[StBernard] Stopping State Contracts to ACORN

[Westley Annis]

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
<http://click.bsftransmit1.com/ClickThru.aspx?pubids=XwbvEDmYuMe2X9fgxmPo%2b
xzrwa3jfrq3ekwXwLk9V1U%3d&digest=VbNm3NP%2b30pVwvvdn6%2bI5w> , 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.

 
 
<http://images.publicaster.com/ImageLibrary/account848/images/09-09-30pratts
mall.jpg> 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
<http://click.bsftransmit1.com/ClickThru.aspx?pubids=2Q6mnkXawmvuz%2fW04DtsI
NY7pUQu6aVIbODzqZ%2fQ7A0%3d&digest=ZS9E8EyVDhV79R58Mvh3HA>  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
<http://click.bsftransmit1.com/ClickThru.aspx?pubids=2qwcDdsArmijy1cDloLS4UK
uB5DR7d8fKrf%2f5p2EGGs%3d&digest=YovdMddjTSP8YWW%2fV9cYOg>  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
<http://click.bsftransmit1.com/ClickThru.aspx?pubids=Ue7YYLIDoO6IsCFOCiWpMTd
QtMVkVXh%2fKBRhghKBRzI%3d&digest=r0NIAH%2f54s%2fM%2fAeSr80ctw> , "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