"She's wavering. She doesn't know what to do and to me it's crystal clear."
Treasury Secretary John Kennedy sent a letter to Governor Kathleen Blanco Friday afternoon with his recommendations for alleged pork barrel projects he believes the governor ought to veto from the state's new budget. The amount of savings from his initial request is huge. When the WAFB 9 News business office computed it, the ticker tape stretched over 3.5 feet. WAFB's Paul Gates takes a look at how much could be on the chopping block if the governor takes the advice.
Governor Blanco is taking heat on some $30 million to $50 million in pork barrel projects requested by legislators. They are tucked away by the hundreds in the 300 pages of the current state budget.
Thursday, Governor Blanco was quoted as saying Secretary Kennedy should also be scrutinizing some of these projects, since he signs the checks. Kennedy says that remark came out of the blue, especially since Governor Blanco has spurned his advice on state spending in the recent past, but he says he is willing to help.
"She is a good person and in her heart she knows the right thing to do here is to veto this pork," says Secretary Kennedy. "I think she's scared to do it. If she's looking for cover, if she wants to pass the buck, I will accept it."
Today Sec. Kennedy sent a letter to the Governor Blanco recommending some 200 initial cuts in pork projects totaling $9.2 million.
WAFB 9 News asked Sec. Kennedy if he really believes the Governor will take his advice and cut the pork from the budget.
"Probably not," he responded, "but I'm gonna try because it's clear to me she hasn't made a decision. She's wavering. She doesn't know what to do and to me it's crystal clear."
On another subject, Kennedy commented on whether the state should accept a donation of a portion of the once lavish Hodges Gardens estate near Many in Sabine Parish. He says the deal is a bad one.
"Last year it lost one half million dollars," according to Sec. Kennedy. "It takes a million to run it and it needs two million in repairs. But the money to do that, the timber revenue and the oil and gas revenue is being kept by the previous owners, so we're getting the problems without the money to fix it. Sounds to me like we're getting a pretty bad deal."
Kennedy says he'll urge Lt. Governor Landrieu's State Tourism Commission to decline the donation.
Blanco's office has not yet commented on the letter Treasurer Kennedy sent to the governor Friday. Gov. Blanco has until Tuesday to decide whether to approve the spending plan passed by legislators as-is, or decide to cut some of the projects.
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Sounds to me like Treasury secretary Kennedy would make a better Governor than the one they have.