Rally For Economical Survival

Lafayette, La July 21, 2010

Rally For Economical Survival was held in the Cajundome from 11a.m. to 1p.m. with over 11,000 people in attendance as numerous leaders of South Louisiana spoke about the concerns of economic impact by President Obama’s “Moratorium” on all drilling platforms in the Gulf of Mexico.

At 11 a.m., Sammy Kershaw opened the Rally with Louisiana pride on his mind followed by Lafayette City-Parish President Joey Durel who spoke about the impact and concern over President Obama’s decision to halt drilling in the gulf.  Next on stage was Lieutenant Governor Scott Angelle our Master of Ceremonies for the brief lunchtime assembly.  Lt. Governor Angelle was entertaining and electric with the quote, “It makes America less competitive in this global economy.  Mr. President, I get the fact that you don’t like oil & gas companies, but this moratorium is not hurting the  stockholders of BP or Exxon or Chevron this moratorium is hurting the Cheramie’s, the Caillet’s”…..  “In addition to finding the fuel to energize America, let’s us take this time to remind the Nation’s policy makers of the significant contributions we make to the federal treasury from 2005-2007 this industry paid $242 billion dollars in federal taxes and another $23 billion in Mineral right Royalties to the federal government in 2008 alone.

“Do me a favor and do yourselves a favor when someone asks you what you do for a living don’t tell just them you help find the energy to fuel America to them you help produce the revenue and pay the taxes to……… “Educate, medicate, rehabilitate and if all else fails incarcerate!”  As Governor Bobby Jindal took to the podium the cheers in the Cajundome overpowered Jindal’s opening words.  With the Cajundome now filled to almost capacity as many business closed their doors in Acadiana to allow employees and their families off of work just to attend.  Governor Jindal’s speech was followed by an introduction from Emcee Don BriggsShow some love for Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser!  Look up the word in the dictionary, Moratorium – embargo, ban, prohibit, postpone, halt, freeze, I say stand still.  Do nothing, remember Mr.  President we are at War you don’t stand still……no of these words correspond with the United States, I know. Or I thought I knew (cheers)” After sharing his concerns over the fisherman that are losing their not only their jobs but the legacies of the families that founded the fishing industry.  Nungesser continued with stating that this is an “Economic disaster of the highest proportion, LSU says in the 1^st sixth months it could cost 8,200 jobs and $2 billion dollars to the economy. $98 million in state and local taxes” “Out of Venice, LA people like you came a simple plan” There is a plan called the 66 man plan hire 66 man & women. We have 33 deep drilling rigs.  Such as retired engineers and professional that know drilling and they would uphold the law to the federal government. They would be Rig monitors very much like the air marshals were used after 9/11” “the rigs would become 99percent safer tomorrow. Not in six months Simple plan it will work”  “It will cripple the economy of this state after we that has come back from Katrina, Rita Gustav, Ike!  We can’t afford to be crippled again because of you.”  Billy Nungesser shared a personal story about the last time he encountered President Obama in Grande Isle don’t call CNN, call me at the White House 1^st and we’ll take care of it.” “Well Mr. President, I’calling you right to lift the Moratorium or we will be back on CNN.” As the speakers continued with

Dave Welch

President & CEO, Stone Energy Corporation

Lafourche Parish President

Charlotte Randolph

Cherri Foytlin

Citizen activist

John Hofmeister

Founder and CEO, Citizens for Affordable Energy

CJ McDonald

McDonald Consulting LLC

Ewell Smith

Executive Director, Louisiana Seafood Promotion & Marketing Board

Jim Funk

Louisiana Restaurant Association

Dan Juneau

President, Louisiana Association of Business and Industry

By the end of the Rally most people had trickled out the Cajundome into the concession area where the Rally organizers were filming attendees reactions to the Moratorium, a tape of men, women & families voiced there concerns and begged President Obama to let us go back work.  Plenty if local press was one the scene and in the parking lot as we arrived there was a CNN truck, Fox News, news stations from New Orleans, Alexandria, Shreveport, Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, Houston.  It was obvious to all that attended we are standing as a united nation which includes your sisters and their husbands or your cousins wife who works for an Oil & Gas Company.  We are an industry that should be proud of how we give America the necessities of life such as gas, toothbrushes, vacations, & pools. Skiing in the winter or fishing in the spring, it is made possible for an entire legacy that hides behind hug oak trees in the deep-south. My personal professions are making it possible for companies to have the contracts to process this fuel no matter where it comes from.   The bottom-line is that we have energy all over the US that needs to be managed.  The Marcellus Shale the Natural gas in Montana.  Many companies have to send their employees out of the state of Louisiana purely because the work in North of I-10 such as Odessa, TX about a 12 hour drive from the Broussard, LA based Control Systems Associates.  CSA finally leased an apartment for their employees who do contract work there for Patterson-UTI, A company that is based out of Houston.  Two men one from Houston and one from Broussard have had to leave their families to work since the job market in both locations are in hiring freezes due to the Moratorium in the GOM.

As the day we stood in unison to cheer on our fabulous New Orleans Saints win the Superbowl, all screaming “Who Dat Who Dat! Who Dat Say Dey Gonna Beat Dem Saints?”  This Moratorium is absolutely an attack on our livelihoods whether you, your husband, your brother, your father, your grandfather, the guy at work, your Nanny or Parrain, some guy that you went high school with that made Mardi Gras Day an incredible fun family day that was all about our children being safe and catching beads from the floats, dancing to the music or throwing a football, this effects you.