Even as a bipartisan majority in the state House celebrates its renovation to the budget proposal of Gov. Bobby Jindal, the spotlight moves to the Senate, where a new phase of budget deliberations begins. If history is any guide, the Senate will consult with the governor on changes to the House-passed product. But the significance of … Continue reading →

In a state with high levels of illiteracy, promoting reading is especially important. That’s why we welcome the approach of summer reading programs in public libraries across south Louisiana, thanks to the support of the State Library of Louisiana. The State Library, which sets the theme for each year’s program and provides support to library systems … Continue reading →

Oil City, home to just 1,000 souls, is in the middle of nowhere — Caddo Parish, to be precise — but life there is far from uneventful. As many as 25 wild hogs might show up at any time and start rooting around. It wouldn’t do much good … Continue reading →

In politics, if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. That is a lesson both for Gov. Bobby Jindal, and for those who push him to expand Medicaid insurance for people in need in Louisiana. The Legislative Fiscal Office suggested that taking the federal aid that would expand health care would be a … Continue reading →

Did you know that Sheree Harris won a red 2013 Chevy Camaro on Wednesday? Probably not. You probably don’t know Sheree Harris. But, I wanted to know more about Harris because she is one of the bazillion people who win stuff — and I never do. … Continue reading →

Legislators have repeatedly approached the Louisiana Hospital Association and member hospitals with requests to generate creative solutions to help with the Medicaid crisis. To that end, the association, which represents hospitals across the state, has been examining what other states are doing successfully in this area. After much … Continue reading →

I’m jumping on the ferry on the way to Algiers. Why? Well, I ride a bike and, without using a cab or bus (expensive and unreliable), I can’t get across the Great Mississippi River. It’s a matter of equal access to provide to all people … Continue reading →

Having failed twice before, Rep. Frank Hoffmann, R-West Monroe, is promoting another stealth creationist bill, House Bill 116, which “provides relative to textbooks and other instructional materials for [public] elementary and secondary schools.”When Rep. Gene Reynolds, D-Dubberly, expressed concern that HB116 could permit adoption of … Continue reading →

On May 10, as members of the Louisiana House of Representatives worked to pass a nearly $25 billion compromise plan for funding health care, higher education and other public services, Gov. Bobby Jindal was spending part of the day in New Hampshire raising money to elect Republican candidates to the New Hampshire state Senate. Perhaps not … Continue reading →

We welcome the visit to New Orleans by the Dalai Lama, the revered religious leader of many Buddhists around the world.
He is perhaps the most high-profile religious leader to visit Louisiana since the late John Paul II visited New Orleans in 1987. The Dalai Lama’s visit, like the visit by the legendary pontiff … Continue reading →

The best thing that opponents of a new school district in southeast Baton Rouge have going for them is that backers still have hurdles to clear. First and foremost is the requirement that part of the package has to gain two-thirds support in both chambers of the Legislature, which is 70 votes in the House. Continue reading →

Edward Pratt’s column “Scary drift ends texting on highway,” May 9 was a great lesson for those who think texting while driving is safe or, as Pratt wrote, “It won’t happen to me.” Each year, hundreds of people are injured in accidents caused by … Continue reading →

I just could not believe Tuesday’s headlines in the New Orleans edition, James Gill hired by The Advocate. We have a Benghazi crisis, an IRS crisis, The Associated Press being spied upon by the Justice Department, and Kermit Gosnell, the abortion doctor, found guilty of murder, and you choose to ignore all of this as … Continue reading →

Upon opening my paper Tuesday, I was genuinely astonished that the front-page article covering the House committee hearing on gestational surrogacy (SB 162) failed to report anything about the medical testimony presented. Anyone not at the hearing would not even know that there are medical issues in surrogacy important both to the woman … Continue reading →

Democrats were cock-a-hoop because U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu’s chances of re-election got a boost when she came out against putting deadly weapons in the hand of criminals and lunatics. Polls showed that the vast majority of Louisiana voters applauded her common sense. But wait. The Republicans are celebrating because pinkos who try to emasculate … Continue reading →

As a newspaper, we have an obvious and direct interest in freedom of expression, and that makes us especially concerned about the federal government’s recent overreach on two fronts. The Internal Revenue Service, which is responsible for ensuring that nonprofits don’t violate their tax-exempt status by sponsoring political advertising, has admitted that it singled out … Continue reading →

I was working the night shift out of Narcotics when the call comes in. It’s the chief, calling about a 966. A “966” is cop lingo for illegal drugs — the bad stuff. “At OPP,” the chief says. “So the guy’s already in custody,” I reply. “You could say that,” he answers. Continue reading →

Gov. Bobby Jindal proclaiming May 8 as Employee Recognition Day is like Americans proclaiming Thanksgiving as “Turkey Day.” In appreciation, both state employees and turkeys get the ax. Jindal repeatedly rationalizes the LSU Hospital System employee layoffs with the notion that the laid-off employees will be absorbed into the private sector. He clearly chooses to … Continue reading →

The Original Big 7 Social Aid and Pleasure Club community is deeply saddened by the mass shooting that took place during our annual Mother’s Day Parade. Our hearts and prayers go out to all of the victims of this tragedy and their families. We are with you in your struggle for health, wellness and justice. … Continue reading →

Although Benjamin Clapper (director of Louisiana Right to Life) succeeded in making sensationalist claims in his May 7 letter to the editor, he failed to disprove that Planned Parenthood is good for women, good for families and good for New Orleans, So, let’s address his arguments: The thesis of his letter seems … Continue reading →

If lawmakers are weary of the five years of budget crises under Gov. Bobby Jindal,there is a danger in overreacting to them. A faction of House Republicans dubbed the “fiscal hawks” is pushing a set of bills that would make significant changes in the budget process. Other members are also chipping in with proposals to add … Continue reading →

Regrettably, a legislative committee has shelved a sensible and progressive measure that would have prohibited discrimination against gay and lesbian state workers. The bill by Rep. Austin Badon, D-New Orleans, was shelved by a 6-3 vote of the House and Governmental Affairs Committee. As Badon and gay-rights activists told the committee, discrimination is alive … Continue reading →

Given the risks police officers face each day, would you be willing to patrol the streets of the Capital City for no pay? Dozens of volunteers did just this for many years — serving for several hours a month and standing by for special events and emergencies — before the Baton Rouge … Continue reading →

Stymied for years by a tight federal budget, Congress is poised to pass a new water resources development bill with big money for favored projects and, for the first time, some very odd provisions as well. Sold by our delegation that these projects have been stymied by environmental delays the bill places the Army Corps … Continue reading →

Friday night, thousands of LSU baseball fans will be reaching for hankies and sniveling as we will witness a most-historic event: the naming of Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field. As we all anticipate the significance of the occasion of the dedication of the baseball field on that night, in honor of this quite … Continue reading →

Right now, the Louisiana Legislature is considering legislation to force Gov. Bobby Jindal to accept the Medicaid expansion portion of Obamacare — and some Republican legislators are supporting it. While I may not agree with our governor 100 percent of the time, Gov. Jindal is 100 percent right in rejecting the expansion. Over time, … Continue reading →

In firing shots into a New Orleans parade on Mother’s Day, gunmen attacked the city’s soul. There is no more abiding tradition in the Crescent City than a parade. Those who sent bullets into a second-line parade in the city’s 7th Ward assaulted not only those who were directly injured and terrorized by … Continue reading →

One of the hardest things to get across in government is the necessity of following the rules. It does not help when veterans of the political process express contempt for the rules, the latest case involving constitutional rules intended to limit state borrowing. “Every time someone tries to do something that is good, they get afraid,” … Continue reading →

“Cassidy opens new clinic” blares the headline (Advocate May 5), by Jordan Blum, atop Page 1B; but does he really? Read on. Scrutinizing this press release masquerading as news suggests (but never actually tells us) that Dr. Cassidy is continuing to serve the same former Earl K. Long clinic population, now in a … Continue reading →

I’m a fan of LSU baseball and have been for years. When I can’t attend or the game is away, I always try to view it on the Internet or TV if it is televised, and for that reason, I subscribe to several different services, and usually I consider the money well-spent. This placid pleasure has … Continue reading →

I would like to comment on Sen.Conrad Appel’s legislation on “getting young children ready for for kindergarten” There is a National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) that has been setting such standards for over 50 years and we, as a society, should look to them and their standards before we begin … Continue reading →

The day after having a pacemaker inserted, I was feeling OK. Although I didn’t rest well during the night. But I was taken aback by a story in The Advocate, regarding another attempt by Rolfe McCollister and company to convert City Park’s golf course. And to think I once voted for the guy for mayor! Continue reading →

The new J-turns nearly finished at La. 42 and Airline Highway in Prairieville have not been received well so far by some drivers. The turns are a kind of U-turn that replace the left-turn movements at La. 42 and Airline to improve safety and traffic flow. The complaints are … Continue reading →

Continuing challenges with the state budget mean that funding for basic social services is deeply strained, and that reality doesn’t seem likely to change anytime soon. Those most vulnerable to state budget cuts for social services include many of Louisiana’s children, and neglecting their needs could harm this state for generations. That’s why state and … Continue reading →

At last, with stronger job growth in April and continued development of new energy resources, the American economy is showing signs of a stronger recovery. If the recovery still does not provide an explosive level of job growth, and too many remain out of work, the positive signals are welcome: Payrolls were up by 165,000 jobs … Continue reading →

This week is expected to represent a big week for south Louisiana in the Senate, with votes anticipated on fixes and funding to the National Flood Insurance Program and to waterway infrastructure and flood protection. Up for consideration is the proposed Water Resources Development Act by Sens. David Vitter, R-La., and Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., that intends … Continue reading →

Gov. Bobby Jindal somehow was claiming a victory and telling parents not to worry after the Louisiana Supreme Court, in a 6-1 vote, rejected his administration’s legal arguments and declared the financing of his voucher program unconstitutional. “I would tell those moms that they can breathe a deep sigh of relief,” the governor said. “Obviously … Continue reading →

I just got home from a delightful day of golf at the lovely old City Park Golf Course. I usually play with a group of old geezers like myself. We rarely score well at Santa Maria or Beaver Creek, relying instead on the shorter and friendlier City … Continue reading →

Concerning Rolfe McCollister’s petition to open City Parck to all residents of Baton Rouge: I signed the petition. I just moved back to Baton Rouge after living in the San Francisco area for five years. One of the aspects of living there that I loved the most was the incredible park system, hundreds … Continue reading →

Regarding the ruling last week by the Louisiana Supreme Court about Gov. Bobby Jindal’s school voucher program, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, the nation’s largest umbrella Orthodox Jewish organization, is disappointed by the court’s finding the program to violate the state’s constitution. While the state Supreme Court rejected the voucher program’s funding … Continue reading →

The Southern University family has lost one of the best players to set foot on the ‘Bluff. Former basketball player Andrew “Blue” Frazier died last Tuesday in his hometown of Tampa, Fla. Frazier played under the late Coach Carl E. Stewart in the early ’70s. He was a leader on a … Continue reading →

There’s so much controversy about whether or not we should keep the traffic cameras in Baton Rouge. I would venture to guess that those who want them removed have had to pay a fine. I, though, am so grateful that I don’t have to watch three or four cars race in front of my car … Continue reading →

In south Louisiana, we must tread lightly in praising Alabama football legends, but this Mother’s Day, we’d like to offer a few words in honor of the late Bear Bryant, legendary football coach at the University of Alabama for many years. Bryant, who died in 1983, is worth remembering this Mother’s Day for a TV commercial … Continue reading →

Sports analogies can be overdone, but Lou Brock probably made diabetes a little easier to understand when he compared his struggles with the disease to his experiences on the baseball diamond. Brock, a former Louisiana resident and a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, was in Baton Rouge recently to speak at the Louisiana … Continue reading →

In three years, the would-be drive to repeal the Louisiana Science Education Act has attracted exactly four votes in the Legislature. Not just four votes when the latest hearing was held on May 1 but four votes total after three hearings in 2013, 2012 and 2011. That means a legislative bill that has to clear … Continue reading →