[StBernard] Louisiana Hits New High With Crime

[Westley Annis]

Louisiana Hits New High With Crime 

Written by: Jeff Crouere 

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A new report by the Corporate Crime Reporter showing Louisiana as the most
corrupt state in the nation only confirms what most local political
observers have known for years. The report analyzed government data released
by the Justice Department's Public Integrity Section, which tracked all
federal corruption convictions across the nation. 

 

In the ten years ending in 2006, Louisiana accumulated more public
corruption convictions per capita than any other state. Based on a rate per
100,000 residents, Louisiana had 7.67 convictions, easily outdistancing
second place Mississippi, which had only 6.66 convictions. 

 

Now, I guess it is time for U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) to officially
apologize to the people of Mississippi. Back in January, Landrieu claimed
that "Mississippi is actually the most corrupt state in the Union, but you
never hear that because there's some political undertones about having
Mississippi look so good and having Louisiana not look so good at the
national level."

 

Senator Landrieu, there is nothing political about these statistics,
Louisiana has no one to blame but ourselves. We have continually elected
politicians that embarrass the state and bring shame to our people. The
Corporate Crime Reporter is not a partisan or biased outfit; the researchers
are just analyzing data and have reached a sobering conclusion that
Louisiana leads the nation in another unfortunate ranking, corruption. 

 

No other state has suffered from such a consistent string of corruption. In
just the last few years, Louisiana has had a former Governor, three
Insurance Commissioners in a row, an Elections Commissioner, a federal
judge, a State Senate President, six other state legislators, and a host of
appointed officials, local sheriffs, city councilmen and parish police
jurors all go to jail. Agriculture Commissioner Bob Odom and U.S.
Congressman Bill Jefferson (D-New Orleans) are under indictment. Former New
Orleans City Council President Oliver Thomas has resigned for bribery and is
awaiting sentencing. The former President of the Orleans Parish public
school system admitted to taking bribes and is awaiting her jail sentence,
while the entire school system has been under federal investigation and even
had to share office space with FBI agents. A number of judges have been
targeted in the successful "Wrinkled Robe" investigation and several of them
are currently in jail, while others have been kicked off the bench for
incompetence or under various forms of investigation. Key members of the
administration of former New Orleans Marc Morial have been convicted of a
variety of crimes while an active investigation continues. 

 

For years, the scope and breath of the public corruption in Louisiana has
been literally mind boggling, so the number one ranking is really no
surprise; however, it does quantify the problem. Now, the challenge for the
people who care about our state is to do something about this growing cancer
which continues to harm Louisiana and prevent true progress. There is some
hope on the horizon, yet many problems remain.

 

In New Orleans, the City Council finally appointed an Inspector General with
real credentials. Yet, he has no office, no budget, and no staff and was
just told yesterday by the Nagin administration that he must use the
services of the city's legal staff. In contrast, the Inspector General,
Robert Cerasoli, needs to be completely autonomous and needs complete
funding. Cerasoli should not be under the thumb of the mayor's office or the
city council. Otherwise, he will have the independence necessary to ferret
out all of the corrupt deals, contracts, practices and procedures going on
in New Orleans. 

 

On the state level, voters will have the opportunity to elect new leadership
for the Governor's Mansion and the Louisiana Legislature in several weeks. A
primary focus should be placed on new leaders who are not tied to the
corrupt practices of the past. The next legislature and Governor should
restore the power of the state's Inspector General to issue reports and
investigate wrongdoing independently of the executive branch. Currently, the
Inspector General has to receive approval from the Governor before any
reports are issued. Needless to say, much corruption is untouched and many
investigations are overlooked with the current weak system in place. 

 

The vast majority of the people of Louisiana are good, honest and hard
working. Now, the challenge is to create an honest political system and fill
the political positions with public servants as good as the people they
represent. Today's report reminds everyone who cares about good government
in Louisiana that we have a long way to go to overcome both the image and
the reality of corruption in our state.