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Random Audit of Line Item Vetos PDF Print E-mail
Written by John Roberts   
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
For Immediate Release, July 16, 2008

Further Information, Contact:John Roberts  (504) 621-6058

Some legislators just can’t accept a new day in the use of Louisiana’s taxpayer money!  The Taxpayers Union of Louisiana did a random check on a total of twenty six line item (10%) vetos by Governor Jindal.  Numbered items were picked at #46-53, #146-153 and #246-253 as well as other controversial items.  Not one improper veto appeared as most entities either do not exist, are not in good standing with the S.O.S. or failed to file the required NGO appropriation form with Legislature Clerk Butch Speer.  The rest clearly did not meet all four criteria Governor Jindal spelled out .   The complaints about the Jazz & Heritage Foundation, Habitat for Humanity and Cleo Fields La. Leadership Institute are all addressed at the end.

Here are the results;

#46 Hot Air Balloon Festival - $25,000
Secretary of State search – no such name found
Legislative N.G.O. form search – no required appropriation form found
Legislative Auditor had no record of previous reports

#47 Efforts of Grace, Inc. - $50,000
Secretary of State search – Non-profit in good standing
Legislative N.G.O. form search – no required appropriation form found
Legislative Auditor - last report filed for 01/01/06-12/31/06 with over $1M in grant revenue and over $500k in salaries/prof. Fees/other expenses

#48 International silhouette shoots and sportmen’s competition - $25,000
Secretary of State search – no such name found
Legislative N.G.O. form search – no required appropriation form found
Legislative Auditor had no record of previous reports

#49 Doorway to Louisiana, Inc. - $25,000
Secretary of State search – Non-profit in good standing
Legislative N.G.O. form search – Visitors center on Hwy. 65 in Lake Providence, total budget of $34,342 of which salaries/prof services/other were $28,024
Legislative Auditor – last report filed for 01/01/07 – 12/31/07 with statement showing entity is able to raise less than 10% of it’s annual budget itself

#50 Sabine River Authority - $20,000
Governor’s veto stated these funds should come from other sources

#51 Historic Grand Cane Association - $10,000
Secretary of State search – Non-profit in good standing
Legislative N.G.O. form search – requested $18k “to actively promote the appreciation, protection and appropriate development of the Village of Grand Cane’s historic buildings, culture and landscape”  The entire $18k is listed to be spent on “Professional Services”
Legislative Auditor had no record of previous reports

#52 Audubon Highway Commission  - $50,000
Governor’s veto stated these funds should come from other sources

#53 Poverty Point Regional Economic Development Corporation - $18,050
Secretary of State search – Non-profit in good standing
Legislative N.G.O. form search – no required appropriation form found
Legislative Auditor – last report filed for 01/01/06-12/31/06 with corp. purpose of stated in audit is to build and maintain retirement and recreational facilities.  Lists current primary asset “golf course” $6.9M

#146 Top Gun Boy Scouts of Quachita - $15,000
Secretary of State search – no such name found
Legislative N.G.O. form search – persons listed as incorporating Top Gun are only members of other corporations according to S.O.S. website.  Request was for $30k with prof serv/other $20,000 and stated purpose of funds, “the reduction of juvenile delinquency through mentoring and organized activity”
Legislative Auditor had no record of previous reports

#147 Louisiana Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs of America - $25,000
Secretary of State search – Non-profit in good standing
Legislative N.G.O. form search – no required appropriation form found
Legislative Auditor had no record of previous reports

#148 City of Baton Rouge for No. Baton Rouge Community Ctr.  - $150,000
Governor’s veto stated these funds should come from other sources

#149 RIZ UP Louisiana  - $150,000
Secretary of State search – Not in good standing for failure to file report
Legislative N.G.O. form search – requested $200,000 with salaries/prof serv/other listed as $180,000.  Purpose stated, “The overreaching goal of these programs and services are to assist youth and families to “RISE UP” from their current state.”
Legislative Auditor – last report filed 01/01/07-12/31/07 with state grants totaling 96% of the income and “program services” and “management and general” totaling 100% of expenses

#150 Hope Group, Inc. - $5,000
Secretary of State search – Non-profit in good standing
Legislative N.G.O. form search – requested $50,000 with $46,100 for salaries/prof serv/other.  Purpose stated, “S.A.F.E. Sharing About Friendship Education was developed by the staff to provide outreach education…”
Legislative Auditor had no record of previous reports

#151 Glen Oaks High School Security Dads, Inc. - $10,000
Secretary of State search – Non-profit in good standing
Legislative N.G.O. form search – requested $15,000 with all classified as “other” in budget.  Purpose stated, “To enhance the quality of life in our schools and community through VOLUNTEER involvement.”
Legislative Auditor had no record of previous reports

#152 Alpha Community Outreach Center - $25,000
Secretary of State search – Non-profit in good standing
Legislative N.G.O. form search – requested $65,000 with budget of salaries/prof serv/other/contracts $43,500.  Purpose stated, “Children and youth will be empowered to reduce violence and crime among children and youth in schools and in the community.”
Legislative Auditor had no record of previous reports

#153 The Church United for Community Development  - $15,000
Secretary of State search – Non-profit in good standing
Legislative N.G.O. form search – no required appropriation form found
Legislative Auditor last report 01/01/07-12/31/07 showing received over $1M in 2007 Federal gov. contract with biggest expense $761K for employment training

#246 Edu.Comm Communications, Inc. - $175,000
Secretary of State search – Non-profit in good standing
Legislative N.G.O. form search – no required appropriation form found
Legislative Auditor had no record of previous reports

#247 Family Foundation of SW Louisiana  - $1,500,000
Secretary of State search – Non-profit in good standing
Legislative N.G.O. form search – no required appropriation form found
Legislative Auditor had no record of previous reports

#248 Lecompte Youth for Excellence and Success - $100,000
Secretary of State search – no corporation with any name close to this except Lecompte Rod & Gun Club
Legislative N.G.O. form search – form list incorporators as William and Moselle Dearbone neither of whom is a member of any Louisiana corp. listed with S.O.S.  Purpose stated is “To enhance positive youth development by reducing exposure to risk (unhealthy) factors and increasing exposure to protective (healthy) factors, thereby preventing and/or early intervening in problem behavior.” 
Legislative Auditor had no record of previous reports

#249 YMCA of Greater New Orleans  - $300,000
Secretary of State search – Non-profit in good standing
Legislative N.G.O. form search – no required appropriation form found while other YMCAs around state have theirs’ properly filed
Legislative Auditor had no record of previous reports

#250 Hammond Chamber of Commerce - $30,000
Secretary of State search – this name is listed as dissolved in 1968 with S.O.S., no combination of Chamber and Hammond found any such entity in Louisiana
Legislative N.G.O. form search – no required appropriation form found
Legislative Auditor had no record of previous reports

#251 Boys and Girls Club Of Southeastern Louisiana  - $25,000
Secretary of State search – Non-profit in good standing, experienced pol Troy Carter listed as lead officer
Legislative N.G.O. form search – even with Mr. Carter in charge they failed to file the required appropriation form.  Other Boys and Girls Clubs did file properly.
Legislative Auditor

#252 Reality House, LLC - $50,000
Secretary of State search –listed as “not active” charter revoked 11/18/05
Legislative N.G.O. form search – no required appropriation form found
Legislative Auditor

#253 Centerpoint, Inc.  - $40,000
Secretary of State search – listed with an affidavit to dissolve 01/03/95
Legislative N.G.O. form search – no required appropriation form found
Legislative Auditor
Other vetoed NGO items being raised in the media by opponents of the line item vetoes are;

#44 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation - $100,000
Of course we all recognize this organization has a big economic impact with the state, but this NGO request for $100,000 was actually money to buy the old Tharp Sontheimer Laudemey funeral home next door to the Jazz and Heritage Foundation’s current offices.  The goal includes having more working space and space available for schools to use and of course the offices would no longer be located next to a dilapidated building.

#219 Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West - $10,000
This organization lists a budget in excess of $1M and requested funds to start a sorting facility to try and recycle building products.  This does not seem to meet the NGO criteria outlined by the Governor.

#220 Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany East  - $10,000
Did not file the required NGO appropriation form with legislature

#222 Habitat for Humanity – Tangipahoa  - $10,000
Did not file the required NGO appropriation form with legislature

#221 Louisiana Leadership Institute - $100,000  (ORGANIZATION CLEO FIELDS IS COMPLAINING)
Secretary of State search – Non-profit listed in good standing
Legislative N.G.O. form search – no required appropriation form found with search also under Institute President's name Ben Jeffers 
Legislative Auditor  - Latest report on file covers 07/01/06-06/30/07 and the Auditor hired by the Louisiana Leadership Institute lists the following collusions -  "Lack of Adequate Documentation - There is not complete documentation for student attendance" - "there is not complete documentation for student and staff attendance" - "The organization is not in compliance with La. Revised Statute 24:513, annual financial reports not timely filed with legislative auditor" NO INCOME TAX RETURNS FILED WITH THE I.R.S. for FY 2005 & 2006" Here's the link to see the entire sad report by their own auditor.


Last Updated ( Thursday, 17 July 2008 )
 
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