Leger's razor

Not sure why he feels like we need to go all the way up to Grover Norquist to find someone to blame.

State Rep. Walt Leger III, D-New Orleans, blames Grover Norquist. Norquist leads Americans for Tax Reform, a politically powerful organization that opposes tax increases. Gov. Bobby Jindal is a disciple. New Orleans, on the other hand, is a Democratic stronghold.

“They’re taxes. We live in a state where many members of this Legislature have signed pledges not to raise taxes, ever,” Leger said.

But the very same article points out that other cities in the state have gotten local tax increases through the legislature this session. Why not just blame Steve Perry? He's right there.

Stephen Perry, CEO of the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau, said Landrieu must have turned a blind eye to the shark fins in the water, particularly when it came to the hotel tax.

The night before the deadline to file bills, Landrieu summoned Perry, Audubon Nature Institute CEO Ron Forman and Mercedes-Benz Superdome boss Doug Thornton to his office. The mayor laid out his legislative agenda, revealing that — among other things — he wanted to bring in $18 million by increasing tourists’ hotel room taxes.

For two hours, the meeting unfolded before ending with niceties. Perry offered to help on everything but the hotel tax, then waited to see if the mayor would take his advice.