caldwell, buddy ag

<div>flanked by landry! working with vitter, horner on epa email bs, why dumped?</div><div>
</div><div>see az noble/ koch</div><div>=</div><div>
</div><div>poor bastard never had a chance:</div><div>
</div><div><div></div><div>neg ads </div><div><a href="https://www.publicintegrity.org/2015/12/03/18903/where-do-ads-shaping-state-politics-come-increasingly-these-outside-players">https://www.publicintegrity.org/2015/12/03/18903/where-do-ads-shaping-state-politics-come-increasingly-these-outside-players</a></div><div>
</div><div>2015</div><div><p helvetica="Helvetica" neue="Neue" arial="Arial" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px" line-height="line-height" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 28px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;">Learn more about six other national groups playing in the 2015 races:<ul helvetica="Helvetica" neue="Neue" arial="Arial" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px" line-height="line-height" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 28px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 30px; border: 0px;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;">The Republican Attorneys General Association, a national organization looking to fill every attorney general seat with a Republican, spent $1.1 million on ads in Kentucky’s race. Its major donors over the past 13 years include the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, businessman Sheldon Adelson and the conservative Judicial Crisis Network. Democratic corporate attorney Andy Beshear beat out Republican Whitney Westerfield, despite the group’s support.</li></ul><ul helvetica="Helvetica" neue="Neue" arial="Arial" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px" line-height="line-height" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 28px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 30px; border: 0px;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;">The Republican State Leadership Committee, a tax-exempt group looking to fill state-level offices with Republicans, spent an estimated $988,000 on ads about the Pennsylvania Supreme Court race, losing all three races to Democrats. Its top donors include the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the conservative legal group American Justice Partnership and tobacco company Reynolds American.</li></ul><ul helvetica="Helvetica" neue="Neue" arial="Arial" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px" line-height="line-height" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 28px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 30px; border: 0px;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;">The Public Integrity Alliance, a nonprofit that can keep its donors hidden, entered the attorneys general races in Louisiana and Mississippi, spending an estimated $213,000 combined airing TV ads targeting Republican Buddy Caldwell and Democrat Jim Hood. Caldwell lost his race, while Hood won. This group based in Arizona played in the 2014 Arizona attorney general primary and expanded its efforts after unnamed activists asked for help, according to its president, Tyler Montague.</li></ul><ul helvetica="Helvetica" neue="Neue" arial="Arial" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px" line-height="line-height" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 28px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 30px; border: 0px;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;">The Center for Individual Freedom spent more than $748,000 on ads attacking Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell during his fight to hold his position. Caldwell lost to former U.S. Rep. Jeff Landry in an all-Republican runoff. Tobacco executives formed the Virginia-based nonprofit more than 15 years ago to combat government smoking restrictions. The nonprofit, which does not need to disclose its donors, has generally backed conservative candidates across the country, airing ads in the 2014 contests for Arkansas attorney general and Michigan Supreme Court.</li></ul><ul helvetica="Helvetica" neue="Neue" arial="Arial" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px" line-height="line-height" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 28px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 30px; border: 0px;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;">The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the lobbying arm of the animal rights protection group, supported Vitter in the Louisiana governor’s race by buying an estimated $116,000 worth of ads.</li></ul><ul helvetica="Helvetica" neue="Neue" arial="Arial" sans-serif="sans-serif" font-size="font-size" px="px" line-height="line-height" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 28px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 30px; border: 0px;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;">The Bluegrass Action Fund backed unsuccessful Republican Hal Heiner for the Kentucky governorship, spending an estimated $233,000 on campaign ads. About a third of its donations came from the nonprofit Citizens for a Sound Government based in Lakewood, Colorado, which does not disclose its donors. Its chairman is Alan Philp, the COO of Aegis Strategic, a group funded by David and Charles Koch.</li></ul></div><div>
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<div>cfact</div><div><p style="margin: 0px 0px 22px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 22px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">“Sue and Settle “ practices, sometimes referred to as “friendly lawsuits,” are cozy deals through which far-left radical environmental groups file lawsuits against federal agencies wherein court-ordered “consent decrees” are issued based upon a prearranged settlement agreement they collaboratively craft together in advance behind closed doors. Then, rather than allowing the entire process to play out, the agency being sued settles the lawsuit by agreeing to move forward with the requested action both they and the litigants want.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 22px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 22px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">And who pays for this litigation? All too often we taxpayers are put on the hook for legal fees of both colluding parties. According to a 2011 GAO report, this amounted to millions of dollars awarded to environmental organizations for EPA litigations between 1995 and 2010. Three “Big Green” groups received 41% of this payback, with Earthjustice accounting for 30% ($4,655,425). Two other organizations with histories of lobbying for regulations EPA wants while also receiving agency fundng are the American Lung Association (ALA) and the Sierra Club.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 22px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 22px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">In addition, the Department of Justice forked over at least $43 million of our money defending the EPA in court between 1998 and 2010. This didn’t include money spent by the EPA for its legal costs in connection with those ripoffs, because the EPA doesn’t keep track of its attorneys’ time on a case-by-case basis.<p style="margin: 0px 0px 22px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 22px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has concluded that Sue and Settle rulemaking is responsible for many of EPA’s “most controversial, economically significant regulations that have plagued the business community for the past few years.”  Included are regulations on power plants, refineries, mining operations, cement plants, chemical manufacturers, and a host of other industries. Such consent decree-based rulemaking enables EPA to argue to Congress: “The court made us do it.”<p style="margin: 0px 0px 22px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 22px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Directing special attention to these congressional end run practices, Louisiana Senator<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"> David Vitter, top Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, has launched an investigation. Last year he asked his Louisiana Attorney General<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"> Buddy Caldwell to join with AG’s of 13 other states who filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) seeking all correspondence between EPA and a list of 80 environmental, labor union, and public interest organizations that have been party to litigation since the start of the Obama Administration.- See more at: http://www.cfact.org/2014/01/29/epa-ban-on-wood-stoves-is-freezing-out-rural-america/#sthash.v7waWGFy.dpuf
<div>=<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/larrybell/2013/02/17/epas-secret-and-costly-sue-and-settle-collusion-with-environmental-organizations/">http://www.forbes.com/sites/larrybell/2013/02/17/epas-secret-and-costly-sue-and-settle-collusion-with-environmental-organizations/</a>bell bs"Sue and Settle “ practices, sometimes referred to as “friendly lawsuits”, are cozy deals through which far-left radical environmental groups file lawsuits against federal agencies wherein  court-ordered “consent decrees” are issued based upon a prearranged settlement agreement they collaboratively craft together in advance behind closed doors. Then, rather than allowing the entire process to play out, the agency being sued settles the lawsuit by agreeing to move forward with the requested action they and the litigants both want.In other words, the agency throws the case, somewhat like Bre’r Rabbit agreeing to be thrown into a favorite brier-patch. A big difference however, is that in this case, Farmer McGregor andMr. Rabbit were partners in the scam from the beginning. It’s the unwary American public that actually does get caught in the thorns.While the environmental group is given a seat at the table, outsiders who are most impacted are excluded, with no opportunity to object to the settlements. Accordingly, both the litigants and the defendant agency, operating in coffee bars and friendly courtroom shadows, avoid the harsh outside glare of oversight. No public notice about the settlement is released until the agreement is filed in court…after the damage has been done.On top of all that, we taxpayers, including those impacted regulatory victims, are put on the hook for legal fees of both colluding parties.<a href="http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Minority.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=20ba71b7-802a-23ad-4ca7-a06341934622" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(85, 85, 85); background: transparent;"> According to a 2011 GAO report</a>, this amounted to millions of dollars awarded to environmental organizations for EPA litigations between 1995 and 2010. Three “Big Green” groups received 41% of this payback: Earthjustice, $4,655,425 (30%); the Sierra Club, $966,687; and the Natural Resources Defense Council, $252,004. Most of this was paid to environmental attorneys in connection to lawsuits filed under the Clean Air Act, followed next by the Clean Water Act.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 161.65625px 21px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 27px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">In addition, the Department of Justice forked over at least $43 million of our money defending EPA in court between 1998 and 2010. This didn’t include money spent by EPA for their legal costs in connection with those rip-offs, since EPA doesn’t keep track of their attorney’s time on a case-by-case basis.While researching various broken government regulatory processes, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce discovered many new rulemakings and unreasonable permitting delays which appeared to have resulted from such consent decrees  in which the EPA agreed to bind itself to issue new regulations on a specific timetable; i.e., “We can tell Congress the court made us do it.”The Chamber concluded that such Sue and Settle rulemaking is responsible for many of EPA’s “most controversial, economically significant regulations that have plagued the business community for the past few years”. Included are regulations on power plants, refineries, mining operations, cement plants, chemical manufacturers, and a host of other industries. One of the most successful Sue and Settle strategies <a href="http://www.uschamber.com/sites/default/files/reports/1207_ETRA_HazeReport_lr.pdf" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(85, 85, 85); background: transparent;">they cited</a>“… has been on an issue few in <a href="http://www.forbes.com/places/dc/washington/" class="exit_trigger_set" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(85, 85, 85); background: transparent;">Washington</a> or around the nation are paying attention to: regional haze requirements under the Clean Air Act.”<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 161.65625px 21px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 27px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">The Chamber’s study author, William Yeatman, Assistant Director for <a href="http://www.forbes.com/energy/" class="exit_trigger_set" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(85, 85, 85); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Energy</a> and Environment at the Competitive <a href="http://www.forbes.com/enterprise/" class="exit_trigger_set" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(85, 85, 85); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Enterprise</a> Institute (CEI), emphasizes that EPA’s abuse of its Regional Haze authority forces states to relinquish their authority and accept EPA’s far more expensive plans, thereby increasing consumer utility charges. He concluded that: “… no state is immune from having its rightful Regional Haze authority trampled by EPA at profound costs for virtually nonexistent benefits.”Having conducted eight state case studies, Yeatman <a href="http://www.uschamber.com/press/releases/2012/july/us-chamber-report-reveals-epa%E2%80%99s-takeover-states%E2%80%99-regional-haze-programs-all" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(85, 85, 85); background: transparent;">found that</a>:<ul style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; line-height: 20px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 15px 161.65625px 15px 30px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">In <a href="http://www.forbes.com/places/az/" class="exit_trigger_set" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(85, 85, 85); background: transparent;">Arizona</a>, EPA’s Regional Haze regulation threatens to increase the cost of water, forcing the state to spend an additional $90.2 million per year to implement the federal regulation.</li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 15px 161.65625px 15px 30px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">In <a href="http://www.forbes.com/places/mt/" class="exit_trigger_set" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(85, 85, 85); background: transparent;">Montana</a>, EPA’s proposed Regional Haze controls are nearly 250% more expensive than what that agency’s standing rules presume to be “cost-effective” for compliance,</li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 15px 161.65625px 15px 30px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">In 2011, the EPA disregarded New Mexico’s Regional Haze plan, instead imposing a federal plan that requires nearly $840 million more in capital costs…potentially raising average annual household utility bills by $120.</li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 15px 161.65625px 15px 30px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Although North Dakota is one of only 12 states that achieves all of EPA’s air quality standards for public health, it would not be able to achieve EPA’s Regional Haze goals for visibility even by shutting down all industry. The EPA plan would also cost the state an additional $13 million per year,</li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 15px 161.65625px 15px 30px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Refusing to approve Oklahoma’s Regional Haze plan, the EPA’s plan would cost the state $282 million annually.</li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 15px 161.65625px 15px 30px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">In Wyoming, the EPA proposed a federal implementation plan that would cost almost $96 million per year more than the state’s plan.</li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 15px 161.65625px 15px 30px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">Minnesota is subject to back-to-back Regional Haze regulations, whereby EPA is claiming authority to regulate regional haze twice in succession at its Sherburne County generating plant.</li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 15px 161.65625px 15px 30px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">EPA’s proposed plan would cost Nebraska nearly $24 million per year to achieve invisible “benefits”.</li></ul><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 161.65625px 21px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 27px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Louisiana Senator David Vitter (R-LA), the new ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, <a href="http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=644862c0-f95a-e23f-b506-828fbd0cab86" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(85, 85, 85); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">plans to investigate this Sue and Settle practice</a>, “using all available tools to bring to light this often abused path to regulatory influence”. For starters, he asked his Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell to join with AGs of 13 other states who filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with EPA on August 10, 2012, asking for any and all correspondence between EPA and a list of 80 environmental, labor union and public interest organizations that have been party to litigation since the start of the Obama administration.Unfortunately, getting federal agencies to comply with formal FOIA requests isn’t proving to be easy. And to make matters worse, there is evidence that top bureaucrats have even used private e-mail accounts and aliases to cover culpability tracks.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 161.65625px 21px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 27px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">For example, Senator Vitter, along with Representative Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) who heads the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, recently sent a letter to James Martin, EPA’s Region 8 administrator, <a href="http://www.globalwarming.org/2013/02/05/sen-vitter-hits-the-ground-running/" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(85, 85, 85); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">warning him</a>: “The use of personal, non-official e-mail accounts raises concerns that you could be attempting to insulate this and other e-mail correspondence from a Freedom of Information Act request. Moreover, your actions may also constitute violation of the Federal Records Act”…evading congressional oversight of federal agencies.One of those private e-mails at issue involved an exchange between Martin and Vickie Patton, the General Counsel for the Environmental Defense Fund, regarding an arranged meeting with him. Patton wrote: “Hi Jim, Next Monday or Tuesday December 12/13 at 9am depending on which is best for you.” Responding, Martin replied: “January 13 at 9:00 am works for me if it works for you. (Lost your original note-is that the date and time you proposed?” Vitter and Issa have confirmed that the meeting did, in fact, take place at the EPA regional office.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 161.65625px 21px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 27px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Several Martin e-mails were released by EPA as the result of a FOIA lawsuit lodged by Christopher Horner of the Competitive Enterprise Institute. Horner’s efforts also revealed evidence that former EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson was conducting official agency business under cover of the alias name “Richard Windsor”, and CEI also sued EPA seeking   e-mails concerning the EPA’s behind-the-scenes regulatory war on coal plants. Horner’s new book, <em style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1451694881/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1451694881&linkCode=as2&tag=chrishorneron-20" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(85, 85, 85); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">The Liberal War on Transparency</a>, discusses this and other tricks.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 161.65625px 21px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 27px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Suspicions abound that the exposure of Jackson’s undercover communications had much to do with her departure decision shortly afterwards. Senator Vitter commented: “I think this e-mail issue clearly spurred Lisa Jackson’s resignation. But it’s much broader than her. It’s about a culture of hiding anextreme agenda from Americans because it can’t be sustained in public debate.”<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 161.65625px 21px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 27px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">CEI issued a statement that agreed with Vitter’s perspective, <a href="http://blog.nola.com/politics/print.html?entry=/2012/12/sen_vitter_thinks_lisa_jackson.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(85, 85, 85); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">commenting</a>: “We also believe the timing was no accident. She claims to have told President Obama shortly after his re-election she planned to leave in early 2013, but her announcement went public just days after the Justice Department agreed- as a result of a lawsuit filed by CEI- to begin producing 12,000 e-mails from her ‘Richard Windsor’ account.”<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 161.65625px 21px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 27px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">On January 28, 2013, on behalf of the American Tradition institute (ATI) Horner also sued in the Federal District Court of Washington, D.C. to compel EPA to end its eight-month stonewall of two FOIA requests regarding its “uncomfortably close ties at great taxpayer expense” with the American Lung Association (ALA), and the Sierra Club. Both of these organizations lobby for stringent regulatory legislation the EPA wants, while at the same time, receiving agency funding. ALA has received $20,405,655 from EPA over the past 10 years, and has run campaigns against politicians who challenge its policies. An ALA billboard ad in Michigan targeted House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, featuring a child with an oxygen mask over her face. The text read: “Rep. Fred Upton, protect our kids’ health. Don’t weaken the Clean Air Act.”<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 161.65625px 21px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 27px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">According to the ATI complaint, “The Sierra Club employs a similar model and has close working relationships with Agency officials.” This charge refers most particularly to a recent incidence where Sierra hired disgraced EPA Region 6 Administrator Al Armendariz. He left EPA shortly after a videotape revealed him acknowledging his “philosophy of enforcement” as being akin to random crucifixions used to keep subjects suitably respectful and “really easy to manage for the next few years.” Armendariz has pledged to continue to help Sierra (and, presumably, EPA) fight the coal industry.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 161.65625px 21px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 27px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Senator Vitter’s office has informed me that there are ongoing investigations regarding a known revolving door of environmentalists and agencies, as well as Equal Action to Justice Act recovery money flowing to these groups post-settlement. In other words, the litigating groups are getting paid to sue both at the front end and tail end as well. In an <a href="http://www.atinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/ATI-Sierra-ALA-Appeal-Ex-3.pdf" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(85, 85, 85); background: transparent;">affidavit</a>, ATI informed the court that one of the two specialists EPA assigned to handle the CEI’s FOIA requests <a href="http://washingtonexaminer.com/public-interest-group-sues-epa-for-foia-delays-claims-agency-ordered-officials-to-ignore-requests/article/2519881" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(85, 85, 85); background: transparent;">admitted</a> that a supervisor instructed her and a colleague to perform no work on them. Then: “Following this, EPA constructed a cul de sac of refusing to perform a search of responsive records until ATI agreed to pay estimated fees…which by law non-profits typically do not pay under FOIA…but which EPA then refused to provide.”Quite certainly, EPA is not the only federal agency to engage in secret Sue and Settle deals with crony environmental lobbying organizations. In a January letter to his Attorney General Buddy Caldwell, Senator Vitter wrote: “The collusion between federal bureaucrats and the organizations entering consent agreements under a shroud of secrecy represents the antithesis of a transparent government, and your participation in the FOIA request [filed by 13 other states’ AGs] will help Louisianans understand the process by which these settlements were reached.” Caldwell subsequently agreed to the Senator’s request.Vitter highlighted a recent example where the Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), under management of the Department of Interior, entered an agreement with the Center for Biological Diversity involving new rules for endangered species …a deal that could impact private property owners across the South who lack financial resources necessary to fight a legal challenge from that massive federal agency.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 161.65625px 21px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 27px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">In a massive 2011 settlement of a lawsuit filed by environmental groups, FWS promised to address more than 250 candidate species it had previously found warranting protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) but were precluded from listing due to a backlog. As part of a behind-closed-door agreement, USFWS also pledged to review hundreds more species proposed for listing. One of these is the “lesser prairie chicken”, a Sue and Settle determination which would thwart economic development and give Washington politicos power to control private lands in five states: New Mexico, Texas, Kansas, Colorado and Oklahoma.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 161.65625px 21px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 27px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">As New Mexico Congressman Steve Pearce said: “The Endangered Species Act is one of the most heavy-handed unbending laws we have…it gives bureaucrats the power to destroy entire economies with hardly a second thought.” Congressman Tim Huelskamp (R-KS) summed up concerns of his constituents, saying: “Amid historic drought in the Great Plains, the last thing we need is another federal agency intruding into the lives and private property rights of Americans. In this case, we are talking about a bird that is populous enough that we can still hunt them in Kansas. This is not about preservation of a species; it’s about federal control of private landowners and limiting the ability to develop and grow rural America. Bureaucrats are becoming an invasive species in America’s heartland.”Noting that this ESA-based Sue and Settle ruling presents a problem for private landowners throughout the country, Senator Vitter is also <a href="http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=644862c0-f95a-e23f-b506-828fbd0cab86" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(85, 85, 85); background: transparent;">encouraging the inclusion of USWFS </a>(which was not originally included) in the multi-state AG FOIA collusion investigation. Recognizing that the path forward towards obtaining disclosure will be difficult, Vitter added that he was: “Warily confident that both EPA and USFWS will shun all efforts to open the doors on these practices, the negotiations, and the communications between agency staff and outside groups regarding Sue and Settle agreements.”<div id="article_container_0_loge" class="loge_ad ad_initialized article_body_ad" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 10px 0px 30px 30px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; float: right; clear: right; line-height: 20px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><div id="google_ads_iframe/7175/fdc.forbes/article-new_3container" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0pt none; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;"></div></div><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 161.65625px 21px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 27px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Considering that our top law enforcement official, Attorney General Eric Holder, has been cited for Contempt of Congress in withholding requested communications regarding the DOJ’s own “Fast and Furious” debacle, there can be no lingering doubt that Senator Vitter’s unfortunate prediction will prove right. Sadly, and alarmingly, this all falls far short of what would logically be expected from that “most transparent administration in history” we were promised.</div><div></div><div>
</div><div><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell</a></div><div>
</div><div>James David Caldwell, Sr., or Buddy Caldwell (born May 20, 1946) is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party(United_States)" title="Republican Party (United States)" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Republican</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attorney_general" title="Attorney general" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">attorney general</a> of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S.state" title="U.S. state" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">U.S. state</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana" title="Louisiana" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Louisiana</a>.Prior to serving as attorney general, Caldwell was the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/District_attorney" title="District attorney" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">district attorney</a> for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madison_Parish" title="Madison Parish" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Madison</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Carroll_Parish" title="East Carroll Parish" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">East Carroll</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tensas_Parish" title="Tensas Parish" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Tensas</a> parishes from 1979 to 2008. Caldwell, who resides in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tallulah,Louisiana" title="Tallulah, Louisiana" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Tallulah</a>, the seat of Madison Parish, is also an entertainer, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guitarist" title="Guitarist" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">guitarist</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songwriter" title="Songwriter" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">songwriter</a> known for his impersonation of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvis_Presley" title="Elvis Presley" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Elvis Presley</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#cite_note-autogenerated2-2" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[2]</a> Early in 2011, Louisiana political commentator <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Crouere" title="Jeff Crouere" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Jeff Crouere</a> speculated that Caldwell, then a member of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party(United_States)" title="Democratic Party (United States)" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Democratic Party</a> was "considering a switch to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party(United_States)" title="Republican Party (United States)" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">GOP</a> to prevent a challenge this fall" as Democrats faced increased difficulty statewide.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#cite_note-3" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[3]</a> Caldwell ended up officially switching parties on February 2. 2011.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#cite_note-switch-4" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[4]</a> Caldwell was unopposed for a second term as attorney general in the<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonpartisan_blanket_primary" title="Nonpartisan blanket primary" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">nonpartisan blanket primary</a> held on October 22, 2011. With his switch of parties, Attorney-General Caldwell became the first Republican to hold the office of Louisiana Attorney General since the end of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconstruction_Era_of_the_United_States" title="Reconstruction Era of the United States" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Reconstruction</a>.<div id="toc" class="toc" style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 7px; display: table; zoom: 1; color: rgb(37, 37, 37); background-color: rgb(249, 249, 249);"><div id="toctitle" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center;"><h2 style="color: black; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border: none; display: inline; line-height: 1.3; background: none;">Contents</h2>  [<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#" id="togglelink" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">hide</a>] </div><ul style="line-height: 1.6; list-style-type: none; margin: 0.3em 0px; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none;"><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#Early_years.2C_family.2C_education" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">1 Early years, family, education</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-2" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#District_attorney" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">2 District attorney</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-3" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#Candidacy_for_attorney_general" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">3 Candidacy for attorney general</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-4" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#Personal_life" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">4 Personal life</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-5" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#Challenges_to_Caldwell.27s_record" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">5 Challenges to Caldwell's record</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-6" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#Caldwell_the_entertainer" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">6 Caldwell the entertainer</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-7" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#References" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">7 References</a></li></ul></div><h2 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); line-height: 1.3; background: none rgb(255, 255, 255);">Early years, family, education[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Buddy_Caldwell&action=edit&section=1&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: Early years, family, education" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">edit</a>]</h2>Caldwell was the fourth of seven children born to J.D. Caldwell (1910–1987), and the former Genevieve Minsky (1916–2001)<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#cite_note-5" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[5]</a> in tiny <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia,Louisiana" title="Columbia, Louisiana" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Columbia, Louisiana</a>, the seat of<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caldwell_Parish" title="Caldwell Parish" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Caldwell Parish</a>, and the home of former <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governor" title="Governor" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Governor</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McKeithen" title="John McKeithen" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">John McKeithen</a> and McKeithen's son, the late Louisiana Secretary of State <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W.Fox_McKeithen" title="W. Fox McKeithen" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">W. Fox McKeithen</a>, a Caldwell family friend. The Caldwells moved permanently to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rural" title="Rural" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">rural</a> Madison Parish in 1949. J.D. Caldwell obtained a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master%27s_degree" title="Master's degree" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">master's degree</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music" title="Music" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">music</a> from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_State_University" title="Louisiana State University" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Louisiana State University</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baton_Rouge" title="Baton Rouge" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Baton Rouge</a> and sang earlier with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Opera" title="Metropolitan Opera" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Metropolitan Opera</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City" title="New York City" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">New York City</a>. After moving to Tallulah, the senior Caldwell became a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farmer" title="Farmer" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">farmer</a> and clothing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merchant" title="Merchant" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">merchant</a>. Mrs. Caldwell, a registered<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nurse" title="Nurse" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">nurse</a>, held a degree from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touro_Infirmary" title="Touro Infirmary" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Touro Infirmary</a> of New Orleans. She was a public health nurse and later a Madison Parish school health nurse for thirty years.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#cite_note-autogenerated3-6" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[6]</a>Buddy Caldwell is not related to the late Louisiana Second Judicial District Court Judge <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_T.Caldwell" title="David T. Caldwell" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">David T. Caldwell</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonesboro,Louisiana" title="Jonesboro, Louisiana" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Jonesboro</a> or to that Judge Caldwell's son, James David "Jimmy" Caldwell (born ca. 1949), a practicing attorney in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shreveport,Louisiana" title="Shreveport, Louisiana" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Shreveport</a>.Caldwell graduated from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tallulah_High_School&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Tallulah High School (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(165, 88, 88); background: none;">Tallulah High School</a> in 1964. Caldwell lettered in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basketball" title="Basketball" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">basketball</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_football" title="American football" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">football</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Track_and_field" title="Track and field" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">track</a>. He worked in his mother's family <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_store" title="Drug store" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">drug store</a> during his teen years.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#cite_note-autogenerated3-6" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[6]</a> Caldwell also played semi-professional<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball" title="Baseball" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">baseball</a> in North Louisiana while he was still in high school, as did several other Louisiana politicians, including the late Education Superintendent <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Dodd" title="Bill Dodd" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Bill Dodd</a> and former <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_State_Legislature" title="Louisiana State Legislature" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">State Representatives</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lantz_Womack" title="Lantz Womack" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Lantz Womack</a> of<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnsboro,Louisiana" title="Winnsboro, Louisiana" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Winnsboro</a>, the seat of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_Parish" title="Franklin Parish" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Franklin Parish</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L.D.%22Buddy%22_Napper" title="L.D. " buddy="Buddy" napper="Napper" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">L.D. "Buddy" Napper</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruston,Louisiana" title="Ruston, Louisiana" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Ruston</a>, the seat of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Parish,Louisiana" title="Lincoln Parish, Louisiana" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Lincoln Parish</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#cite_note-7" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[7]</a>Caldwell earned his <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bachelor_of_Arts" title="Bachelor of Arts" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Bachelor of Arts</a> degree in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychology" title="Psychology" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">psychology</a>, with a minor in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History" title="History" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">history</a>, from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulane_University" title="Tulane University" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Tulane University</a> in New Orleans, where he played football and ran track. In 1973, he received his law degree from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulane_University_Law_School" title="Tulane University Law School" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Tulane University Law School</a> and thereafter established his solo law practice in Tallulah, which he maintained until becoming district attorney six years later.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#cite_note-autogenerated3-6" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[6]</a><h2 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); line-height: 1.3; background: none rgb(255, 255, 255);">District attorney[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Buddy_Caldwell&action=edit&section=2&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: District attorney" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">edit</a>]</h2>Caldwell was first elected district attorney of the small Sixth Judicial District on September 16, 1978, when he was thirty-two. On January 1, 1979, Caldwell assumed the DA office. The 6th District encompasses Madison,<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Carroll_Parish,Louisiana" title="East Carroll Parish, Louisiana" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">East Carroll</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tensas_Parish,Louisiana" title="Tensas Parish, Louisiana" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Tensas</a> parishes. The office is located in Tallulah. From 1983 to 1996, Caldwell served on the board of directors of the Louisiana District Attorney's Association. While district attorney, he personally tried<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felony" title="Felony" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">felony</a> cases. Suspects rarely won acquittal when Caldwell was the prosecutor. Critics, however, note that Caldwell maintained a high conviction rate by not prosecuting the "hard" cases, those for which conviction would have been difficult to obtain. Caldwell also claimed the highest per capita collection rate for back <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_support" title="Child support" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">child support</a> in the state.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#cite_note-autogenerated3-6" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[6]</a>The three-parish district, the most northeastern in the state, is heavily Democratic and includes a high concentration of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_American" title="African American" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">African American</a> voters. On his website, Caldwell contended that he established "positive working relationships throughout Louisiana with Sheriffs, other District Attorneys, Mayors, Parish and Town Councils, School Boards, Justices of the Peace, Constables, and other local officials. I also have experience working with federal agencies like the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Justice_Department" title="United States Justice Department" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">United States Justice Department</a>, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Bureau_of_Investigation" title="Federal Bureau of Investigation" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Federal Bureau of Investigation</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_Enforcement_Administration" title="Drug Enforcement Administration" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Drug Enforcement Administration</a>, and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bureau_of_Alcohol,Tobacco,and_Firearms" title="Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms</a>."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#cite_note-8" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[8]</a>Caldwell won his third term as district attorney in 1990, when in a low-turnout election he defeated fellow Democrat Samuel Thomas, 6,711 (61 percent) to 4,277 (39 percent).<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#cite_note-9" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[9]</a> He was unopposed in 1996. Caldwell secured a fifth term in 2002, when he defeated fellow Democrat Raymond "Ray" Cannon, 4,987 (56 percent) to 3,931 (44 percent) in another low-turnout election.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#cite_note-10" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[10]</a>While District Attorney for multiple parishes, Caldwell repeatedly refused to investigate and indict family members. In repeated audit findings from the Louisiana Board of Ethics and Legislative Auditors, Carolyn and Ray Caldwell, as well as their children, other family members, and friends, were discovered to be inappropriately profiting from Madison's Office of Clerk of Court finances.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#cite_note-11" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[11]</a> When he became attorney general, Caldwell appointed his first assistant DA in the 6th District, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_E.Paxton" title="James E. Paxton" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">James E. Paxton</a>, a native of Madison Parish who resides in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St.Joseph,Louisiana" title="St. Joseph, Louisiana" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">St. Joseph</a> in Tensas Parish, as his successor as district attorney.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#cite_note-12" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[12]</a><h2 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); line-height: 1.3; background: none rgb(255, 255, 255);">Candidacy for attorney general[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Buddy_Caldwell&action=edit&section=3&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: Candidacy for attorney general" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">edit</a>]</h2>In 2007, Caldwell ran for attorney general against the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incumbent" title="Incumbent" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">incumbent</a>, fellow Democrat <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Foti" title="Charles Foti" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Charles F. Foti, Jr.</a>, of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Orleans" title="New Orleans" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">New Orleans</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party(United_States)" title="Republican Party (United States)" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Republican</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Alexander" title="Royal Alexander" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Royal Alexander</a>, an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawyer" title="Lawyer" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">attorney</a> from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shreveport" title="Shreveport" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Shreveport</a> and a former congressional aide to<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S.Representative" title="U.S. Representative" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">U.S. Representative</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodney_Alexander" title="Rodney Alexander" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Rodney Alexander</a> (no relation) of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackson_Parish" title="Jackson Parish" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Jackson Parish</a>. Caldwell secured high-profile endorsements from the Louisiana <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheriff" title="Sheriff" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Sheriffs</a>' Association and the Louisiana Federation of Teachers, two longtime Democratic-leaning <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interest_group" title="Interest group" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-color: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">interest groups</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#cite_note-13" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[13]</a> Most of the state's newspapers, including the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Times(Shreveport)" title="The Times (Shreveport)" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Shreveport Times</a> in Alexander's hometown, endorsed Caldwell. Foti, a former <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orleans_Parish" title="Orleans Parish" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Orleans Parish</a> criminal sheriff, had lost favor with voters over controversies involving the prosecution of medical professionals in the aftermath of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Katrina" title="Hurricane Katrina" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Hurricane Katrina</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#cite_note-14" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[14]</a>Shortly before the three-candidate primary for attorney general on October 20, 2007, it was revealed that Caldwell's son, James "David" Caldwell, Jr., was employed by former Attorney General Foti. Caldwell was himself a Foti supporter in the 2003 election.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#cite_note-autogenerated2-2" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[2]</a> Nevertheless, Caldwell led the primary with 434,507 votes (36 percent). Alexander ran second with 395,498 (32 percent). Foti polled 389,300 votes (also 32 percent) but trailed Alexander and was hence eliminated from the general election competition.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#cite_note-15" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[15]</a>In the general election, Caldwell defeated Alexander by a 2-1 margin. Caldwell received 477,574 votes (67 percent) to Alexander's 239,485 (33 percent).<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#cite_note-16" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[16]</a> Just hours prior to the general election, Alexander had filed and then withdrew from a suit against Caldwell on grounds that the Democrat had "lied" about Alexander in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television" title="Television" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">television</a> advertising. Alexander said that he had to drop the suit because Louisiana law permits lying as a form of free expression in political campaigns.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#cite_note-17" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[17]</a>If Caldwell seeks a third term in office in the fall of 2015, he will face an intraparty challenge from former <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S.Representative" title="U.S. Representative" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">U.S. Representative</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Landry" title="Jeff Landry" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Jeff Landry</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana%27s_3rd_congressional_district" title="Louisiana's 3rd congressional district" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Louisiana's 3rd congressional district</a>, who was defeated after one term by fellow Republican <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Boustany" title="Charles Boustany" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Charles Boustany</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#cite_note-18" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[18]</a><h2 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); line-height: 1.3; background: none rgb(255, 255, 255);">Personal life[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Buddy_Caldwell&action=edit&section=4&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: Personal life" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">edit</a>]</h2>Caldwell and his third wife, Pat M. Caldwell, have a combined seven grown children and six grandchildren.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#cite_note-autogenerated3-6" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[6]</a> In December 1994, Caldwell married for the second time in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Vegas,Nevada" title="Las Vegas, Nevada" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Las Vegas</a>. A few months later, he was served with divorce papers by his new wife. Four days after that, she was terminated as the "confidential assistant" to Louisiana Secretary of State Fox McKeithen. Caldwell testified that he arranged for his second wife's hiring with the help of an employee of the attorney general's office, which in other states could be known as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepotism" title="Nepotism" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">nepotism</a>. "I've known Fox ever since we were children," Caldwell said. The second Mrs. Caldwell testified that McKeithen called her into his office on May 12, 1995, and they discussed her divorce case: "I was terminated from my job. I was upset. I was crying. I have a child to support. I could not survive without a job."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#cite_note-19" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[19]</a> Amid the divorce proceedings, Caldwell dropped a bid for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lieutenant_governor" title="Lieutenant governor" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">lieutenant governor</a> that year on the grounds that his position as district attorney would not allow him time to campaign. The lieutenant governorship was instead won by eventual Louisiana Governor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathleen_Babineaux_Blanco" title="Kathleen Babineaux Blanco" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Kathleen Babineaux Blanco</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lafayette,Louisiana" title="Lafayette, Louisiana" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Lafayette</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#cite_note-20" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[20]</a>Caldwell is one of two statewide elected officials in Louisiana who are Jewish.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#cite_note-21" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[21]</a> The other is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Dardenne" title="Jay Dardenne" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Jay Dardenne</a>, the current Lieutenant Governor and former Secretary of State and state senator from Baton Rouge who is a candidate for governor in 2015.<h2 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); line-height: 1.3; background: none rgb(255, 255, 255);">Challenges to Caldwell's record[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Buddy_Caldwell&action=edit&section=5&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: Challenges to Caldwell's record" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">edit</a>]</h2>Former Legislative Auditor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Kyle" title="Dan Kyle" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Dan Kyle</a> of Baton Rouge, an unsuccessful Republican candidate for insurance commissioner in 2003, was a leading critic of Caldwell's attorney general candidacy. Kyle reported that in 1997 Caldwell "spent $1,529 in D.A. office funds to pay for personal items, including clothing and golfing expenses."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#cite_note-autogenerated1-22" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[22]</a> The expenses included air fare to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montana" title="Montana" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Montana</a> and golf fees in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama" title="Alabama" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Alabama</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#cite_note-23" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[23]</a>According to The Advocate, Kyle claimed that Caldwell tried "to quash release of parts of the audit... and used foul language and threats in an unsuccessful attempt to block the audit." Then, Kyle accused Caldwell of having blamed his own secretary for the questionable spending: "Caldwell also said the spending problem in the 1997 audit was a mistake by his secretary, adding that he personally brought it to the auditor's attention."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#cite_note-24" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[24]</a> In Committee Room 3, during a Legislation probe, Caldwell was testified against by the auditor who stated that Caldwell said, "Some very racist remarks, because the police jury we were issuing the audit on were all minorities, he told me I just needed a white man to issue an audit on. I said 'no' the findings are the same. You've done the same thing these people have done and justice is justice. And, I have to issue both reports. And, if you'll look at them, they both have the same data on them." The auditor stated that he was later told Mr. Caldwell "is a loose cannon... out to get you. He is dangerous. You need protection."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#cite_note-25" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[25]</a>Three years later, Caldwell accused Kyle's investigators of "an array of questionable activities ranging from improperly bugging conversations to having sex with witnesses in audit investigations" in testimony before the Legislative Audit Advisory Council. Caldwell "told the council... that state auditors working in north Louisiana had suppressed evidence, secretly tape-recorded interviews with witnesses, and compromised the credibility of witnesses in possible criminal investigations. Caldwell later told reporters he also knew of instances of an auditor in Kyle's office having sexual relations with people being audited." Caldwell gave no details, according to Kyle.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#cite_note-autogenerated1-22" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[22]</a>Caldwell <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subpoena" title="Subpoena" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">subpoenaed</a> two of Kyle's investigators before a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_jury" title="Grand jury" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">grand jury</a> in Tallulah. Kyle later claimed that Caldwell was trying to indict Kyle or the investigators. According to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Orleans_Times-Picayune" title="New Orleans Times-Picayune" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">New Orleans Times-Picayune</a>, Caldwell said after the Legislative Audit Advisory Council meeting that he "might reopen a grand jury investigation of Kyle's office."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#cite_note-26" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[26]</a>Caldwell also came under fire for his role as a self-appointed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_prosecutor" title="Special prosecutor" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">special prosecutor</a> in a case against <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Tammany_Parish" title="St. Tammany Parish" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">St. Tammany Parish</a> Judge Patricia Hedges. He filed charges of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extortion" title="Extortion" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">extortion</a>, public <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bribery" title="Bribery" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">bribery</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malfeasance" title="Malfeasance" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">malfeasance</a> against the judge, only to drop all claims without explanation on the premise that he could not have won a conviction without a jury trial.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#cite_note-27" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[27]</a><h2 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); line-height: 1.3; background: none rgb(255, 255, 255);">Caldwell the entertainer[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Buddy_Caldwell&action=edit&section=6&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: Caldwell the entertainer" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">edit</a>]</h2>As an entertainer and singer, Caldwell has performed before state, regional, and national groups, particularly teachers, coaches, and school administrators in the southeastern United States. He has also entertained Commissioners of Agriculture, Clerks of Court, fellow District Attorneys, Justices of the Peace, the Louisiana <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_Jury" title="Police Jury" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Police Jury</a> Association, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relay_for_Life" title="Relay for Life" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">Relay for Life</a>, and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Way_of_America" title="United Way of America" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background: none;">United Way</a>. Like his father, he can also sing opera.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Caldwell#cite_note-28" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); white-space: nowrap; background: none;">[28]</a></div><div>
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