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A Shreveport legislator said Thursday that an agreement is in place with Gov. Bobby Jindal to ensure hearing impaired residents receive financial assistance for the tools they need to navigate daily life. The governor offered an alternative funding source to allow legislators to abandon state Rep. Patrick Williams’ legislation. Williams, D-Shreveport, proposed taxing cellphone bills since fees … Continue reading →
Coverage of the 2013 Regular Session of the La. Legislature. For previous coverage of this session go to http://theadvocate.com/news/politics . The website for the Legislature is at http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/home.aspx . Live coverage of the session is provided by LPB each day from 2-6 p.m. Continue reading →
House convenes at Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. Senate convenes at Monday at 4:00 p.m. Finance. 9:30 a.m. in Committee Room A-B. Agenda includes: HB1 Provides for the ordinary operating expenses … Continue reading →
The total operating expense associated with the privatization of nine LSU hospitals will hit $1 billion during the new fiscal year, Commissioner of Administration Kristy Nichols said Thursday. That’s more than is in the current year’s budget — $955 million — for the state to operate the charity hospitals. And more than the $626 million … Continue reading →
The sponsor of a House-passed bill that would delay the impact of Louisiana’s new teacher evaluations said Thursday action on his proposal is being unfairly delayed in a state Senate committee, as the session nears its June 6 adjournment. “If they do succeed in stalling it out, there is going to be a backlash you wouldn’t believe,” … Continue reading →
Music, a flag ceremony, vintage uniforms and booming cannons were on the agenda Thursday when the Louisiana House of Representatives held a Memorial Day celebration shortly after convening. House Clerk Butch Speer read dedications for two Louisiana soldiers killed on active duty this year: Sgt. Michael J. Guillory, of Pearl River, and Chief Warrant Officer Bryan James … Continue reading →
The state Senate scuttled a resolution Thursday asking the state to withdraw from a new set of educational standards. Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 68 would target what is known as common core — a set of standards adopted by nearly every state to give students more depth on key subjects and make students more competitive with their … Continue reading →
A bill allowing clerks of court to receive a 4 percent pay raise zipped through the state Senate Thursday. The Senate voted 27-7 in favor of House Bill 174, giving the proposal final legislative passage. To be eligible for the pay increase, clerks would have to complete annual certification updates and other education requirements. State … Continue reading →
Legislation creating a crime prevention and neighborhood improvement district for Sherwood Forest in Baton Rouge won final legislative passage Thursday. The state Senate voted 38-0 in favor of House Bill 658, sponsored by state Rep. Ted James, D-Baton Rouge. The bill would allow the Sherwood Forest Crime Prevention and Neighborhood Improvement District to collect up to … Continue reading →
Coverage of the 2013 Regular Session of the La. Legislature. For previous coverage of this session go to http://theadvocate.com/news/politics . The website for the Legislature is at http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/home.aspx . Live coverage of the session is provided by LPB each day from 2-6 p.m. Continue reading →
House convenes at 9:00 a.m. Senate convenes at 9:00 a.m. Finance. At adjournment in . Agenda includes: HB1 Provides for the ordinary operating expenses of state government for Fiscal Year 2013-2014. Continue reading →
Plans to wrestle tuition-setting authority away from lawmakers and put it in the hands of educators fizzled and died in the state House of Representatives this week, representing a major blow to Louisiana’s higher education community. State Rep. Walt Leger III, the second highest ranking member of the House, summed it up this way: “We just … Continue reading →
State Rep. Karen St. Germain punctuated her push Wednesday for bills stemming from an Assumption Parish sinkhole with a warning that Bayou Corne residents are mad as hell. St. Germain, D-Pierre Part, was making the point to the Senate Natural Resources Committee that the state needs to implement safeguards in oil and gas drilling following the accident … Continue reading →
A retirement bill that higher education leaders say will go a long way in determining their ability to attract and retain faculty cleared an important hurdle Wednesday at the State Capitol. Senate Bill 16, sponsored by state Sen. Gerald Long, R-Winnfield, would give college and university management boards some control over employer contribution rates. The House … Continue reading →
The Louisiana Senate gave final approval Wednesday to a year’s delay in Gov. Bobby Jindal’s new pension plan for future state employees. The Senate voted 35-0 for a House-passed resolution suspending the law scheduled to go into effect July 1. House Concurrent Resolution 2 sponsored by state Rep. Joe Harrison, R-Napoleonville, won overwhelming support through … Continue reading →
A controversial bill to set up a legal framework in Louisiana for surrogate motherhood contracts emerged from the Louisiana House Wednesday on a 88-4 vote after significant changes. Senate Bill 162 must return to the state Senate for consideration of the changes. The House added language to ensure gay and unmarried couples would not be able to … Continue reading →
After a second try in two days, legislation that would allow the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans to expand its footprint cleared the Louisiana House. The House voted 69-20 in favor or House Bill 516 after the proposal’s sponsor, state Rep. Walt Leger III, made another run at it. The approval came a day … Continue reading →
A watered-down “Equal Pay for Women” measure cleared the Louisiana Senate on Wednesday. The state Senate voted 23-13 for the legislation after making it apply only to women who work for state government. Senate Bill 153 originally applied to women whether they worked in the private or public sector. “This simply takes what I call … Continue reading →
Legislation to abolish two juvenile court judgeships in Orleans Parish advanced from the Louisiana House Wednesday. The House voted 71-17 in favor of House Bill 607 despite complaints by one New Orleans legislator that the proposal is premature. HB607’s sponsor, state Rep. Helena Moreno, said the number of juvenile court judges would shrink from six to … Continue reading →
A bid to ban smoking within 25 feet of the entrances to state-owned office buildings, as a way to lessen exposure to secondhand cigarette smoke, continued to advance Wednesday in the Louisiana Legislature. The Senate Health and Welfare Committee backed House Bill 111 without objection, sending it to the full state Senate for debate. The House already … Continue reading →
Louisiana’s judges would get steady pay raises over the next five years under legislation approved late Wednesday by the Louisiana Senate. The Senate voted 27-9 to accept the recommendation of the Judicial Compensation Commission which is embodied in Senate Bill 188. The bill now heads to the House for debate. State Sen. Danny Martiny, R-Metairie, said … Continue reading →
A proposal by Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration to charge middle- and upper-income parents a fee for the occupational, speech and other therapy services their children receive through the Early Steps program received approval from the state Senate health committee. Early Steps offers therapy services for children up to 3 years old who are having troubles with speech, … Continue reading →
The legislative auditor has requested fiscal statements from the state’s Democratic and Republican parties under a nearly 40-year-old law requiring the reports to be filed annually with his office. Louisiana Republican Party Executive Director Jason Doré claimed Wednesday that the request is politically motivated and rooted in recent party efforts to squelch an alternative state budget promoted … Continue reading →
A tea party-backed attempt to keep Louisiana from using a set of uniform national standards for public school testing will be considered by the state Senate. The state Senate Education Committee on Wednesday advanced Senate Concurrent Resolution 68 that calls on state education officials to stop implementation of the Common Core standards, which have been adopted in … Continue reading →
Coverage of the 2013 Regular Session of the La. Legislature. For previous coverage of this session go to http://theadvocate.com/news/politics . The website for the Legislature is at http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/home.aspx . Live coverage of the session is provided by LPB each day from 2-6 p.m. Continue reading →
Coverage of the 2013 Regular Session of the La. Legislature. For previous coverage of this session go to http://theadvocate.com/news/politics . The website for the Legislature is at http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/home.aspx . Live coverage of the session is provided by LPB each day from 2-6 p.m. Continue reading →
Coverage of the 2013 Regular Session of the La. Legislature. For previous coverage of this session go to http://theadvocate.com/news/politics . The website for the Legislature is at http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/home.aspx . Live coverage of the session is provided by LPB each day from 2-6 p.m. Continue reading →
Coverage of the 2013 Regular Session of the La. Legislature. For previous coverage of this session go to http://theadvocate.com/news/politics . The website for the Legislature is at http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/home.aspx . Live coverage of the session is provided by LPB each day from 2-6 p.m. Continue reading →
Coverage of the 2013 Regular Session of the La. Legislature. For previous coverage of this session go to http://theadvocate.com/news/politics . The website for the Legislature is at http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/home.aspx . Live coverage of the session is provided by LPB each day from 2-6 p.m. Continue reading →
Coverage of the 2013 Regular Session of the La. Legislature. For previous coverage of this session go to http://theadvocate.com/news/politics . The website for the Legislature is at http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/home.aspx . Live coverage of the session is provided by LPB each day from 2-6 p.m. Continue reading →
Coverage of the 2013 Regular Session of the La. Legislature. For previous coverage of this session go to http://theadvocate.com/news/politics . The website for the Legislature is at http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/home.aspx . Live coverage of the session is provided by LPB each day from 2-6 p.m. Continue reading →
Coverage of the 2013 Regular Session of the La. Legislature. For previous coverage of this session go to http://theadvocate.com/news/politics . The website for the Legislature is at http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/home.aspx . Live coverage of the session is provided by LPB each day from 2-6 p.m. Continue reading →
Coverage of the 2013 Regular Session of the La. Legislature. For previous coverage of this session go to http://theadvocate.com/news/politics . The website for the Legislature is at http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/home.aspx . Live coverage of the session is provided by LPB each day from 2-6 p.m. Continue reading →
Coverage of the 2013 Regular Session of the La. Legislature. For previous coverage of this session go to http://theadvocate.com/news/politics . The website for the Legislature is at http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/home.aspx . Live coverage of the session is provided by LPB each day from 2-6 p.m. Continue reading →
Coverage of the 2013 Regular Session of the La. Legislature. For previous coverage of this session go to http://theadvocate.com/news/politics . The website for the Legislature is at http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/home.aspx . Live coverage of the session is provided by LPB each day from 2-6 p.m. Continue reading →
Coverage of the 2013 Regular Session of the La. Legislature. The session will reconvene on Monday, May 6. There are no meetings on Friday, May 3. For previous coverage of this session go to http://theadvocate.com/news/politics . The website for the Legislature is at http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/home.aspx . Live coverage of the session is provided by LPB each day from 2-6 p.m. Continue reading →
Coverage of the 2013 Regular Session of the La. Legislature. For previous coverage of this session go to http://theadvocate.com/news/politics . The website for the Legislature is at http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/home.aspx . Live coverage of the session is provided by LPB each day from 2-6 p.m. Continue reading →
Coverage of the 2013 Regular Session of the La. Legislature. For previous coverage of this session go to http://theadvocate.com/news/politics . The website for the Legislature is at http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/home.aspx . Live coverage of the session is provided by LPB each day from 2-6 p.m. Continue reading →
Coverage of the 2013 Regular Session of the La. Legislature from April. The website for the Legislature is at http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/home.aspx . Live coverage of the session is provided by LPB each day from 2-6 p.m. Continue reading →
A $3.5 billion spending plan for public schools was rejected by a state Senate committee Tuesday, which will likely kill the measure for the session. The proposal, Senate Concurrent Resolution 23, was denounced primarily for proposed changes in how the state would change funding for special education students. After about 90 minutes of criticism, a move … Continue reading →
A state House panel on Tuesday endorsed a measure putting Planned Parenthood operations in Louisiana under scrutiny as it prepares to build a health center in New Orleans where abortions will be provided. House Resolution 105 also urges suspension of grants and reimbursements under state contracts or Medicaid provider agreements for family planning and other services … Continue reading →
An effort to bar enforcement of federal laws banning or restricting semiautomatic firearms in Louisiana stalled Tuesday. With state senators challenging the constitutionality of House Bill 5, state Sen. Rick Ward opted to delay a vote on the House-passed measure. “There are a few things I have been made aware of to try to make this … Continue reading →
State Treasurer John Kennedy questioned Tuesday whether the Jindal administration embraced the state’s sunshine laws in a meeting to refinance a major legal settlement. The Tobacco Settlement Finance Corp., which counts Kennedy and Commissioner of Administration Kristy Nichols among its members, met Tuesday and gave final approval to refinancing part of the state’s tobacco settlement. The … Continue reading →
Legislation to wrest away financial control from the St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s Office zipped through a Senate committee Tuesday. State Rep. Tim Burns and St. Tammany Parish President Pat Brister told the state Senate Committee on Judiciary B that House Bill 561 is necessary because of abuses within the Coroner’s Office. “This has … Continue reading →
For his initial pitch on legislation aimed at curtailing oil and gas activity at Lake Peigneur, state Sen. Fred Mills turned the Senate chamber into a movie theater. Mills, R-St. Martinville, showed grainy, decades-old news footage of the water draining in a violent whirlpool after a drilling accident in 1980. The images failed to convince the … Continue reading →