Stopping State Contracts to ACORN

Having trouble reading this email? Click here to view it on your browser. Dear Friends, This past week we reiterated our commitment to protecting Louisiana taxpayers' hard-earned dollars by issuing an executive order preventing the state from funding or entering into contracts that benefit the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN).  The Executive Order will prevent any state departments, agencies, offices, boards, and officers from entering future contracts with ACORN, as well as force those entities to immediately eliminate funding for the organization, and for state agencies to report any such contracts to my executive council's office.  Thus far, our search through current state records has led to, as reported by the Alexandria Town Talk, the "terminat[ion] financing of two social services contracts with the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now." The actions carried out by ACORN have shown us all that Louisiana taxpayer dollars should not be used to assist the organization in anyway, and we will continue to protect your hard earned tax dollars as we move forward.   We also welcomed the reopening of Northwest Pipe Company's facility in Bossier City last week, which has been idle for three years. Once the plant is fully operational, it will bring up to 120 new jobs to our state that average $39,000 annually.   As the Shreveport Times reported, the company's officials were ""were pleasantly surprised how strong the economy was here, much better than any of the other locations where they operate facilities." This is yet another step forward in creating a world-class economy right here in Louisiana, and is a great example of how our state continues to outpace both economies around the south and the nation as a whole.   We brought the Louisiana Working Tour to Lutcher, Destrehan, Simpson, and Patterson last week to spread the word of our economic success throughout the state.  As the Leesville Daily Leader wrote, "Despite the national economic downturn, Louisiana's economy was recently rated the best in the south," and I am proud to lead the hardworking men and women of our state as we strengthen our economy.   We also awarded 423 of our state's veterans with the Louisiana Veterans' Honor Medal in Mansfield, Dodson, and Rayne. As I said in the Shreveport Times, "Their sacrifice and willingness to stand in harm's way is why we honor them with these medals," and I look forward to presenting these symbols of our appreciation to more of our veterans in the coming weeks. Sincerely, Governor Bobby Jindal Paid for by Friends of Bobby Jindal Friends of Bobby Jindal PO Box 86258 Baton Rouge, LA 70879

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David Vitter: update 9 29 09

e-update
09.29.09

 

This month, we recognized  the fourth anniversary of Hurricane Rita's impact on Louisiana.  I also  made a move to reduce the power of the president's "czars" and to increase our  gas and energy exploration to help reduce costs and create new jobs.

Below you can read about  these and other issues that I'm working on, such as ensuring that your tax  dollars don't go to ACORN.

 

 

P.S. – Please feel free to forward the newsletter to your friends, neighbors and business associates, and encourage them to sign up for their own copy by visiting my Web site at http://vitter.senate.gov/.

 

Photo Spotlight

Here I am pictured with representatives of the Louisiana Green Building Council when they came by my DC office to talk about the efforts and goals of their organization. 

REMEMBERING HURRICANE RITA

This past week, we paused  to remember the impact of Hurricane Rita on southwest Louisiana.  Rita's  significant impact on our state is often overlooked by the devastation of  Hurricane Katrina but this event affected the lives of hundreds of thousands of  our friends and neighbors.  On the fourth anniversary of Rita's impact, I  wanted to remember this event and recognize the spirit and determination of  southwest Louisianians as they continue the recovery process even today.   Read the text of my full statement here.

REINING IN THE PRESIDENT'S "CZARS"

This month, I filed an  amendment that would limit the power of the president's "czars" to make and  implement policy.  These advisors now number somewhere in the 20s, and  they wield significant power over domestic programs and government agencies  despite their not being approved by the Senate like members of the president's  cabinet.  You can read more about this amendment here.

PROMOTING OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT IN THE OCS

Last year, the  prohibitions on OCS drilling expired, allowing us to move ahead with a more  sensible approach to gas and energy exploration that would allow us to greatly  reduce costs on American families.  But now we are seeing delays from the  Obama Administration that would stall that progress we made.  That's why I  filed an amendment to the Interior-Environment appropriations bill that would  prevent funds from being used to delay the implementation of an expanding  drilling program that would boost our economy and increase our gas and energy  supplies. You can learn more about the amendment here at my website.

ENSURING THAT YOUR TAX DOLLARS DON'T GO TO ACORN

Over the past year, we've  all seen stories about the voter fraud and other allegations against the  activist group ACORN.  Last week the U.S. Senate voted to block future  taxpayer dollars from being awarded to ACORN.  But this month, it came to  my attention that ACORN had been awarded a $1 million grant from a program that  was designed to assist firefighters and fire departments.  This is simply  unacceptable, and I wrote a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Janet  Napolitano asking her to rescind this grant and see that this money goes to  those fire departments in the need of most assistance.  To learn more  about this situation, click here.

For any other questions or concerns visit my Web site at: www.vitter.senate.gov.

 

 

  

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