Another Day Another Revised FEC Report For the AZGOP

I guess we now know what AZGOP Treasurer Tim Lee does.


He doesn't do bookkeeping. That's outsourced. (Link to "AZGOP Still On the Wrong Track Financially, Democrats Kicking our Asses") He doesn't accurately fill out paperwork. (Link to "AZGOP Magician Makes $25K in Debt Disappear")


He must be the guy that proofreads the AZGOP advertising.


Or that's what I gather, anyway, since his "explanation" to the FEC in response to their letter regarding financial irregularities with AZGOP FEC reports had more than a few typos.


Oh well. If you're not going to get the reporting right, why bother proofreading the explanation?


On Wednesday 6/1/11, the AZGOP amended the year end report filed in January 2011 for the end of 2010.


The FEC had noticed two problems with the previous year end report Lee filed.

1. Schedule D supporting Line 10 discloses -$7,000 incurred in debt owed to"Strategic Fundraising, Inc." If this transaction represents a payment on a debt owed by your committee, please disclose this payment(s) on Schedule B, E, or H4 and reflect this amount in the "Payment this Period" field on Schedule D. This would clarify for the public record the total amount of debt payments actually disbursed and the amount of debts actually owed by your committee. Please amend your report to clarify the nature of this transaction and properly disclose this activity. 2 U.S.C. §434(b)(5)(D)

Lee responded:

In reference to the Commissions letter dated April 27, 2011. The -$7,000 incurred debt owed byt the Committee was a disputed amount which the vendor agreed to write off as not owed.

The FEC also wanted clarification on $47,000 of transfers that didn't seem to add up. Lee left this issue unaddressed. Perhaps there is another poorly worded explanation coming. Who knows.


Either way it's just business as usual for the AZGOP.

AZGOP Magician Makes $25K in Debt Disappear

A few months ago the AZGOP paid $2,550 to a company called Magic Crafters. The memo line says the payment was for "entertainment", but I think it was to impart on the AZ GOP Treasurer the magical ability to make debt disappear.

Last month we reported on the AZGOP's crushing debt load.

A few days ago, the April report was amended, with the note:

Please note the amendment to Schedule D. Non federal debts were inadvertently included on the original Schedule D.

The amendment brings the debt load for April down to $48,467.36.

Note that the amendment doesn't say that the debts are not owed, just that they are not "federal" debts.

Like most developments inside the AZGOP, this development raises more questions than answers.

For instance, does the AZGOP still owe the $20,000 to the law firms that it listed last month? If so, for what? If not, why not? Why did Treasurer Timothy Lee make a $25,000 mistake? Are $25,000 mistakes acceptable to the Republicans in Arizona?

I'm sure you have questions of your own. But the big question is whether or not you'll demand answers from your elected officials.

AZGOP Still On the Wrong Track Financially, Democrats Kicking our Asses

I'm finally getting around to reviewing the May FEC report for the AZGOP, and unsurprisingly, the numbers don't look any better.

For the period of April 1 to April 30, 2011, the AZGOP raised less than $30,000, spent $43,000, and still has debts of $52,000.

For contrast, over the same period the Democrats raised $72,000 (more than twice what the GOP raised), spent $111,000 (3x), and have no debt.

For the year, the AZGOP has raised $200k, and spent $189k.  They have $34k in the bank.

The Dems have raised $340k, spent $376k, and have $32k in the bank.

It doesn't take a financial wizard to see that there's a problem with those numbers.

Now, let's take a look at what the AZGOP is spending their meager funds on:

• $4000 to Teresa Martinez for "Party Operations Consulting"
• $1200 for "legal fees"
• $2000 to Mark Spinks for "Party transition consulting"
• $1300 to Wilma J. Swart for "bookkeeping services" - Wait, isn't that the treasurer's job?

Much of the spending this month was to pay off some of the enormous debt, including $1300 for data entry services, $3700  of the $14,000 owed for "web page consulting", and the property taxes on the HQ building. 

Despite that, the actual amount of debt still grew over March's amended numbers.

Again, I'm no financial wizard, but I do know that money spent to pay off debt, or for legal fees or "transition consultants" or bookeeping is not money spent on voter registration and other party building activities.

One more thing- if there have been any payments made by the AZGOP for the services of the Honorable Thayer Verschoor, they don't appear on these reports.  No payments to Joy Communications, or whatever the company is called now.  No payments directly to Thayer Verschoor.  No other obvious shell companies.  

So, how is Thayer being compensated for his work?  More debt?  Is he working off the books?  What's the arrangement?

Since Tom Morrissey has taken over, the Democrats have outraised him, outspent him, and did it all without incurring debt.  Unless there is a change in leadership, this trend will continue.

Mecum's Gone, but the Drama Continues

If you hoped that Brett Mecum's departure from the AZGOP would end some of the drama, you were sorely mistaken.


The Arizona Guardian is reporting that Mecum and Morrissey arranged for Mecum to be fired, rather than resign, so that Mecum could collect unemployment:

It turns out even the former head of the Arizona Republican Party wanted a little help from the
government on his way out the door.


Brett Mecum says he was fired rather than asked to resign this week as executive director of
the party so he could collect unemployment while looking for another job.


Mecum says he could have voluntarily quit but Tom Morrissey, the new chairman of the GOP,
agreed to fire him so he could get unemployment if he needed it.

In a tiresome episode of he said/he said, Morrissey denies that:

But Morrissey says Mecum's got it all wrong. On Thursday he completely rejected Mecum's account, saying he fired his former executive director because he didn't fit in with his new management scheme.


"It was a decision I made based solely on my management style," he said during a telephone interview.


And when asked if he'd talked about firing Mecum rather than letting him leave so he could get unemployment, Morrissey said, "you can ask me that question 20 times and I'll tell you, 'no.'" 

One of them is lying.  But based on the collective reputations of these two losers, does anyone really care which one?


Oh, and in case you were worrying about Brett- don't.  He's all chillax and stuff.  You can tell by his voice, apparently.

Mecum says he's not sure where he's going now but there are several potential job opportunities out there. At least one of them is in state. So he says he's not too worried about his future right now.


"You can tell by my voice I'm not stressed out," he said. "I'm in a good place."

There's much more drama available over at the AZ Guardian's website.  If I was Rob Haney, who doesn't care about copyright law, I'd just paste it all here so you could read it.  Or I'd just pretend that I wrote the article and pass it off as my own.  But since I'm not, you'll have to head over there to get the rest.

NET RIGHT DAILY Must Reads for June 6, 2011

To view in your web browser, click here.

• Obama's Commerce Department is spreading the wealth around globally

• The Stimulus fallacy

• The real cost of the auto bailouts…

• Taxpayers are still subsidizing billionaire bankers

• Two Harry Reid Medicare savings myths

• The facts about the government's Medicare cost projections…

• Ending Medicare as we know it, while saving America

• Barone: Obama tunes out and business goes on a 'hiring' strike

• The myths about legalized gambling

• Irony: Adam Smith and John Keynes shared a birthday yesterday…

• Why PBS is a public menace

• Mises: What is Liberalism?

Read more at NetRightDaily.com.

RedState Morning Briefing For June 6, 2011

1. Stand with Heritage

2. The Undefeated



3. So and so is the true RINO


4. What is the difference between the SEIU & an armed robber?



5. NY Teachers’ Union & NAACP Fight to Keep African-American Kids in Failing Schools


————————————


1. Stand with Heritage


The crisis we conservatives have been warning the country about for decades is upon us. It is happening in this generation . . . in this Congress . . . and the results could be catastrophic.


Simply put, if we don’t get a handle on stopping the explosion of spending, debt, and the size of government NOW, we may never get another chance. The red ink will be too great, and America might never be the same.


And the question I pose to you as a conservative in 2011 is this:


What are you going to do about it?


I know what I’m doing—Red State, my CNN gig, my talk show . . . and more.


But one of the absolutely most important and strategically effective moves I’m making to avert disaster is supporting The Heritage Foundation . . . and asking gung-ho conservatives like you to support them with me.


Will you?


Please click here for the rest of the post.






2. The Undefeated


Steve Bannon and the fine folks at CRC Public Relations sent me an advanced copy of The Undefeated to watch over this past weekend.


I curled up in a comfortable chair in the home studio and fired up the movie.


To give you a sense of the movie — more a documentary — the film came about with Governor Palin’s desire to give a full account of her tenure as Governor of Alaska and beyond without the all too frequent anti-Palin bias that exists within parts of the media.


Already, some leftwing bloggers are others are comparing it to Hitler’s Triumph of the Will.


Please click here for the rest of the post.






3. So and so is the true RINO


So and so has changed positions on more issues than my favorite candidate. Sure, my favorite candidate has changed positions as well, but their changes were the result of experience and wisdom gained while my favorite candidate went through their singularly unique path to the presidency. Reagan is a good example.


Please click here for the rest of the post.






4. What is the difference between the SEIU & an armed robber?


That’s a rhetorical question.


However, after seeing this L.A. Times passage from last month, one might come to the conclusion that 1) an armed robber usually only has one victim (whereas, the SEIU has millions), 2) an average armed robber does not have politicians in his back pocket, and 3) an armed robber is more intellectually honest—at least he tells you he’s robbing you, where as the SEIU…well, read it for yourself.


Please click here for the rest of the post.






5. NY Teachers’ Union & NAACP Fight to Keep African-American Kids in Failing Schools


Let’s start with the problem: In Harlem (NY), according to the Wall Street Journal, at one elementary school, only 3% of the students perform at grade level English, and only 9% in Math. At the Columbus High School the graduation rate is an abysmal 40%, compared to a citywide average of 63%. These figures are from only two of 22 failing schools that need to be shut down.


Please click here for the rest of the post.








Sincerely yours,


Erick Erickson
Editor, RedState.com

The Washington Post Morning Fix: Santorum says he will run for president

Santorum says he will run for president

Former senator Rick Santorum announced early Monday morning that he will be running for president, confirming what as been known for weeks.






Santorum told ABC’s “Good Morning America” that he will be officially announcing his campaign during an event later this morning in Somerset, Pa., where his grandfather immigrated to work in the coal mines.






“We’re ready to get into this race, and we’re in it to win it,” Santorum told ABC.






But even as he got into the race, many of the questions Santorum got from ABC’s George Stephanopoulos were notably skeptical of his presidential prospects.






Santorum noted both that Santorum lost his 2006 race by 18 points — his biggest challenge to overcome, Santorum advisers say — and that he has yet to catch on in the polls for the presidential race.






The latter fact comes despite an aggressive schedule in the runup to his official campaign. Santorum has visited Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina more than any other candidate, yet he’s still struggling to get noticed in all three states.






Santorum’s remarks are expected to focus on speaking the hard truths about the country’s financial situation and casting himself as the candidate with the widest and longest political resume in the field.






During his appearance on Good Morning America, Santorum even went to the right of Rep. Paul Ryan’s (R-Wis.) controversial budget, suggesting it doesn’t go far enough.






“Not even Paul Ryan and his budget now has the temerity to go after Social Security,” Santorum said, pointing out that led the GOP effort to reform the entitlement on the floor of the Senate — even while he was running for reelection.






That truth-telling role is already one that former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty sought to fill during his presidential announcement, but Santorum’s people think he can do a better job of backing it up.






That doubles as an explanation for his big loss in his 2006 reelection reace. Santorum explains that he was sticking by his principles in a bad year for Republicans, and it cost him.






“What people are looking for is someone who has stood by their principles in good times and bad,” Santorum said. “I stood up and I didn’t back away.”






Keep an eye on The Fix today for a dispatch from Somerset.






Giuliani urges Romney to apologize for Romneycare: Rudy Giuliani is inserting himself back into the presidential fold, taking aim at Republican frontrunner Mitt Romney in an interview with the New Hampshire Union Leader.






The former New York mayor told the paper that Romney should admit that he made “a terrible mistake” with his health care program as governor of Massachusetts, which Giuliani says was essentially the same as President Obama’s.






Romney “can’t talk his way out of this,” Giuliani said. “A mandate is a mandate is a mandate is a mandate is mandate. Let’s get real.”






The verbiage is some of the strongest used by any potential Romney challenger and suggests that Giuliani isn’t done being a part of the presidential conversation. Despite his campaign absolutely tanking in 2008, Giuliani has suggested he may run again, and a recent CNN/Opinion Research poll showed Giuliani in first place in the GOP presidential field, leading Romney within the margin of error.






Giuliani also said the current GOP field is being too “ambiguous” about Rep. Paul Ryan’s (R-Wis.) plan for Medicare.






Giuliani said he won’t make a decision on another campaign until late summer. He will not be at the debate next week in New Hampshire.






Palin “right there in the middle” on presidential run: During an appearance on Fox News Sunday, former Alaska governor Sarah Palin said her recent bus tour has not made her any more or less interested in running for president.






“Still right there in the middle, Chris; still trying figure out what the lay of the land will be as these weeks and months go by,” Palin told Fox’s Chris Wallace.






Palin also tried to explain how her comments about Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride were correct, with mixed — to say the least — results.






Huntsman to skip Iowa: Former Utah governor Jon Huntsman said this weekend that he would skip the Iowa caucus if he runs for president.






The former ambassador to China said he will skip the state because he opposes ethanol subsidies, which are popular in the corn-producing Iowa.






“I’m not competing in Iowa for a reason,” Huntsman said.






Huntsman’s early declaration — before he even announces his campaign — is an interesting one. His past on social issues (he supported civil unions for same-sex couples) would have made Iowa a tough state for him. But framing the issue around corn subsidies allows him to make a play for small-government conservatives in later primary states.






There had been talk that Romney might skip Iowa, but he has invested at least some of his time in the state and appears as though he will at least give it some attention. Romney hasn’t yet committed to participating in the Iowa straw poll in two months.






Fixbits:

• Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) pitches for mainstream support.

• Former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory (R), who is expected to take on Gov. Bev Perdue (D) for the second-straight election, ties her to recently indicted former North Carolina senator John Edwards (D) and former governor Mike Easley (D), who was convicted of a felony in another campaign finance case last year.

• Former Rep. Ciro Rodriguez (D-Texas) files for a rematch with freshman Rep. Quico Canseco (R). Rodriguez will be attempting his second return to Congress; he previously made a comeback in 2006.

• House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said she won’t back any bill that reduces benefits for Medicare recipients.

• Why Rep. John Barrow (D-Ga.) may not have to fear redistricting.

• At least one Republican in Florida may like the state’s new redistricting amendments.

Must-reads:

• “Sarah Palin and the politics of winging it” — Mark Leibovich, New York Times

• “Louisiana redistricting case seen as crucial test of Voting Rights Act” — Sandhya Somashekhar, The Washington Post

• “Swing states still struggling after housing bust pose challenge to Obama reelection” — Michael A. Fletcher, The Washington Post

• “Cast turned House race into compelling drama” — Jerry Zremski and Robert J. McCarthy, Buffalo News

• “Edwards danced a risky line between his public and private life; that divide is key to charges” — AP

• “State, feds square off in Medicaid battle” — Heather Gillers, Indianapolis Star

The greatest political cartoon of the year!

From one of our readers:

POLITICO MAFIOSO - THE WEEK IN REVIEW for W/E June 5, 2011

As we finally bid adieu to Brett Mecum, will there be a "New" Captain America?  Stay Tuned, this upcoming week is going to be exciting.

For any article you might have missed this week on PM, just click on any of the links below:

Friday June 3, 2011

Brett Mecum: “How to lose a job in 10 days” - Guest Commentary

Another "Honor" Killing By HJS


RedState Morning Briefing For June 3, 2011


OSCAR MEYER ANTHONY WEINER


The Washington Post Morning Fix: Mixed signals everywhere on President Obama’s reelection prospects


Today in the Washington Examiner June 3, 2011


Thursday June 2, 2011


ANTHONY'S WEINER GATE



Government: The Good and the Bad Ny HJS


NET RIGHT DAILY Must Reads for June 2, 2011


RedState Morning Briefing For June 2, 2011


The Washington Post Morning Fix: Mitt Romney’s announcement speech: It’s the economy, stupid


Today in the Washington Examiner June 2, 2011


Wednesday June 1, 2011


Two Down, Just a Few More to Go



AZ REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE for June 1. 2011


NET RIGHT DAILY Must Reads for June 1, 2011


RedState Morning Briefing For June 1, 2011


The Washington Post Morning Fix: Newt Gingrich: Assessing the damage done


Today in the Washington Examiner June 1, 2011


Sarah Palin's Bus Tour


Tuesday May 31, 2011


BRETT MECUM FIRED AS AZ GOP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR!



Sen. John McCain Talks Libya, Arab Spring


NET RIGHT DAILY Must Reads for May 31, 2011


RedState Morning Briefing For May 31, 2011


Today in the Washington Examiner May 31, 2011


The Washington Post Morning Fix: The unorthodoxy of Sarah Palin


Wes Gullett: Why I'm Running for Mayor


Governor Brewer's Public Schedule for the Week Beginning Monday, May 30, 2011


Monday May 30, 2011


MEMORIAL DAY 2011

Brett Mecum: “How to lose a job in 10 days” - Guest Commentary

By now just about everyone involved in politics is aware that Brett Mecum was fired from his job as Executive Director of the Arizona Republican Party this week. Mecum came into the Arizona political scene after he was blacklisted from working in politics in New York. After moving to Phoenix, it only took Brett 2 years to become one of the most despised people in Arizona politics. Let’s take a look at Brett’s top 10 accomplishments:

1- He was busted for going 109 mph on the freeway.


2- A picture of Mecum was released on the Dirty.com which depicted him receiving a simulated oral sex act in a Captain America outfit.


3- Told candidates he could offer them “robo dials” - how pathetic?


4- Scared away potential donors to the state party due to his questionable
actions


5- Was reported to the authorities in an affidavit which stated that he illegally used the Voter Vault records to stalk a woman.


6- Did a miserable job raising money for Arizona Candidates.


7- Divided the party


8- Under investigation for allegedly selling endorsements.


9- Chased away almost all of the volunteers creating a virtual ghost town at the state party


10- Not professional and known for not returning phone calls

It was rumored that Mecum was inspired to wear suspenders after watching the movie “The Godfather.” He saw himself as the character Michael Corleone and acted that way around the state party office. It is sad to say that Mecum and Pullen took credit for victories in Arizona elections in 2010. The truth is that the candidates got very little help or support from the AZ GOP. The candidates won despite all of the bad press coming from the antics of Pullen and Mecum. It makes me ask a few questions. How many more elections could we have won if the state party was actually organized and had a legitimate victory plan? If Mecum and Pullen didn’t have such bad reputations could the state party have raised more money for candidates?

With allegations of misappropriations of money why would anyone donate money to the state party? Various sources in the Republican Party informed us that some of Arizona’s biggest donors were holding back donations until Mecum was removed from his position. They didn’t want to give their money to corrupt people or be affiliated with them by any means.

You have to give credit where credit is deserved. Tom Morrissey got rid of the biggest pariah in the office, Mecum. Let’s hope Morrissey can now rebuild the state party office. Pullen and Mecum have set back the Arizona Republican Party at least 10 years. It is going to take a long time to bring back credibility, leadership, and most of all integrity.

Another "Honor" Killing By HJS

HJS Comments: One should note that in Islam, if an unmarried female, regardless of age, is involved in any activity either denounced by the sharia or which her parents or people of her tribe or village believe is or should be forbidden by the sharia, can be executed (usually by stoning) by her father with other family and village members helping.

If the father takes no action in this regard, but the village residents feel strong enough in their belief that the female had sinned against Allah and dishonored the family, village, or tribe, they can take their own action under the sharia. The sharia in some parts is a retaliation document in which a single individual or groups can take their own action against “sinners” they themselves have identified.

In this connection, it actually spells out actions that can be taken, who can take the action, and who can be the target of the action. We have long since renounced the idea of vigilantes searching out and punishing individuals without benefit of trial. Islam has not. For example, anyone who believes a certain person has become an apostate has a duty to slay the person.

Refer to o1.2 (4), page 583,584 of Umdat al-Salik, showing that parents or grandparents may slay their children or grandchildren without retaliation. Refer to o1.2 (3), page 583,584 of Umdat al-Salik, which states “killing an apostate from Islam is without consequences.”

Ukraine: Muslim girl stoned to death for participating in beauty contest

The fact that this was an extrajudicial killing doesn't let Sharia off the hook. The fact that stoning is prescribed for adultery (as often as apologists might also try to deny it for non-Muslim consumption), where the murderers in this case apparently decided for themselves her actions were tantamount to adultery, doesn't let Sharia off the hook, either.

No, the simple fact that this punishment exists in Islamic law, and Muhammad himself participated in it, means Sharia's inherent defects where human rights are concerned have a direct bearing on this case. So does the broader sense that originates in Qur'an 4:34 that violence is an acceptable recourse against "disobedient" women.

The murderers' consciences were informed by these ideas, hence the lack of regret expressed below. "Muslim girl, 19, 'stoned to death after taking taking part in beauty contest'," by Will Stewart for the Daily Mail, May 30 (thanks to Ian):

A teenage Muslim girl was stoned to death under 'Sharia law' after taking part in a beauty contest in Ukraine.

Katya Koren, 19, was found dead in a village in the Crimea region near her home.
Friends said she liked wearing fashionable clothes and had come seventh in a beauty contest.

Her battered body was buried in a forest and was found a week after she disappeared.
Police have opened a murder probe and are investigating claims that three Muslim youths killed her claiming her death was justified under Islam.

One of the three - named as 16-year-old Bihal Gaziev - is under arrest and told police she had 'violated the laws of Sharia'.

Gaziev said he had no regrets about her death because she had violated the laws of Islam.
Posted by Marisol on May 30, 201

RedState Morning Briefing For June 3, 2011

1. What You Won’t Be Hearing

 

2. Roger Ailes and Mao: Basically the Same Guy

 

3. A Republic, if you can keep it


4. Jim Tucker Resorts to Desperation in Opposition to Pension Reform

 

5. Reform on the Ropes - Prison Reform

 

6. “Official Time” or Unofficial Scam? Your tax dollars are being used for union business.



—————————

1. What You Won’t Be Hearing






In all of the discussions about our current economic state, a possible regression or double dip recession, out-of-control debts, and continued high unemployment there is one conversation those who frame the media, generate the news, and pass around their opinions as “objective” pontiffs and prognosticators of politics will never engage in.






I am of course talking about the failure of Keynesian economic policies.






Now, if Ronald Reagan were president or George Bush were president or any other Republican were president, or if the Republicans were able to get their legislative initiatives out of Congress, the headlines in the same economic climate would be “death of supply side economics.” In fact, we can see that in history.






After Republican losses in 1982, the television and newspaper pundits immediately following the election suggested that Reagan’s economic vision and voodoo economic policies had been rejected by the voters. In 1992, voters were still rejecting Republican economic policies. In 2006, suddenly voters were no longer conservative. 2008 confirmed for many in the media and Democrats that the nation had drifted to the left.






This does not happen when Democrats are defeated at the polls.






Please click here for the rest of the post.




2. Roger Ailes and Mao: Basically the Same Guy






Those bastions of objectivity over at Rolling Stone magazine have taken a break from publishing off the record comments and covering the exploits of Lady GaGa to defend America against non-liberal news bias. Their target, of course, is Roger Ailes, President of the Fox News Channel.






As Brent Bozell at NewsBusters points out, the alleged “writer” used anonymous sources to make the obvious connection that being celebrated for success at a party is almost indistinguishable from a communist dictator with 70 million deaths on his record.






Please click here for the rest of the post.






3. A Republic, if you can keep it






When queried about the type of government the Constitutional Convention had just created, Benjamin Franklin famously replied, “A Republic, if you can keep it.”






Each generation of Americans must fight to retain that delicate balance between tyranny and anarchy that we like to call a Constitutional Republic.






The National Popular Vote Initiative, should it pass, would destroy our Republic.






It really is that simple.






Please click here for the rest of the post.






4. Jim Tucker Resorts to Desperation in Opposition to Pension Reform






Louisiana Speaker of the House Jim Tucker is attempting to defeat needed pension reform in Louisiana by falsely claiming that requiring Louisiana state employees to contribute additional money to their pension is a payroll tax, which he opposes (because of course he is a fiscal conservative and all fiscal conservatives oppose taxes). Tucker has confirmed that he intends to treat the pension reform as a tax in a letter to the bill’s sponsor, which has been provided to RedState. You can read the full text of the letter here (warning, .pdf).






Tucker hinges his argument on the absolutely incorrect claim that the additional revenue the State will collect if the employees’ pension contribution is increased by 40% will be deposited in the State’s general fund.






Please click here for the rest of the post.






5. Reform on the Ropes - Prison Reform






Currently, the Louisiana prison system is served by 11 state prisons. Some years ago, the State of Louisiana built three essentially identical prisons - the Allen, Avoyelles, and Winn correctional centers - which served as something of an experiment. The Avoyelles correctional center was run and staffed by State employees. The Allen and Winn correctional centers were run by private companies under 10-year contracts - the GEO Group and Corrections Corporation of America - both of whom are experienced companies that run prisons all over the country.






Consistent with what you might expect as a conservative, the prisons run by the private corporations proved to be run just as efficiently and effectively as the Avoyelles prison, only much cheaper. Currently, the Louisiana Department of Corrections is paying $42.30 per inmate per day to house prisoners at Avoyelles. The private companies are housing prisoners at the Allen and Winn facilities at an average of $31.50 per day, providing another data point in support of the conservative belief that there is almost nothing a private company cannot do better and more efficiently than the government.






Please click here for the rest of the post.






6. “Official Time” or Unofficial Scam? Your tax dollars are being used for union business.






One would think that, when union members pay union dues, the money would pay for the time their union representatives spend representing them on the job. Well, that’s not always the case. Both, in the private sector and the public sector, it is not unheard of for an employer to agree to pay for the union representatives’ time spent in talking with members to drum up investigate grievances and meet with management.






In the private sector, an employer who chooses to pay union representatives to do union business does so at his (or his shareholders’) own expense. In the public-sector, however, when management agrees to pay union representatives to do union business, that comes straight from taxpayers’ pockets.






Please click here for the rest of the post.






Sincerely yours,


Erick Erickson
Editor, RedState.com