Enos Joseph Porche, Sr.
May 4, 2009Man’s skeleton unearthed by Morgan City work crew
May 6, 2009
Although a deal cut by Gov. Bobby Jindal and New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson is being hailed as a “win-win” by some, one local state lawmaker is a bit less supportive.
Sen. Butch Gautreaux said pending cuts to higher learning institutions – including Nicholls State University – were ill advised at an Eggs and Issues Breakfast hosted by the St. Mary Parish Chamber of Commerce.
Gautreaux, a Democrat, questioned the governor’s decision to spend $50 million revitalizing a north Louisiana chicken plant while offering “a huge piece of welfare for Tom Benson.”
The senator said Jindal’s decision to bail out Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. in Farmerville – a Texas-based company – was not properly researched.
“I disagree with investing $50 million into a plant that was going into bankruptcy,” Gautreaux said. “Not just this year, but also when Gov. (Mike) Foster was in office.
“It’s obvious that there is trouble at this plant,” he added. “I’d rather put the money toward a new industry to employ these folks than to invest in a debacle.”
The state has offered to spend $85 million to improve the Louisiana Superdome and millions more to lease office space in a largely vacant building next to the Dome that Benson has agreed to buy. The proposal would satisfy the state’s annual $23.5 million payment to keep the team in New Orleans through 2025, according to the governor’s office.
“It’s a huge piece of welfare for Benson,” Gautreaux contends. “Think about it. If Edwin Edwards was making a deal with one of his longtime supporters, imagine what kind of headlines – locally and nationally – that would create.”
Since taking office, Jindal has said his administration inherited the Saints contract from former Gov. Kathleen Blanco’s tenure. The governor said the original deal between the state and Benson should have included performance guarantees, thus entitling the team to less or no money. A similar deal was struck in 2008 with New Orleans Hornets owner George Shinn.
Unlike the Saints, Shinn’s team “reached and surpassed all of their goals,” the governor has been quoted as saying.
