Senator Landrieu,

Thank you for your service to the State of Louisiana and the United States of America.

Please oppose Senator Harry Reid and his insertion of the AG jobs bill into the war funding bill. The AG jobs bill is nothing short of amnesty for those who have entered our country illegally and continue to ignore the rule of law in our country. The Ag jobs bill gives preference of those working illegally over those who have been standing in line to work here through legal channels.

The American people have spoken time after time, and proven that they oppose amnesty for illegal immigrants. When the McCain-Kennedy immigration bill failed, it was because the American voters took a stand.

Please listen to the American people, the ones who live here legally, the ones who voted you into office and will vote you out if needed.

Thank you again for your service.

Please call or email your Senators

From the Louisiana Action Council

“On Monday, Senate Bill 672, which would nearly triple the base salaries of all Louisiana legislators, breezed through the Senate Finance Committee with unanimous support. Currently, legislators receive a $16,800 annual base salary along with a $6,000 expense allowance. If passed, SB 672 would raise the rank and file legislators base salary to over $50,000 and increase state lawmaker’s expense allowance to $12,000 annually. In addition to the salary and expense increases, legislators will still continue to receive a per diem of $143 for every day that they are in committee or session. Once enacted, the ramifications of SB 672 would make Louisiana legislators the ninth-highest paid state legislative body in the country. This legislation passed through the Senate Finance Committee with very little debate and now proceeds to the full Senate for further discussion.”

Evodna’s commentary: “I do not favor a tripling of the base salaries, however, I do favor an increase. Under the current system of compensation, only the self employed, retired, or independently wealthy can afford to serve as legislators. There are undoubtedly scores of other citizens who are educated, articulate, and imminently qualified, who would do an amazing job of representing their districts, but they can ill afford to give up their current jobs which support their families. Adjusting the base salary would allow for greater participation of average citizens who would like to serve, but are prohibited by salary considerations.”

Yesterday evening, I received an email from LA Realtors, an organization headquartered in Baton Rouge which provides continuing and licensing education for Louisiana Realtors. This group also has a legislative lobbying arm, and it was the legislative arm which listed as its first item an all out call to have Realtors from across Louisiana call their elected officials and oppose House Bill 1365. See LROpposesHB1365.doc .

Being somewhat suspect of the wording at the LA Realtors site, I did a bit of research and discovered that LA Realtors is misrepresenting and mis-characterizing HB 1365. The bill does NOT prohibit renting or leasing property to aliens. The bill DOES prohibit renting or leasing property “knowingly or in reckless disregard for the fact that the alien has entered or remained in the United States in violation of law.”

The bill even provides a defense for those who make a reasonable effort to “verify that the lessee has been lawfully admitted to the United States and that the lessee supplied the lessor with a valid driver’s license, voter registration card, or other proof of his citizenship status or lawful presence in the United States.” (From page 2 of the bill’s text.)

Contrary to the alarmist rhetoric of LA Realtors, the bill does NOT place an undue burden upon lessors. It merely tells them that no longer can they make a fast buck off of people who are in this country illegally, which has the subsequent effect of draining our state’s social services, educational system, health care system, as well as taking jobs away from our own citizens, and threatening our national security. And that’s not alarmist, it is fact. Resource data of the impacts of illegal immigration HERE.

Remember folks, this isn’t just about illegal immigrants from Mexico, many of whom are here simply trying to make a better life for their families (but still here ILLEGALLY). It is also about people from other countries who wish to do us harm. And if those people can find places to rent where all they have to do is dole out cash each month, and where no one asks any questions, it makes it a cakewalk to stay indefinitely in our country to further whatever ill plans they may have for America.

I’d like to think that most lessors are honest, and truly do care about illegal immigration’s impact upon our local communities and upon our state and nation. But the truth is, money talks, many lessors don’t care, and will charge exorbitant amounts for rent, knowing that the illegals will pay if they want to stay. The illegals have no recourse, and the lessors know it.

I hope that every Realtor who received the email from LA Realtors will take the time to read House Bill 1365, get all the facts, and then make a determination as to whether or not they will support or oppose it.

But as a Realtor, I am deeply disappointed in the LA Realtors organization. Their mis-characterization of HB 1365 is inexcusable. Such an incident underscores the need for everyone to take the time to examine the FACTS, rather than simply take as gospel what is sent out as a “legislative alert.”

As a side note, when I logged in to the LA Realtors web site this morning, it defaulted to their post of May 2. You have to scroll down to find their mention of a companion bill to HB 1365. The May 2 post states in part,

“LR is opposing several bills outright or in their current form:
• HB 1157 by Rep. Tim Burns — would prohibit renting or leasing property to illegal aliens and creates a penalty of not more than $500.00 and not more than 6 months in jail if statute is violated. This legislation would create a heavy burden on all property owners who lease or rent property and it is sometimes impossible to identify who is really an illegal alien.”

Faulty premise of the May 2 post notwithstanding, at least in the May 2 post, LA Realtors included the word “illegal”, a vital piece of information which they failed to include in sending out their email alert of May 9.

As for me, I’m contacting my state representative and asking them to SUPPORT HB 1365.

Anti-illegal immigration legislation from other states and effects of such legislation HERE.

From the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action

“This past week, the Senate approved Senate Bill 142, sponsored by State Senator Stephen Scalise (R-9). SB 142, the NRA-backed concealed carry permit confidentiality bill now heads to the House for consideration. Please keep checking your email and www.NRAILA.org for further updates on this legislation.

On Monday, May 12, the Louisiana House will vote on House Bill 199, authored by State Representative Ernest Wooton (R-Belle Chasse). HB 199 would allow Louisiana concealed carry permit holders to protect themselves on college and university campuses and remove the state restriction on “gun-free school zones” for permittees. Please contact your State Representatives and respectfully urge them to support HB 199 and to resist any amendments that State Representative Wooton does not support. Call your State Representatives in Baton Rouge on Monday at (225) 342-6945 or send them emails in support of HB 199 over the weekend.”

Email addresses of your representatives can be found HERE.

Co-ed dorm rooms is the topic of this interview on the Glenn Beck show.

from USAToday

A 37-year-old man is charged with raping a 10-year-old girl who gave birth last month in Idaho.

Guadalupe Gutierrez-Juarez, a suspected illegal immigrant, is being held at the Fremont County Jail. He’s due in court next week to face rape charges.

In case you haven’t been paying attention, this happened in Idaho. It’s not just a border-state problem, it’s everybody’s problem. I’m in agreement with our liberal friends. We need comprehensive immigration reform. However, it needs to be in the form of deporting criminals for the safety of our families. This isn’t Tiajuana. We shouldn’t tolerate such lawlessness from anyone, ESPECIALLY those who are guests in our country.

Bossier Parish lost a true statesman this week. Eddy Shell, an elected Police Juror representing South Bossier, was the consummate gentleman, and perfect example of what an elected official should be.

For nearly two and a half years, I observed Shell as he sat on the Bossier Police Jury. Shell never feigned an interest in citizen concerns brought before the Police Jury - Shell truly CARED about citizen concerns, and carefully weighed every decision made. His public statements, even on controversial issues, never appeared to me as “just for show”, but instead appeared to be deliberate, thoughtful, and circumspect. Most citizens haven’t a clue as to how thoroughly Police Jury decisions impact every area of our daily lives. Even fewer understand what a loss it is for his district that his voice will no longer be heard on the Police Jury.

As I read Shell’s obituary, I could not help but think that he surely must have been near perfection as a son, a brother, a husband, a father, and agrandfather. Shell reminded me of the fictional Ward Cleaver - upright, straight-laced, and fair, with a patriotism and love for parish and for country that offers a valuable lesson to each one of us.

I’ve read in scripture that Christians in Heaven will one day be given governing responsibilities, based upon how they lived their lives while on the Earth. No doubt, Eddy Shell will govern far greater territory than a Police Jury district.

So long Eddy, and thank you for the true public servant you were. I’ll see you in Eternity!

Kudos to State Senator Buddy Shaw (R) Shreveport, for his tenacity in opposing an amendment that would effectively kill Senate Bill 87, the bill he authored to repeal the Stelly Tax.

According to an article in The Advocate, the Jindal administration opposed Shaw’s bill, citing inability of the state to afford the tax cuts.

I agree with Shaw, if Jindal can push for, and obtain tax breaks for businesses in past special sessions, Jindal surely should be agreeable to support immediate tax relief for working middle class Louisiana families who have been bludgeoned by Stelly - my own family included.

What a bitter disappointment.

Three bills addressing illegal immigration were presented in the Louisiana House this week, and all three of the bills were withdrawn after vehement opposition by the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops.

from the Times Picayune

The first bill in the package, House Bill 26, drew the immediate opposition of bishops conference lobbyist Danny Loar, and the Rev. Tom Greene, an attorney and fellow of the Jesuit Social Research Institute at Loyola University.

…

Loar said the Catholic bishops support “comprehensive immigration reform” at the federal level. “What we do not support is legislation that takes the form of enforcement-only policies which neither upholds the dignity of each individual nor seeks to address the issue of immigration as a whole,” he said. “The church never supports breaking the law.“

“The church never supports breaking the law.” The Catholic Church may not, but the LCCB certainly doesn’t preach to illegal immigrants about their responsibility to immigrate legally, pay taxes, file taxes, don’t drive without a license, don’t drive without insurance, and be grateful to a country which gives you free education and free healthcare.

Loar said the bishops feel that just writing tougher laws raises “anxieties, fears and concerns which translate into discrimination, xenophobia and anti-immigrant bigotry.” He said state laws that tackle immigration may “feel good but it won’t stand up in court” as constitutional.

Geymann said his bill was patterned after legislation already enacted in Georgia, Colorado, Oklahoma and Arizona. He said that to be considered a crime the person who transports an illegal immigrant must know the individual is in the state illegally or show “reckless disregard” for that fact.

The bill calls for a penalty of up to one year in jail, a $1,000 fine or both.

“This takes away the incentive” to bring illegal immigrants into the state, Geymann said.

from the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops statement

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: “The equality of men rests essentially on their dignity as persons and the rights that flow from it: Every form of social or cultural discrimination in fundamental personal rights on the grounds of sex, race, color, social conditions, language, or religion must be curbed and eradicated as incompatible with God’s desire.”

How true.

We urge Governor Jindal and the Louisiana Legislature to reject any immigration legislation
that is enforcement-only. We are convinced that this issue can best be resolved on the federal
level. Hence, we ask both the governor and the legislature to encourage the federal government
to address the need for comprehensive immigration reform. Comprehensive immigration reform
includes: (1) an earned legalization program; We have an earned legalization program. (2) a worker program that protects foreign-born
workers and safeguards against the displacement of U.S. workers; (3) family-based reform that
reduces waiting times for family reunification and bears in mind the devastating effects of
separation on a family; (4) restoration of due process protections for immigrants; and (5) policies that address the root causes of migration. We oppose any attempts at state legislation that focus on enforcement-only policies. True immigration reform should ensure that the dignity and inherent rights of each individual are upheld, and that the common good is achieved.

1) We have an earned legalization program. They are called work visas, green cards, following the law.

2) The law has protected foreign-born workers AT THE EXPENSE of U.S. workers. Because of foreign workers, there is a surplus of unskilled laborers which has drastically lowered the going rate for unskilled labor. Illegal immigrants fill the jobs Americans won’t to FOR SUCH A LOW WAGE.

3) Separation of family. The U.S. didn’t import these people, they left their families by choice. Mexico isn’t Iraq. Mexicans aren’t being killed because of their religion or pursuit of democracy and freedom. Define “family”. Is family my wife and I and our kids? What about my brother and his wife? My parents? My sister? My brother’s wife’s parents and siblings? Two people becomes a hundred or a thousand under the broad brush of “family”.

4) Restoration of due process for immigrants. Immigrants aren’t granted “due process”. They are here as guests, and as guests they must follow the law of they go home. Due process is a catch phrase liberals use to justify amnesty for anyone prosecuted by the government (including illegal immigrants and ISLAMIC TERRORISTS in Gitmo). How about a little due process for the victims of catch-and-release illegal immigrant criminals?

5) If laws are not enforced, then lawlessness will follow. The dignity of the human person also requires that they are punished for breaking the law. A person held to such a low standard of not having to follow the laws assumes the person is incapable of following the law.

I’ll leave you with some words from Pope John Paul II. I cut out some of my favorite highlights, so read the rest here.

Today the phenomenon of illegal migrants has assumed considerable proportions, both because the supply of foreign labour is becoming excessive in comparison to the needs of the economy, which already has difficulty in absorbing its domestic workers, and because of the spread of forced migration.

…

Illegal immigration should be prevented, but it is also essential to combat vigorously the criminal activities which exploit illegal immigrants.