As a longtime staffer at the LSU Alumni Federation, Cliff Vannoy hears regularly from young alumni scattered to the office parks of Dallas or Atlanta: Find me a comparable job, and I’d be back in Baton Rouge like a shot. Vannoy’s observation is no surprise. No offense to our friends in Texas … Continue reading →

President Thomas Jefferson believed in science and reason. His heroes were Isaac Newton and Francis Bacon. Jefferson also believed in education based on science and reason: “I do most anxiously wish to see the highest degrees of education given to the highest degrees of genius, and to all degrees of … Continue reading →

I’ve never been a believer in “The End Times,” but have begun wondering if “evil” is now walking the Earth in the form of people in power deliberately hurting what Jesus called “the least among us,” just because they can. As a schoolyard bully takes a perverse delight in exerting his power over … Continue reading →

Cal Thomas’s column in the May 19 Advocate, titled “President Obama’s ‘other gospel,’ ” was quite revealing. Let’s get some introductions out of the way first: I’m a lifelong independent voter, Christian, heterosexual, married for 36 years. Thomas takes on President Barack Obama’s recent position on gay marriage by questioning Obama’s Christianity. That’s … Continue reading →

The people who police state ethics laws breathed a collective sigh of relief earlier this week when the Louisiana Senate sidelined a bill that had been zipping through the legislative process. The House-passed proposal would have excluded from the Louisiana Code of Governmental Ethics people whose public service is limited to certain professional services. Continue reading →

One of the U.S. Senate’s leading promoters of public charter schools is Mary Landrieu of Louisiana. “Despite the transformational impact of public charter schools, they are not a silver bullet,” Landrieu, a Democrat, nevertheless warned in The Times-Picayune. “To be successful, public charters must have strong oversight and talented, visionary leadership.” That is, we believe, … Continue reading →

Hundreds of passengers got a taste of Baton Rouge in the old-fashioned way Sunday, stepping off a steamboat onto the river city’s dock. It was the first visit since 2008 of the American Queen, a refurbished river steamer that is renewing the tradition of Mississippi River tours. With the Old State Capitol clearly visible from … Continue reading →

As a member and former president of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, I can tell you why we have “failing schools” in this parish: Board politics. No support for principals. Absolutely no support for teachers. We … Continue reading →

This is in regard to the front-page article in Tuesday morning’s Advocate, “Catholic groups sue over rule on contraceptives.” Forty-three Catholic groups, including the Catholic dioceses of Washington, D.C., and New York, and the University of Notre Dame, have filed lawsuits because of the federal administration’s infringement on our freedom of religion. The focus of … Continue reading →

In a letter to the editor published May 17, Joshua Ebey writes in defense of intelligent design. Ebey asserts the idea of intelligent design should be taught alongside evolution because science doesn’t have a definitive answer for the beginning of the universe or of life on Earth. And while Ebey is somewhat correct in both statements, … Continue reading →

June 1 is the first day of hurricane season, usually an important date on the calender for anyone who lives in south Louisiana. The date is also important for employees of the American Red Cross. Although Red Cross employees are crucial in emergency response before and after hurricanes, they … Continue reading →

With state colleges and public and private health-care providers taking the lead, the Senate Finance Committee has been hearing a litany of problems that will ensue from dramatic budget cuts proposed by the Louisiana House. While the House’s proposal threatens cuts to vital state services and institutions, it doesn’t solve the fundamental … Continue reading →

It’s time to put the debate about plans for a new downtown library to rest and move ahead with design and construction. Critics of the proposal for a new downtown library questioned the $19 million price tag. Supporters argued that outfitting the library with adequate technology, meeting rooms and parking space made … Continue reading →

A bill soon to be before the state House will pit one group of state retirees against another, such that, when one group gets a cost-of-living raise or permanent benefit increase, their increase will make it all the harder for the other group to ever get a permanent benefit increase. That bill is Senate Bill 740. … Continue reading →

Charles Allen’s letter of May 15 concerning the definition of marriage was right on target despite the objections of James Traynham (May 17) and Laura Acosta (May 18). Marriage always has been defined as a social institution for a social end: the nurturing and raising of children. The underlying principle of this definition … Continue reading →

Anaphylaxis is a severe and rapidly progressive fatal allergic reaction, leading to death due to multiple organ failure. This is a consequence of accidental ingestion of a food, such as peanuts; drugs such as ibuprofen or penicillin; and stings or bites by honeybees or fire ants. Anaphylaxis kills the allergic person in … Continue reading →

If you want to learn why Gov. Bobby Jindal had such an easy time passing his education bills, listen to a presentation from one of his principal opponents: Joyce Haynes, president of the Louisiana Association of Educators. It’s a passionate statement — her regard for hard-working teachers and genuine concern for students … Continue reading →

Politics being what it is, there’s no surprise that a state House committee rejected yet another proposed increase in student fees at state colleges. After all, tuition has been rising, and students and their families have been feeling the effects over the past four years. The problem is that the colleges had … Continue reading →

I want to congratulate The Advocate and Bob Anderson, in particular, for the incisive article about the Walker Master Plan. It was no surprise to learn “only 2.4 percent of Walker’s employed residents work in the city, combined with road and traffic problems, results in workers having high commute times.” What did they … Continue reading →

I am afraid, very afraid. I am afraid of all the people I talk to who don’t want to talk about politics. I am afraid of all those who delete any political emails. I am afraid of all the people who don’t know who holds what office or … Continue reading →

How and when cost-of-living adjustments are granted to retired state employees has long been an issue of concern for the Louisiana State Employees’ Retirement System. Our board continues to seek a legislatively established mechanism that will provide a dependable and fiscally responsible method of granting COLAs for our retirees. Current law ensures … Continue reading →

I attended the graduation exercises at the University of Louisiana at Monroe on Saturday morning. Charles R. Chaney, state representative, House District 19, gave the commencement address. In his opening remarks, he said that his address was directed to the “C” students. He cited several reasons as to why they may have … Continue reading →

The Ascension Parish school system has been dealing with the population growth in the parish by building new schools and renovating older campuses. In the 2007-08 school year, enrollment at the school system was 18,807, according to data provided by the school system. Five years later, the district has grown to 20,659 … Continue reading →

That the symbol of the House’s centrist caucus comes from Louisiana, the Blue Dog of George Rodrigue’s paintings, is not an accident. It was here that many of the moderate Democrats, exemplified by longtime House member and then Sen. John Breaux, promoted a less liberal party line than many of the northern and western Democrats in … Continue reading →

While Louisiana native Joshua Ledet’s big voice made him a fan favorite, he failed to make the finale show of “American Idol.” Still, the young singer from Westlake in Calcasieu Parish gained a ton of new fans around the country and particularly here in Louisiana. We commend him for his showing and think that Americans … Continue reading →

Efforts by the East Baton Rouge Parish school system to improve our schools were severely hampered by the secessions of Zachary, Baker and Central as money transferred out of the EBRPSS system while it retained old debt. The EBR school system had about $7 million in legacy costs (retiree health care, bond … Continue reading →

As the president/CEO of North Oaks Health System, I am writing to express my grave concern over the proposed state budget cuts to community hospitals and to urge your readers to ask their legislators to protect our funding. For many years, North Oaks Medical Center has cared for one of the highest Medicaid … Continue reading →

Is it worth the annual $50 million investment? Times are tight, belts are tightening, colleges and universities are laying off faculty and eliminating programs, yet our legislators and college administrators still allow more and more of our scarce funds to be used to offset losses in our college athletic departments. USA Today, in a recent article, … Continue reading →

If there is one bargain in the state budget, we think it’s the less than $2 million a year spent on an office targeting public corruption and fraud. It makes no sense for the Legislature to economize by eliminating the funding for the Office of Inspector-General in state government. The House of Representatives deleted the … Continue reading →

We were amused recently to glance at the front page of The New York Times Book Review and see that former President Bill Clinton had been commissioned to write the lead review. Clinton reviewed “The Passage of Power,” the latest installment of Robert Caro’s multivolume biography of Lyndon Johnson. Clinton loved the book, without reservation. … Continue reading →

In 2009, state Treasurer John N. Kennedy called for a cut of 5,000 state employees each year for three years. It was the cornerstone pledge of his agitation against the big spender in charge of state government - Gov. Bobby Jindal, as it happens. Now, 5,000 is a good round number. Perfect for the headlines. In the years since, reckless tax cuts … Continue reading →

The Greeks once ruled the Western world, but now can hardly rule themselves. And the disarray of the Greek economy has led many to compare, a trifle hysterically, America’s budget deficits with those that led Greece to economic catastrophe. Of course, significant differences remain between America and Greece. For one thing, even though it’s become … Continue reading →

Imagine my surprise when, in the 21st century, you allowed a mid-20th-century sexist characterization of children to be published in your paper. I was disappointed to read in the Smiley Anders column “Honorary Cajuns need love too,” published May 8. In it he quoted, apparently verbatim, a woman’s recounting of an event at … Continue reading →

The opposition has been squelched. The debate was short, and now it’s over. It’s the law. The bureaucrats are busy drafting regulations (which will be declared emergent). The insignificant exit soon will begin, and all those failing schools will be forgotten. The maligned teachers in the public schools will continue to perform admirably … Continue reading →

Thanks to Martin Hugh-Jones for raising the question about ordaining women in the Catholic church. Thousands of believers and not a few bishops who see parish churches closed for lack of priests ask the same question. We wonder why the church from Rome down to remote villages in any nation is dominated by celibate males. Continue reading →

I am greatly disturbed to learn the Department of Health and Hospitals plans to cut funding for cancer testing through the Louisiana Breast and Cervical Health Program, and to cut breast and cervical cancer treatment through Medicaid. Recent cuts to Louisiana’s state budget could increase the number of women who suffer and … Continue reading →

We find it less than coincidental that a movement to create a new breakaway school district in southeast Baton Rouge gained steam after members of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board engaged in petty bickering about the selection of an interim superintendent. We oppose the creation of such a district, but the political equation here seems pretty … Continue reading →

We’re glad the Public Affairs Research Council has updated its website to include a one-stop resource for information on Louisiana’s “sunshine laws,” which are meant to promote transparent government. The laws get their nickname from the idea that a strong light on government proceedings is necessary to ensure the public interest is being served. Louisiana’s two … Continue reading →

After North Carolina voted to ban gay marriage, comedian Lewis Black appeared on Piers Morgan’s CNN show to comment on the law. His interview was preceded by a video segment of one of his 1996 routines, during which he ridiculed the amount of effort being given then to banning gay marriage. Continue reading →

In his letter on May 15, Charles Allen argues that marriage serves one purpose, “to guarantee offspring some basic security against the outside world”. Marriage, he states, “was for the children.” I’ve heard this argument a lot lately from those against gay marriage, and frankly it has no merit. Would Allen and his … Continue reading →

The rape of higher education must stop now. We already have reached a point where it will take decades to recover from the damage done by the cuts of the past five years. To support further cuts is to quite literally rob our children and our children’s children of their future. … Continue reading →

The Soprano crime family would be proud of the way East Baton Rouge Parish handles sewer and garbage. The waste management company provides bad service. The company has as many reasons as there are days in the year why the garbage can’t be picked up. The Department of Public Works … Continue reading →

Southern University “whether by intent or design” is being dismantled. At least that’s the way Southern’s System President Ronald Mason Jr. sees it. Mason, of course, acknowledges that all of Louisiana’s public universities are hurting. The Legislature has cut $360 million from higher education in the past four years. And if the House Republicans manage to … Continue reading →

With the state in dire financial straits, surely it makes no sense to require drug tests on single mothers on welfare, at the state’s expense. But that’s the effect of a new version of an old bill, to drug-test welfare recipients. One in five would get mandatory drug-testing every year under House Bill 380 by Rep. … Continue reading →

We’re glad Old State Capitol officials are moving ahead with development of a master plan to guide the development of the four-acre site for future generations. The Old State Capitol’s grounds were last updated 72 years ago by the Works Progress Administration. Old State Capitol Director Mary Durusau said plans call for development of the Old … Continue reading →