HURRICANES 2022 VIRTUAL SUMMIT

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Dear Members and Friends,

In collaboration with the Office of Consumer Advocacy in the Department of Insurance, we’re inviting you to our upcoming virtual summit, “Hurricanes 2022.

REGISTER NOW

Taking place on Wednesday, April 27th at 8:00 a.m. (CET), the Virtual Summit will feature an array of expert panelists, including:

Julie Shiyou-Woodard, President & CEO Smart Homes America

Ron Henderson, Deputy Commissioner, Louisiana Department of Insurance, Office of Consumer Advocacy

Ron Camarota, Louisiana Department of Insurance, Office of Consumer Advocacy

Gilbert Giron Jr, FEMA 2.0 Rating Program

Moderated by Ron Camarota, the discussion will underline the challenges faced by residents preparing for hurricane season. Panelists will explain how components of the homeowners policy, like coverages and limits or exclusions and deductibles work and why they’re critical. It will also highlight key best practices to minimize risk and show policyholders what they can do in advance to ensure that they’re well prepared. They’re here to help and protect policyholders through the “Policyholders Bill of Rights”.

Additionally, they will answer questions on regulatory changes and there will be a live Q&A session to conclude the event.

The Office of Consumer Advocacy has helped thousands of citizens with their post disaster issues. Through its formal complaint process, it has the regulatory power to ensure agents, adjusters, and insurance companies perform ethically under the Louisiana Insurance Code.

We hope you’ll join us for this timely discussion. Please submit your questions for the panel to Ron Camarota at Ron.Camarota@ldi.la.gov.

Click the link to view the Speaker Sheet and Agenda. We’re looking forward to seeing you there!

Sincerely,

Tracie Burke, President

Louisiana Civic Coalition–
LACC

Gretna, LA 70053

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https://www.facebook.com/louisianaciviccoalition

REGISTER NOW

Jefferson Parish Anti-Corruption Scorecard for 3/26/2022 Election

By Tracie Burke | Motion to Quash LLC | March 7, 2022

Motion to Quash LLC investigated long standing campaign finance abuse in Jefferson Parish to create the scorecards for this election.

We created a comprehensive list of campaign contributions for the candidates. The campaign contributions were totaled on the time period from March 6, 2007- to March 6, 2022. The grand total was $3,631,929.

*Loans, contractor contributions, and gaming interests were included in the totals.*

Only four (22%) of the eighteen candidates scored A+ for anti-corruption, while five (28%) of the candidates scored F.

The total campaign contributions were based on the financial statements for the candidates on the Board of Ethics website.

Download the spreadsheet and click on the Grades tab to view the scorecard. Then, click on the name to view the candidate’s folder.

Jefferson-Parish-Anti-Corruption-Scorecard-Election-03-26-2022b
Download

Methodology

For consistency, the total scores were based on these three principles:

Campaign contributions issued (5 points)
Campaign contributions received (5 points)
Disclosures/conflicts of interest (5 points)

Only when they scored 15 for the whole package did they score 100 percent.

Campaigns are dynamic. We welcome your feedback. If you see a candidate’s position has changed, send us an email to info@motiontoquash.org with the new information.

Tracie Burke is Louisiana author of Motion to Quash. She can be reached at tracie@motiontoquash.org. Motion to Quash LLC promotes legislation that supports the American Anti-Corruption Act. Please Support journalism in the public interest by donating today. Click here to donate.

©Motion to Quash LLC Gretna, LA 70053

Statewide Anti Corruption Scorecards Nov. 2021

By Tracie Burke | Motion to Quash LLC | September 26, 2021

Integrity is a top issue facing Louisiana voters. Unfair business practices and long standing financial connections are breeding grounds for corruption. See how candidates score on integrity for the November 2021 Statewide/Multi-Parish Elections.

We based the candidate integrity scores on these three principles: Campaign Contributions Issued, Campaign Contributions Received, and Disclosures/Conflicts of Interest.

Click here to view the SCORECARD. You can download and print the complimentary spreadsheet. Click on the Grades Tab to view each Candidate’s folder.

METHODOLOGY

Candidates are graded on the number of critical issues for anti-corruption listed in the candidate scorecard, as divided into three overarching principles. We believe all of these issues are crucial for candidate integrity.

We assigned a total possible score of 5 for each principle. For the sake of consistency, we treat individual issues equally: calculating fewer of these critical issues gets candidates a higher score—and only when they score 15 for the whole package do they score 100 percent.

We compiled candidate information from their campaign websites, in interviews, or from public and private sources.

Campaigns are dynamic. We welcome your feedback—if you see a candidate’s position has changed, send us an email to info@motiontoquash.org with the new information.

Tracie Burke is Louisiana author of Motion to Quash. She can be reached at tracie@motiontoquash.org. Motion to Quash LLC promotes legislation that supports the American Anti-Corruption Act. Please Support journalism in the public interest by contributing today. Motion to Quash ISSN 2644-1594 is the copyrighted property of Motion to Quash LLC 2019 Click here to donate.

Statewide Multi-Parish Candidates- November 2021 Download

WE MADE HISTORY IN JULY!

By Tracie Burke | Motion to Quash LLC | August 22, 2021

I attended the National Whistleblower Center’s (NWC) National Whistleblower Day celebration. It was a masterclass celebration honoring the amazing contributions of whistleblowers and I’m so grateful I was recognized. It was a historic event.

Celebrating whistleblowers is not always fun, it takes determination and commitment to stand beside other whistleblowers against waste, fraud, and abuse. But after seeing the monumental support for us at this National Whistleblower Day, I know that we can stand up and speak truthfully.

Largest and Most Prestigious National Whistleblower Day Ever!

It was my privilege to represent Motion to Quash LLC on National Whistleblower Day and to help promote the event. While more than 1000 people RSVP’d for National Whistleblower Day this year, even more showed up to join the celebration! Our 2021 National Whistleblower Day celebration had nearly 10,000 people in attendance, celebrating whistleblowers. Together, we made history.

With Mistress of Ceremonies, Jan Turner, FBI Whistleblower, and more than 60 speakers making up the more than a dozen panels, this was the largest National Whistleblower Day event in history. Speakers, ranging from a wealth of whistleblowers like Kimberly Young McLear, Thomas Le Bonniec, and Allison Gill; to government leaders like Senator Charles Grassley, Secretary Marty Walsh, SEC Chair Gary Gensler, Representative Jackie Speier and Senator Tammy Duckworth; to whistleblower experts like Stephen Kohn, Taxpayers Against Fraud’s Jeb White, Project On Government Oversight’s Melissa Wasser, Whistleblower Summit and Film Festival Organizer Marcel Reid, and whistleblower attorney Mark Zaid; made the program the gem of the whistleblower community this year.

Motion to Quash LLC has received an outpouring of positive feedback and invites you to stay tuned for future events. Donate today to support more great events like National Whistleblower Day. We could not have done it without you!

WILL YOU HELP WHISTLEBLOWERS?

Motion to Quash LLC attended and promoted the most successful Whistleblower Day celebration to date. We were so thrilled to be able to celebrate whistleblowers and our contributions with a global audience of whistleblower advocates.

Please consider donating to Motion to Quash LLC to support future National Whistleblower Day celebrations and our work fighting on behalf of whistleblowers. Click the button below to support our efforts!

Your donations allow us to continue to advocate, educate, and assist whistleblowers, as well as celebrate our achievements.

Thank you for your support!

Celebrating Whistleblower Victories

In addition to our unprecedented success at National Whistleblower Day, many pieces of whistleblower protection legislation were introduced recently. Motion to Quash LLC supports and is following:

The recently reintroduced Congressional Whistleblower Protection Act of 2021, introduced by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) in the U.S. Senate, which, if adopted, would provide protections for federal employees, current and former, whose right to petition or furnish information to Congress is interfered with or denied. NWC, joined by POGO, TAF, and WoA, issued a letter of support for this bill on July 28. Motion to Quash LLC firmly supports this bill.

The Whistleblower Protection Improvement Act of 2021 (WPIA), introduced by a bipartisan group of Representatives led by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY). The critical reform bill would strengthen whistleblower protections for federal employees who expose wrongdoing, providing them greater legal recourses against retaliation including access to a jury trial. Motion to Quash LLC firmly supports this bill.

Finally, the IRS Whistleblower Program Improvement Act of 2021, introduced by Sens. Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), would ensure the integrity of our nation’s tax system by strengthening and improving the IRS Tax Whistleblower Program. NWC, joined by TAF, POGO, and GAP, issued a letter of support on June 16. Motion to Quash LLC firmly supports this bill.

Motion to Quash LLC thanks and recognizes the efforts of NWC, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, Sen. Charles Grassley, and Sen. Ron Wyden for introducing these important bills and their continued support for whistleblowers.

Tracie Burke is Louisiana author of Motion to Quash. She can be reached at tracie@motiontoquash.org. Motion to Quash LLC promotes legislation that supports the American Anti-Corruption Act. Please Support journalism in the public interest by contributing today. Motion to Quash ISSN 2644-1594 is the copyrighted property of Motion to Quash LLC 2019 Click here to donate.

Candidate Scorecard 7th Senatorial District

By Tracie Burke | Motion to Quash LLC | May 26, 2021

We based the candidate integrity scores on these three principles:

Campaign Contributions Issued
Campaign Contributions Received
Disclosures/Conflicts of Interest

Click here to view the SCORECARD. You can download and print the complimentary spreadsheet. Click on the grades tab to view each Candidate’s folder.

METHODOLOGY

We compiled candidate information from their campaign websites, in interviews, or from public and private sources.

Campaigns are dynamic. We welcome your feedback—if you see a candidate’s position has changed, send us an email to info@motiontoquash.org with the new information.

Louisiana State Senate District 7, Special Primary

June 12, 2021

Note: This Special Primary Election is an all-party primary, in which all candidates from each party compete to receive a majority vote. If no candidate receives 50% of the total votes cast, the top two vote recipients will advance to a Special General Election on July 10, 2021.

Early Voting for Primary Election- Friday, May 28, 2021 – Saturday, June 5, 2021

Primary Election Day- Saturday, June 12, 2021

General Runoff Date (if applicable)- Saturday, July 10, 2021

Important Links:

https://ballotpedia.org/Louisiana_State_Senate_District_7

https://senate.la.gov/

https://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/Pages/default.aspx/

Jefferson Parish Candidate Scorecard 03-20-2021

By Tracie Burke | Motion to Quash LLC | February 14, 2021

Integrity is a top issue facing Jefferson Parish voters. Unfair business practices and long standing financial connections are breeding grounds for corruption. See how candidates in Jefferson Parish score on integrity when it comes to corruption.

We based the candidate integrity scores on these three principles:

Campaign Contributions Issued
Campaign Contributions Received
Disclosures

Click here to view the SCORECARD. You can dowload and print the complimentary spreadsheet. Click on the grades tab to view each Candidate’s folder.

METHODOLOGY

We compiled candidate information from their campaign websites, in interviews, or from public and private resources.

Campaigns are dynamic. We welcome your feedback—if you see a candidate’s position has changed, send us an email to info@motiontoquash.org with the new information.

Tracie Burke is Louisiana author of Motion to Quash. She can be reached at tracie@motiontoquash.org. Motion to Quash LLC promotes legislature that supports the American Anti-Corruption Act. Please Support journalism in the public interest by contributing today. Motion to Quash ISSN 2644-1594 is the copyrighted property of Motion to Quash LLC 2019 Click here to donate.

JPSO Police Sexual Violence & PREA- graphic content warning

The law says there’s no such thing as consensual sex under the Prison Rape Elimination Act because of the power imbalance.

By: Tracie Burke | Motion to Quash LLC | November 18, 2020

The seal of secrecy of sexual misconduct by fellow police officers is a serious obstacle in controlling police sexual violence and achieving police accountability in Louisiana.

As more efforts to stem sexual abuse by members of law enforcement in Louisiana come to light, there are victims still seeking justice for the police sexual violence they suffered, specifically in Jefferson Parish.

Motion to Quash LLC obtained evidence that Sheriff Lopinto and District Attorney Paul Connick improperly investigated reports of police sexual violence that occurred, and continues to occur by law enforcement and employees of Jefferson Parish. “Some high ranking members in law enforcement across Louisiana are using hidden cameras during intercourse without the subjects knowledge, some while on duty. Then the officers share the videos with others,” according to the disclosure obtained by Motion to Quash LLC.

“Survivors of police sexual violence are the only survivors of sexual assault who have to report the assault to the people that committed it. That’s the main reason they’re not reported,” one victim told Motion to Quash LLC.

The Sheriff and the DA are reluctant to take reports or complaints of police sexual violence—often trying to dissuade victims from making them, and even wrongly categorizing reports of abuse in an attempt to diminish their severity and impact.

If that fails, Sheriff Lopinto, District Attorney Paul Connick and their officers, have been known to actively pursue a victim’s silence through direct threats and intimidation.

One victim in Jefferson Parish told Motion to Quash LLC that she was “given the run around” by internal affairs officers, who intimidated and discouraged her from making the report, and instead issued her a battered women’s broshure and instructed her to call the hotline on the broshure for support.

Motion to Quash LLC takes action against police sexual violence by helping victims in Jefferson Parish file lawsuits, but there are no civil provisions yet for the Prison Rape Elimination Act. Urge congress this session to pass a bill that allows civil provisions under PREA. Now is the time for action and we urge Congress to get an amendment passed that provides a civil remedy for victims of Police Sexual Violence in Louisiana.

Here is a copy of the victim’s lawsuit for damages. Warning, this content may be distressing for victims of sexual assault.

Plaintiff-V-Jefferson-Parish-Sheriff-Lopinto-DA-Paul-Connick-petition-for-damages

“On October 26, 2020, defendant [name redacted] an employee of the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office, sexually harassed the plaintiff via text message. Without warning or provocation, the defendant transmitted unsolicited photos of his own genitalia to the plaintiff. This hostile act by the defendant caused the plaintiff extreme emotional distress,” the lawsuit alledges

The law says there’s no such thing as consensual sex under the Prison Rape Elimination Act because of the power imbalance. Clearly, this situation demands pressing and serious attention, including passing bills promoting civil provisions for victims of the Prison Rape Elimination Act.

YOUR VOICE BE HEARD:

Advocate for Civil Provisions for the Prison Rape Elimination Act by sending a message to your Congress members, asking them to take concrete action to provide civil remedies for PREA victims in Louisiana.

WAYS TO CONTACT YOUR HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE:

Click Directory of House of Representatives to contact and send a message to your House Representatives using the contact information and forms provided through this link.

EMAIL OR SAMPLE LETTER FOR CONTACTING YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

You may copy and paste the letter below into the message field of any contact form or you may use it in the body of emails to your House Representatives. Be sure to enter the name of your representative at the start of the message, and include or sign your name at the end. Consider adding your own personal anecdote or observation to the messages you send.

Dear Member of Congress [Name]:

As your constituent, I am writing today to ask for your support of Civil Provisions for Victims of PREA. I am sure that every day you have a multitude of bills crossing your desk, but I ask you to pay specific attention to those pertaining to and affecting law enforcement that promotes civil provisions for PREA victims in Louisiana. While there have been efforts to provide remedies for victims of police sexual violence in criminal court, there are no provisions for victims of police sexual violence in civil court. Clearly, this situation demands pressing and serious attention, including passing bills promoting civil provisions for the Prison Rape Elimination Act. Now is the time for action and I urge you to get an amendment passed that provides a civil remedy for victims of Police Sexual Violence in Louisiana.

As a supporter of Motion to Quash LLC, a non-partisan online publication dedicated to advocating for civil remedies under PREA, and raising awareness of the Prison Rape Elimination Act, I urge you to protect the integrity of PREA by supporting legislation on its behalf this session.

I look forward to hearing from you regarding the positive steps you are taking to advance civil remedies for victims of police sexual violence in the immediate and long-term future.

Sincerely,

[Insert Your Name]

[District or State]

[Contact Information] (if you wish/want a reply)

Recognized by the National Whistleblower Center (NWC), Tracie Burke is Louisiana author of motiontoquash.org. She can be reached at tracie@motiontoquash.org. Motion to Quash LLC successfully promoted legislation that supports the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 and amendments to the Whistleblower Protection Act. Please Support journalism in the public interest by contributing today. Click here to donate Motion to Quash ISSN 2644-1594 is the copyrighted property of Motion to Quash LLC 2019. NWC’s mission is to support whistleblowers in their efforts to expose and help prosecute corruption and other wrongdoing around the world.

2020 Candidate Integrity SCORECARD- Justice of the Peace & Constable- Jefferson Parish

Tracie Burke | Motion to Quash LLC | October 23, 2020

Dear Members and Friends,

Integrity is a top issue facing Jefferson Parish voters. See how Justice of the Peace and Constable candidates in Jefferson Parish score on integrity when it comes to financial disclosures and campaign finance reports. Then ask the candidates to pledge to Join the Campaign for Judicial Integrity in Louisiana.

We based the candidates’ integrity scores on these three principles:

1. Campaign Contributions Issued

2. Campaign Contributions Received

3. Financial Disclosure Statements.

Click below to view the SCORECARDS. You can download the complimentary spreadsheet. Candidate review folders are available upon request to: info@motiontoquash.org.

2020-Candidate-Scoresheet-Jefferson-Parish-Justice-of-the-Peace-Const-1-2 Download

METHODOLOGY

We compiled candidate information from their campaign websites, in interviews, or from public and private resources.

Campaigns are dynamic. We welcome your feedback—if you see a candidate’s position has changed, send us an email at info@motiontoquash.org with the new information.

Tracie Burke is Louisiana Author of Motion to Quash. Her work focuses on providing education, information, and justice for women survivors of family violence in Louisiana. She can be reached at tracie@motiontoquash.org

Please Support journalism in the public interest by contributing today. Motion to Quash ISSN 2644-1594 is the copyrighted property of Motion to Quash LLC 2019

Click here to donate.

Judicial Candidate Integrity Score Card for Jefferson Parish

JUDICIAL CANDIDATE INTEGRITY SCORECARD FOR JEFFERSON PARISH

By Tracie Burke | Motion to Quash LLC | October 18, 2020

Integrity is a top issue facing Jefferson Parish voters. See how judicial candidates in Jefferson Parish score on integrity when it comes to campaign finance disclosures and campaign finance reports. Then ask the candidates to pledge to join the campaign for Judicial Integrity in Louisiana.

We based the Integrity score for candidates on these three principles:

1. Campaign Contributions Issued
2. Campaign Contributions Received
3. Financial Disclosure Statements

BRING INTEGRITY TO JEFFERSON PARISH

Stop the illegal payments and bring integrity to the judicial system in Jefferson Parish. Close the revolving door between judges and campaign finance abuse. Make judges in Jefferson Parish dependent on voters and provisions of law, instead of donors.

See how the candidates earned their marks.

Click on the Motion to Quash LLC banner below to view the integrity score cards

Click on the banner to view the integrity score cards