because not making a stab at making it a law that applies to all would underline the injustice done to vulnerable non-home rule localities and give local folks a way to get back control of their property if you just admitted that the state was taking control where ever it could.)
Legalities aside my basic point remains: It is WRONG for the state to tell us or any community what we can do with our own property. It is especially wrong to do it in order to favor the prospective future profits of BellSouth which daily demonstrates that our interests are not its interests.
Not liking the way things are but asserting that the alternatives are worse is a form of fatalism that keeps us from acting to make our communities better. I’m not buying.
Oh–thanks for reminding me about the Times competition. I was pleasantly surprised to be nominated.
Best, John
You have noted very interesting details! ps decent web site.
Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across. Shellerim.org
Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. matematik dersi al
Thank you for great content. Hello Administ. Website: cami halısı istanbul
Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Website: cami halısı istanbul
Everything is very open and very clear explanation of issues. was truly information. Website: http://www.santenette.com/
Thank you great post. Hello Administ . Website: Cami Halısı
Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across.
Thank you great posting about essential oil. Hello Administ .
Thank you for content. Area rugs and online home decor store. Hello Administ .
Everything is very open and very clear explanation of issues. was truly information.
I really love to read such an excellent article. Helpful article. Hello Administ .
Thank you for content. Area rugs and online home decor store. Hello Administ .
Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across.
Nice article inspiring thanks. Hello Administ .
Nice article inspiring thanks. Hello Administ .
I really love to read such an excellent article. Helpful article. Hello Administ .
Nice article inspiring thanks. Hello Administ .
After all, what a great site and informative posts, I will upload inbound link – bookmark this web site? Regards, Reader.
Great post thank you. Hello Administ . Website Giriş için Tiklatın : https://www.melekhali.com.tr/
Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across. Website : https://www.saricahali.com.tr/
Great post thank you. Hello Administ . Website : https://www.saricahali.com.tr/
After all, what a great site and informative posts, I will upload inbound link – bookmark this web site? Regards, Reader. Website : https://www.saricahali.com.tr/
Everything is very open and very clear explanation of issues. was truly information.
Good info. Lucky me I reach on your website by accident, I bookmarked it.
Thank you great post. Hello Administ .
Good info. Lucky me I reach on your website by accident, I bookmarked it.
Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to me.
Thank you for content. Area rugs and online home decor store. Hello Administ .
Thank you for great information. Hello Administ .
Everything is very open and very clear explanation of issues. was truly information. sollet sollet
Thank you great posting about essential oil. Hello Administ . casinolevant casinolevant
Thank you great post. Hello Administ .
Thank you great post. Hello Administ .
Everything is very open and very clear explanation of issues. was truly information.
Thank you for great content. Hello Administ.
Good info. Lucky me I reach on your website by accident, I bookmarked it.
Nice article inspiring thanks. Hello Administ .
After all, what a great site and informative posts, I will upload inbound link – bookmark this web site? Regards, Reader.
Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across.
Great post thank you. Hello Administ .
Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to me.
Nice article inspiring thanks. Hello Administ .
Thank you for great information. Hello Administ .
Thank you for content. Area rugs and online home decor store. Hello Administ . Casibom Website Giriş : Casibom
Good info. Lucky me I reach on your website by accident, I bookmarked it.
Thank you for content. Area rugs and online home decor store. Hello Administ .
Thank you for great article. Hello Administ .
Thank you great post. Hello Administ .
Great post thank you. Hello Administ .
Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across. Website : https://www.saricahali.com.tr/
Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across.
Thank you for great article. Hello Administ .
After all, what a great site and informative posts, I will upload inbound link – bookmark this web site? Regards, Reader. Casibom Website Giriş : Casibom
Thank you great posting about essential oil. Hello Administ .
Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across.
Thank you great posting about essential oil. Hello Administ .
Nice article inspiring thanks. Hello Administ .
After all, what a great site and informative posts, I will upload inbound link – bookmark this web site? Regards, Reader.
Thank you for content. Area rugs and online home decor store. Hello Administ .
Thank you for great article. Hello Administ . Onwin , Onwin Giriş onwin
Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to me.
Everything is very open and very clear explanation of issues. was truly information.
Great post thank you. Hello Administ .
Everything is very open and very clear explanation of issues. was truly information.
Great post thank you. Hello Administ .
Great post thank you. Hello Administ .
Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across.Onwin Giriş Website: onwin
Thank you for content. Area rugs and online home decor store. Hello Administ .
Thank you for great content. Hello Administ.
Thank you for content. Area rugs and online home decor store. Hello Administ .
Thank you great posting about essential oil. Hello Administ .
Thank you for great information. Hello Administ . Website : cami halısı
Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across. Website : cami halısı
Thank you great post. Hello Administ .
Thank you great posting about essential oil. Hello Administ .
I really love to read such an excellent article. Helpful article. Hello Administ . Website : cami halısı
Great post thank you. Hello Administ .
Great post thank you. Hello Administ . Website : cami halısı
Nice article inspiring thanks. Hello Administ .
Good info. Lucky me I reach on your website by accident, I bookmarked it.
Thank you for content. Area rugs and online home decor store. Hello Administ .
Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across.
Great post thank you. Hello Administ .
Great post thank you. Hello Administ .
Thank you for great article. Hello Administ .
I really love to read such an excellent article. Helpful article. Hello Administ .
Great post thank you. Hello Administ .
Thank you for great content. Hello Administ.
Thank you for great information. Hello Administ .
Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across.
I really love to read such an excellent article. Helpful article. Hello Administ . Onwin Giriş için Tıklayın onwin
Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Websiteye Giriş için Tıklayın. a href=”https://cutt.ly/SahabetSosyal/” title=”Sahabet” rel=”dofollow”>Sahabet
Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across.Onwin Giriş için Tıklayın onwin
Nice article inspiring thanks. Hello Administ . Website Giriş için Tıklayın. Starzbet
I really love to read such an excellent article. Helpful article. Hello Administ . Website Giriş için Tıklayın. Starzbet
Thank you for great information. Hello Administ . Website Giriş için Tıklayın. Starzbet
After all, what a great site and informative posts, I will upload inbound link – bookmark this web site? Regards, Reader. Onwin Giriş için Tıklayın onwin
Thank you for great article. Hello Administ .Website Giriş için Tıklayın: tipobet
Thank you for great article. Hello Administ .Onwin Giriş için Tıklayın onwin
Thank you for great information. Hello Administ . Websiteye Giriş için Tıklayın. a href=”https://cutt.ly/SahabetSosyal/” title=”Sahabet” rel=”dofollow”>Sahabet
Great post thank you. Hello Administ . Onwin Giriş için Tıklayın onwin
Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across.Website Giriş için Tıklayın: tipobet
Thank you for great content. Hello Administ. Website Giriş için Tıklayın. Starzbet
Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across. Website Giriş için Tıklayın. Starzbet
Great post thank you. Hello Administ . Website Giriş için Tıklayın: tipobet
Great post thank you. Hello Administ . Websiteye Giriş için Tıklayın. a href=”https://cutt.ly/SahabetSosyal/” title=”Sahabet” rel=”dofollow”>Sahabet
Thank you for content. Area rugs and online home decor store. Hello Administ . Website Giriş için Tıklayın: tipobet
Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across. Websiteye Giriş için Tıklayın. a href=”https://cutt.ly/SahabetSosyal/” title=”Sahabet” rel=”dofollow”>Sahabet
Everything is very open and very clear explanation of issues. was truly information.Website Giriş için Tıklayın: tipobet
Thank you for great content. Hello Administ. Website Giriş için Tıklayın: tipobet
Thank you for great article. Hello Administ .Website Giriş için Tıklayın. Starzbet
Everything is very open and very clear explanation of issues. was truly information. Website Giriş için Tıklayın. Starzbet
Thank you for content. Area rugs and online home decor store. Hello Administ . Website Giriş için Tıklayın: tipobet
Thank you for great article. Hello Administ .Website Giriş için Tıklayın: tipobet
Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to me.Website Giriş için Tıklayın: tipobet
I really love to read such an excellent article. Helpful article. Hello Administ .
Thank you for great article. Hello Administ .
Thank you for great article. Hello Administ .
After all, what a great site and informative posts, I will upload inbound link – bookmark this web site? Regards, Reader.
Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to me.
Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to me.
Thank you great post. Hello Administ .
Good info. Lucky me I reach on your website by accident, I bookmarked it.
Thank you for great information. Hello Administ .
Thank you for great information. Hello Administ .
Great post thank you. Hello Administ .
Thank you for content. Area rugs and online home decor store. Hello Administ .
After all, what a great site and informative posts, I will upload inbound link – bookmark this web site? Regards, Reader.
After all, what a great site and informative posts, I will upload inbound link – bookmark this web site? Regards, Reader.
Thank you for content. Area rugs and online home decor store. Hello Administ .
Thank you great posting about essential oil. Hello Administ .
After all, what a great site and informative posts, I will upload inbound link – bookmark this web site? Regards, Reader.
Thank you for great article. Hello Administ .
Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across.
After all, what a great site and informative posts, I will upload inbound link – bookmark this web site? Regards, Reader.
Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across.
Everything is very open and very clear explanation of issues. was truly information.
Nice article inspiring thanks. Hello Administ .
Thank you for great content. Hello Administ.
Thank you for great article. Hello Administ .
Thank you great post. Hello Administ .
Everything is very open and very clear explanation of issues. was truly information.
Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across.
Great post thank you. Hello Administ . Website Giri� i�in T�klay�n: Bahisal Giri�
Bahis Siteleri
Thank you for great information. Hello Administ .