Jump to full article: Associated Press (AP), 2007-02-18
Author: Doug Simpson
Intro: Gov. Kathleen Blanco has long said she's keen on "transparency in government," the idea that the public should be informed when her office makes decisions about the public's money.
That idea went AWOL last week when the Blanco administration shoved forward a plan to sell off what's left of Louisiana's 1998 settlement with the cigarette industry, aiming to get a lump of cash instead of collecting annual installments from tobacco firms. The plan would involve roughly $1 billion in state revenue.
The public had no way of knowing, but a state board controlled by Blanco voted to approve selling that settlement soon _ a proposal that's full of variables and has plenty of skeptics, including the state treasurer and quite a few legislators.
The board's meeting was not transparent _ it was invisible. Neither the public nor the press was told it would take place. . . .
Normally, the Blanco-controlled Tobacco Settlement Financing Corp. Board publicizes its meetings with plenty of notice.
Not last week, even though the meeting featured the most important decision the board can make. If that tobacco money is sold, the board's reason for existence will steadily fade away. . . .
The semi-secrecy gave ammunition to Blanco's critics, who didn't really need any: they were already primed to attack the idea of selling the tobacco money. Noting that the state already has $1.9 billion that hasn't been spent yet, Rep. Jim Tucker voiced his opposition to the plan and called the governor a sneak.
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