Edwards: State employees disrespected

Advocate staff photo by BILL FEIG -- From left, Benny Harris, president of the Louisiana Retired State Employees Association, prepares to introduce former Gov. Edwin Edwards, who spoke to the retirees group Tuesday. Next to Edwards is his wife Trina, and at right is Frank Jobert, association executive director.

Former Gov. Edwin W. Edwards criticized Gov. Bobby Jindal’s treatment of state employees Tuesday, telling a gathering of retirees that he is concerned about the “disrespect” for those who serve the people.

Edwards, 85, contrasted his approach to government workers with that of Jindal’s at the fourth annual conference of the Louisiana Retired State Employees Association.

“I came because I know what you have done and what your predecessors have done and what your successors are going to do for the people of the state. I came because I respect you,” the four-term governor said.

“You probably couldn’t get the present governor to come,” Edwards said to laughter.

“You could have had your convention in Iowa or Michigan,” Edwards said in reference to Jindal’s forays out of state for political events, including those promoting Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

Edwards said he is concerned about the lack of respect being shown these days for Civil Service workers and retirees “who make this state and country run.”

Jindal has implemented major state employee layoffs as his administration privatized some functions. In the 2012 legislative session, Jindal advocated new pension policies that would have required employees to pay more and work longer for reduced benefits. Key changes affecting employees died after a lengthy legislative battle.

“When I was in office, the Legislature and I worked together for the good of the people. We made mistakes ... but we tried,” Edwards said. “When I was governor, people were working, we took care of state employees, the sick and the poor. ... I was here when something happened.

“Don’t give up. I see the pendulum swinging. It’s going all the way to the right, but it’s coming back. People will begin to realize government is to serve people,” said Edwards, who was greeted with a standing ovation.

Edwards did not mention Jindal by name in remarks that included observations on political issues of the day and his life with a good dose of Cajun jokes and humor sprinkled in.

“They sent me to prison for life. I came out with a good-looking wife,” said Edwards, who met his third wife, Trina, while serving a federal prison sentence on racketeering charges.

At one point, Edwards criticized “the governor of this state” for not accepting federal Medicaid funds that would provide health care for 400,000 to 500,000 Louisiana residents.

Edwards said he is concerned about what’s happening on the national front as well, including the Obama administration’s objection to the Keystone Pipeline from Canada into the U.S.

“There are thousands of miles of pipeline in this country, and it’s rare we have a problem,” said Edwards, who added that the U.S. needs the energy supply.

Edwards also decried the loss of more than 2,000 U.S. military lives in Afghanistan and called for bringing U.S. troops home.

“Why spend billions of dollars and spill the blood (of so many Americans?” he asked. “Afghanistan is not a threat to us.”

He said there are people who don’t like the U.S. “but not any organized government. ... We do have a problem with terrorists.”

Comments

1) Comment by CountryAttorney - 04/10/2012

All Edwards cared about was his own pocket book. He pandered to the people to get elected. Because if he isn't elected, he cannot line his pockets with THE PEOPLE'S MONEY!!! But yeah, stealing from the people really is the best way to show that you care for them.

2) Comment by ex-louisianian - 04/10/2012

Or had a political vision that was somewhat plausibly based on the realities of a desperately poor Louisiana, and not on cant and ideological fervor, as displayed by the current governor. But don't dismay: Louisiana and Arkansas are finally undergoing the shift to the Southern Republican Party (that shames AL and MS) that geniuses like Edwards and Clinton managed to forestall for a generation. There is little that can be done to stop it now.

3) Comment by DMJ - 04/10/2012

Edwards may have been corrupt, but at least he cared about regular people.

4) Comment by CountryBoysCanSurvive - 04/10/2012

"T-Wong" for President!

5) Comment by Mildred Citizen - 03/10/2012

The Democratic party is in terrible shape these days. Welcoming a man who disrespected every citizen of this state, including state employees, by disgracing the office of the governor is not helping the reputation of the Democratic party or the LRSEA. Whoever selected Edwards to speak for the LRSEA should be ashamed!

6) Comment by teacherguy - 03/10/2012

I think Edwards is a maverick these days...he not only busted the republicans' chops, but the democrats' as well. He seems to embody what many of the "quiet" people who can't seem to identify with liberals or conservatives anymore. He may be 85, but any man that can still sell himself to a woman 50+ years his younger, from jail at that....who can sell himself to four terms as governor (our political king?)...and then sell himself to standing room only crowds after the history he has had....well, if he could just get a pardon...this ol' boy might make a more valid run for the White House than did ol' Buddy Roemer, who very few people wanted to listen to (in my opinion).

7) Comment by Warp7 - 03/10/2012

Wow a lot of hate filled and angry Republicans. You people can't handle the truth. Jindal cares about one thing and only one thing, JINDAL. When one talks about hypocrisy, we all know the Republicans are tops. Let's not forget that the GOP did it's best to try to get a known racist Nazi a few years ago elected as governor.

8) Comment by Protean - 03/10/2012

One word for shameless hypocrites with conveniently selective memory: Vitter.

9) Comment by Mygulfbleedsforu - 03/10/2012

Whatnow, do you know what's the difference between Dems and their women, and Repubs and all their women and/or men? There is only one difference, and that's that Dems don't keep bringing up the Repub indescretions for the next 40 years. You only think there's more indiscretion among Dems because you don't shut up about it. Frankly, if it wasn't for the hypocrisy of it all, Dems wouldn't really care much.

10) Comment by Mygulfbleedsforu - 03/10/2012

Is Tommy Rucker comparing the employees of the State to children having "wants"?

11) Comment by brguy - 03/10/2012

It speaks volumes that @TommyRucker refers to retired state employees attending the annual conference of the Louisiana Retired State Employees Association as "a lot of poor people who don't now better and are easily taken advantage of".

12) Comment by 8point6 - 03/10/2012

You're right, governor edwards.....now, it's time for your meds. Then we'll have lunch and a nappie.

13) Comment by brguy - 03/10/2012

As a retired state employee who worked under numerous administrations, I concur 100% with Gov. Edwards' comments about our current governor. No previous governor has displayed the disdain and lack of concern for state civil servants than Piyush Jindal. But such treatment is not limited to state employees, it extends to legislators, constituents and anyone with ideas or opinions that differ from his own. It's not just about budget cutbacks, which are necessary in today's economy, it's about the egotistical and self-serving manner in which he governs and relates to others. From contacts with former colleagues, I can vouch for the fact that those who are competent and conscientious are either retiring (some taking unplanned early retirement) or looking for jobs in the private sector. If there are any state employees left after Jindal completes his privatization efforts, they'll be anything but the "cream of the crop". So in the near future I'll be looking for posts on here from @TommyRucker about how difficult it is to obtain any type of services from state employees (although I'm fairly certain you already feel that way).

14) Comment by Duckyluve - 03/10/2012

Who cares what a convicted felon thinks?

15) Comment by Whatnow - 03/10/2012

Another has-been like Clinton. It's all about the women. Great role models the Dems look up to.

16) Comment by TommyRucker - 03/10/2012

There are millions of people in prison and criminals out on the streets and in white collar crime who will be glad to tell YOU what is wrong with the world and how they can fix it. These people are con men and women who do not deserve our trust because they have betrayed us. What has Edwards actually done to gain the trust of people. He has always 'talked' a lot and he is getting richer today from people buying his books, etc. He could actually make a positive contribution to society by ceasing his efforts to 'save the democratic party mob in Louisiana' and speak as someone only interested in the common good. He is good at telling people what they want to hear rather than the truth. It is what populists and demagogues do. He is actually being given another opportunity to really help people and do God's will but it appears that the 'world according to me' is going to be an on going obsession with Edwards. I guess I am being disrespectful to my kids when I don't give them the money they WANT and tell them the reason is that I don't have it and they need to cut back at least for awhile until I can go out and earn it. Disrespectful???, I think not, I call it reality and teaching my kids that they must learn to sacrifice, learn patience and mostly learn not to disrespect me for doing my best to meet the needs of the entire family and not the wants of the kids. I would also hope my kids would understand and not pay attention to outsiders who blame me for their lack of wants but increase their commitment to work together with the entire family for the common good.

17) Comment by Being_Stupid - 03/10/2012

Back in the mid 1970s, Gov. Edwards created these lavish retirement and pension programs knowing full well he would never have to deal with paying for it in 2012. That would be some other governor's problem, not his problem back when Big Oil was providing Big Income for the State of Louisiana. Bobby Jindal is dealing with the realization that we cannot afford these lavish pensions and retirements promised by the Edwards Administration back 38 years ago. Thanks for the Bloated Government and Bankruptcy, Edwards.

18) Comment by TommyRucker - 03/10/2012

Edwards was governor during good economic times and he 'profited' and apparently is living very well as a result of all the years he 'saved all the poor people'. Edwards is the face of a dominating socialism society. Demagogues also say one thing to gain popular support but actually do something else and that something else has a lot more to do with their selfish self serving WANTS than the 'common good' they speak about to the public. We have had Clinton tell us and our children that oral sex is NOT sex and he is currently a big 'hero' of the politically correct. Now Edwards, a big hero of the populists, now tells us government is what makes everything work in this country and is responsible for the good as he said "government employees and retirees make this state and country run". How is Jindal disrespecting government workers? This is terminology of the political correct as they use words like hatred, extremists, etc. to stir up the fear in voters in order to control their votes. It seems to me being dishonest, misleading people, etc. which led to a prison term is a lot worse than cutting the budget when you don't have the money in times of a bad economy. A bad economy brought on by the same people and principles that Edwards supports. Its a shame for someone like Edwards to go around pumping up his ego at the expense of a lot of poor people who don't know better and are easily taken advantage of. He has done it all his life as a career politician so what's new. Demagogues-they have always been around and always will be and most unfortunate there will also be many people who believe in them and what they say.

19) Comment by spqr - 03/10/2012

Jindal has offended prison officials, state workers, all affiliated with colleges and universities, public school teachers and administrators and unions, hospitals and the poor. I am certain there are others. Too much damage done under Piyush. Way too much to recover in the next decade.

20) Comment by CountryBoysCanSurvive - 03/10/2012

Gov. Edwards is the Man, he just screwed the crooks, before they could screw us.

21) Comment by tball - 03/10/2012

According to nolalawyer the judicial system got it wrong when they convicted Edwin "the ladies man" Edwards. He was a crook and paid his time!!!

22) Comment by nolalawyer - 03/10/2012

Our state is being permanently damaged by the child currently serving as governor, whose energies are entirely focused on his own political advancement, and who is trying to curry favor with national Republicans at our expense. Jindal seems bent on dismantling Louisiana's important institutions and critical services -- at first it appeared that he would do so despite the harm to our citizens, but now the case can be made that he is going out of his way to cause unnecessary suffering to Louisiana's poor. This article reminds us of what a real governor looks like -- we really didn't appreciate how good we had it, because the right-wingers were so determined to get into power and we listened to their claims that Governor Edwards was a crook. I don't know whether Edwards was a crook or not, but I do know that we would be much better off today if he was our governor instead of little Bobby Jindal.

23) Comment by Traveler - 03/10/2012

Thank you, Governor Edwards, for your concern and support of state employees.