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A Terrebonne Parish councilman’s published letter to a newspaper sharply critical of Gov. John Bel Edwards is making waves in Baton Rouge, and may result in local colleagues making an official statement of their own.
(Read the complete letter online at: http://theadvocate.com/news/opinion/15524283-154/letters-is-edwards-punished-parishes-with-low-votes)
District 3 Councilman Gerald Michel’s letter, published April 18 in the Baton Rouge Advocate, alleges that the potential closure of Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center in Houma is a punishment for Edwards’ low Terrebonne numbers in his 2015 race against Sen. David Vitter.
“Governance is not the pontification of ideology.” – State Sen. Norby Chabert
Edwards’ budget proposal features deep budget cuts meant to address the state’s $750 million deficit for the upcoming fiscal year. Among them is a $409 million reduction to the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals budget, which would result in the closure of four safety-net hospitals across the state, including LCMC.
Some local lawmakers say the letter’s tone and Michel’s decision to tag it with his title is making an already uphill battle tougher as they try to save the hospital. They and some parish officials are also trying to eke discretionary state dollars for infrastructure projects, in a state where the governor has powerful line item veto power.
Michel stands by the 443-word letter, his decision to sign it “Gerald Michel, Terrebonne Parish Councilman,” and the statistical evidence he used to illustrate his point are well-grounded and sourced.
“It seems that 26,000 is the ‘magic number,’” Michel’s letter begins. “If Gov. John Bel Edwards did not receive at least 26,000 votes from your parish in November, then you are at risk of not having a privatized LSU hospital in your parish anymore.”
The letter breaks down parishes with threatened hospitals along with the number of votes Edwards received in each, noting one exception, Ouchita, whose hospital is only getting a 3 percent cut despite a low vote count. Ouachita Parish (Monroe) is the only exception, as Edwards is only proposing a 3 percent cut for its hospital, despite the mere 17,577 votes he received from the parish … This is the epitome of vindictive politics. Is Edwards so narrow-minded and cold-hearted that he would shut down hospitals simply because areas don’t have the population or desire to support his bid as governor? Only time will tell.”
It ends with a sardonic “Ain’t politics grand” followed by a question mark.
“All the statistics stated in the letter were accurate, according to www.theadvocate.com,” Michel said, when asked about the buzz. “We consistently hear about ‘transparency in government’ and now critics think that I should have kept those statistics to myself. Everyone has a right to know.”
Local officials are not taking issue Michel’s figures, his right to speak of them. But they do say the letter has the potential to derail quiet, behind-the-scenes lobbying and negotiation. Inclusion of Michel’s title, they maintain, places the parish council as a body in an uncomfortable position, along with members of the legislative delegation.
Council Chairman John Navy said he expects to propose a formal message from council members.
“I need to bring this up to distinguish us from that letter, to communicate that it doesn’t speak for the council,” said Council Chairman John Navy. “I wish he would have put ‘Gerald Michel’ and left the ‘Councilman’ out of it. We need to be cautious at a time when sales taxes are down and the government is cutting, eliminating capital outlay for us, money to finish projects. I am concerned and I am not wanting us to antagonize him.”
When Republican Bobby Jindal was governor the local delegation – including Gordon Dove, who is now Parish President – transformed executive branch simpatico into gubernatorial magnanimity. Those dollars transformed into levee and road projects. A complex privatization structure developed under Jindal’s administration rescued LCMC from crippling cuts and provided a new lease on life. Edwards could well determine that the time has come for fiscal shoes to change geographic feet, some local politicos observed. Michel’s letter, some fear, could be seen as a gauntlet slap, damaging delicate bridge-building.
“While I’m upset with the Governor’s decision with Chabert, keeping it open will only happen with the Governor’s cooperation,” said State Rep. Tanner Magee R-Houma. “I believe we can work with him to keep it open.”
State Rep. Jerome Zeringue R-Houma is among lawmakers who blanched at the letter’s words.
“Now is not the time to poke our fingers in the governor’s eye,” said Zeringue. “We are trying to keep funds for higher education and projects to protect Terrebonne and Lafourche from devastation. Everyone has a right to their opinion. But there is a time and place. It definitely doesn’t make things easier, our ability to try and work with him and to get things accomplished.”
State Sen. Norby Chabert R-Houma, said he respects “every elected official’s right to voice their opinion in whatever forum they choose.”
But “political reality,” Chabert said, must be recognized.
“Governance is not the pontification of ideology,” he said. “It is putting pen to paper, and dollars and cents to projects … rationing out very limited resources. No, it does not make out job easier.”
State Rep. Beryl Amedee R-Houma, was herself a Terrebonne Parish council member until last year.
“I would never have signed my opinion as a council member,” she said. “It is then perceived as if I am speaking for the entire council .. It is not proper etiquette and not proper decorum for a council member.”
Michel, a freshman representative in a fickle district that includes the Broadmoor, Oakshire and Southern Estates subdivisions, and the general Bayou Cane area. Since taking office in January, Michel has assumed the role of gadfly and not hesitated to express discomfort with what he has perceived as political going-along-to-get-along.
“The fact that I signed as a Terrebonne Parish Council Member is a result that I am indeed a Terrebonne Parish Council Member,” Michel said. “I was voted into the District 3 seat by over a thousand voters. This gives me credibility. Without that credibility my opinion may very well have been dismissed. Never did I suggest that my opinion constitutes that of the entire Terrebonne Parish Government, the Terrebonne Parish Council, or anyone else for that matter. I also feel that readers have a right to know who the person is that is expressing their opinion.”
Lawmakers say that the cuts which could shutter Chabert were the result of analysis by DHH.
