LA's New Dem AG Flips "Ethics Reform" the Bird - Before Taking the Oath!
By Vladimir Posted in Bobby Jindal | Ethics Reform | Louisiana | State Politics | Video Poker — Comments (2) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
On the eve of Bobby Jindal's pending inauguration (Monday, January 14!), it's still the same ol' same ol' for the state's new Attorney General.
Buddy Caldwell (D) replaced one-term AG Charles Foti (D) in last fall's election. Caldwell and incumbent Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu are the only statewide elected Dems these days. Apparently, Caldwell didn't read the memo from the voters about their desire to change the way business is done in this state.
Three deeply experienced gaming regulators known to be tough on video poker operators have been let go by incoming Attorney General Buddy Caldwell.
Assistant attorneys general informed this week that their services in the Gaming Division will not be needed after Monday's inauguration are: Tom Warner, a 17-year veteran responsible for writing gaming regulations; Mike Daniels, with 10 years experience, the division's prosecutor in administrative hearings; and Rand Dennis, a 10-year veteran, who headed the appellate section.
"Buddy Caldwell felt that those attorneys, though they are great attorneys, didn't meet the level of efficiency and goals of his administration," said incoming press secretary Tammi Arender. Assistant attorneys general are not protected by Civil Service.
One riverboat casino executive, who wished not to be identified, said he saw "video poker's fingerprints" in the dismissals. A number of video poker operators contributed to Caldwell's campaign.
[emphasis added]
Buddy, even this city boy knows bulls*** when he smells it. The three guys you fired may be the biggest doofusses (doofi?) ever to draw a state paycheck, but just from the fact that they're not on the video poker industry's Christmas card list, I like 'em. Maybe our new governor can find them a job...
More...
Video poker came to the state during the administration of Gov. Buddy Roemer, a nominal Republican during an Edwin Edwards interregnum. Sold as a panacea for the state's educational system*, video poker was to be limited to 3 machines per establishment. It was not until a Constitutional amendment passed by a vote of the people that most voters learned that "truck stops" were specifically excluded from the 3 machine limit.
Since then, establishments which meet the technical definition of "truck stop" have sprung up across the state, bringing 24-hour a day gambling gaming to the highways, byways and hinterlands of the state.
* - Oh, well, that worked like a charm. I can't remember whether we've catapulted from #50 to #49, or vice versa, but it's a safe bet that Louisiana anchors that bottom quintile.
H/T LANewsLink
This is exactly why I didn't vote for Caldwell.
New Orleans......Proud to Swim Home!