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An effort to find a way Louisiana could expand the ranks of Medicaid — by proposing private companies sell the insurance — ran into a roadblock Monday in the Republican-dominated state Senate Finance Committee. The panel voted 7-3 to defer action on the measure, which attempted to move Louisiana toward what is called the “Arkansas model,” which … 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 2:00 p.m. Senate convenes at 1:30 p.m. Criminal Justice. 9:30 a.m. in Committee Room 6. Agenda includes: SB133 Provides for the obligation of lottery board members to disclose certain business relationships to the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs. SB150 … Continue reading →
Louisiana motorists could have “I’m a Cajun” added to their driver’s license — no proof required — under a measure that cleared its final legislative approval Monday. The proposal, Senate Bill 201, breezed through the House 74-8 after less than five minutes of discussion. The state Senate passed the measure earlier this month 38-0. Backers … Continue reading →
A state Senate committee is set to consider a $3.5 billion spending plan for public schools on Tuesday at 9 a.m. The proposal, Senate Concurrent Resolution 23, has been the subject of controversy for the past week. The Senate Education Committee initially shelved the measure because the panel concluded that it needed reworking because of a … Continue reading →
A bid to give judges five years of annual pay raises easily received the backing Monday of the state Senate’s budget committee — after it was changed to require money for the salary hike to come from the annual judicial budget. Supporters said the judges haven’t had a raise since 2010. “It really is appropriate to do … Continue reading →
The state Department of Education failed to properly monitor some operations of charter schools, Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera said in a report issued Monday. The review says the Louisiana Department of Education, or LDOE, did not verify that data used to calculate how charter schools are faring is reliable and failed to do all the required academic … Continue reading →
The Louisiana House backed another attempt Monday to force a 10 percent cut on state agencies’ spending on consulting and professional services contracts. State Rep. Jerome “Dee” Richard, No Party-Thibodaux, has tried a similar bill for several years, only to see the idea killed in the state Senate. The House voted unanimously for this year’s … Continue reading →
A bill that would shed light on who receives college scholarships awarded by higher education board members passed in the state House of Representatives Monday on an 88-0 vote. Senate Bill 31, by state Sen. Dan Claitor, R-Baton Rouge, would require that the board members make public who they are giving scholarships to and the value … Continue reading →
Inmates in parish jails will be able to do manual labor at churches and other religious buildings as part of their work duties, after Senate-passed legislation cleared its final legislative vote in the Louisiana House. The House voted without objection to pass Senate Bill 8, sponsored by state Sen. Rick Gallot, D-Ruston. The measure heads to Gov. … Continue reading →
Higher education leaders around the state will have their eyes on the State Capitol this week as legislators are set to debate two bills that would take tuition-setting control away from the Legislature and give it to the boards that manage Louisiana’s public colleges and universities. Should either House Bill 194 or House Bill 87 become … Continue reading →
The Louisiana Senate on Monday advanced legislation that would provide state help to finance infrastructure improvements related to the planned Juban Crossing development. The Senate voted 34-2 for measure sponsored by state Sen. Dale Erdey, R-Livingston. Senate Bill 50 now heads to the Louisiana House for debate. Juban Crossing is a 470-acre planned mix use development … Continue reading →
The Senate Finance Committee quickly signed off Monday on multi-year, 4 percent pay raises for Louisiana clerks of court. Under House Bill 174, the clerks could opt for 4 percent pay raises in each of four years. The money to cover the raises would have to come from self-generated funds. State Rep. Jeff Arnold, D-New … Continue reading →
The state Senate Finance Committee on Monday advanced two proposed constitutional amendments that opponents said would protect more areas of the budget from cuts. The propositions, contained in House Bills 532 and 533, would provide more financial stability for hospitals, nursing homes, intermediate care facilities and pharmacists through constitutionally protected funds. But … Continue reading →
A state Senate committee Monday steered dollars toward a Louisiana State Police training academy through legislation creating a state debt collector. If the bill becomes law with the amendment intact, new troopers would be trained for the first time in several years. Another significant change was made to House Bill 629 by the Senate Committee … 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 →
Monday likely will prove a light work day in the Louisiana Legislature as Republicans take off for fundraising events connected with the party’s “Elephant Stomp.” No committee meetings are scheduled in the House of Representatives. Both chambers are scheduled to convene at 4 p.m. with light schedule. But votes are scheduled that could finally pass gun … Continue reading →
State ethics officials pushed a limited legislative agenda this year, but even that scaled-down approach got no where. No bills were filed, although Louisiana Ethics Board members says they sought legislative fixes from the Legislature’s leaders and from Gov. Bobby Jindal. Some of the measures that did get filed in the 2013 regular session of the Louisiana … 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 4:00 p.m. Senate convenes at 4:00 p.m. Finance. 9:00 a.m. in Committee Room A. Agenda includes: HB46 Authorizes a cost-of-living adjustment for certain retirees of the La. School … Continue reading →
The state health agency recently got a half-a-million dollar shot in the arm courtesy of state Treasurer John Kennedy. The treasurer’s office forwarded to the state Department of Health and Hospitals a check for $502,158.66 ‑— representing unclaimed property due the agency. Deputy state treasurer Jason … Continue reading →
State senators cracked open the Louisiana House’s version of the nearly $25 billion state spending plan Thursday and immediately raised questions. Members of the state Senate Finance Committee focused their concerns on a planned tax amnesty program, severance tax adjustments and the TOPS program. State Sen. Fred Mills characterized one piece of the plan … 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 MONDAY AT 4:00 p.m. SENATE CONVENES MONDAY AT 4:00 p.m. JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON THE BUDGET. 9:30 a.m. in Committee Room 5. Agenda includes: LOUISIANA STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM, THE TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF LOUISIANA, THE LOUISIANA SCHOOL EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM AND THE LOUISIANA STATE POLICE RETIREMENT … Continue reading →
One day after rejecting a public school spending plan, a legislative leader said Thursday his committee will consider a slightly different version submitted by Louisiana’s top school board. The latest proposal will allow the panel to consider a $3.5 billion spending plan without forcing a new proposal from the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, said … Continue reading →
A fight between the New Orleans firefighters and the city’s mayor caused the unusual occurrence Thursday in the Louisiana Legislature of a committee chairman having his bill tabled. The House soundly rejected an effort Thursday to advance a competing vehicle for addressing problems with the New Orleans Firefighters Retirement System. New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu is … Continue reading →
No statewide election is scheduled this year but an effort is underway to slate one so Louisiana voters can decide the fate of proposed constitutional amendments approved in the current legislative session. House Bill 522, which calls for an Oct. 19 special statewide election, moved out of committee Friday at the request of House Speaker Chuck Kleckley, … Continue reading →
Gov. Bobby Jindal’s latest financial disclosure report, released Thursday, shows his $127,592-a-year state salary provided the main source of income for him and his wife in 2012. Jindal’s yearly report was filed with the state Board of Ethics by deadline. It doesn’t show net worth. The report shows the couple also received income from capital … Continue reading →
Legislation prohibiting future teacher union employees from receiving state retirement benefits cleared the Louisiana House Thursday after fierce debate. House Bill 727 would not allow employees hired after Sept. 1 by the Louisiana Federation of Teachers, the Louisiana Association of Educators, the Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana and the Louisiana Resource Center for Educators to belong to … Continue reading →
With little debate Thursday, the Louisiana House backed a measure that would make it illegal to tweet, post on Facebook and use other social network sites while driving. Senate Bill 147 heads back to the state Senate for concurrence on a change that exempted ham radio operators from the ban. The House voted 94-0 in favor … Continue reading →
Baton Rouge Mayor-President Kip Holden, center, bottom, looks out onto the state Senate floor as he visits the body on Thursday. Holden first came to the Capitol as a state representative in 1988. He served as a state senator from 2002-2004 before being elected mayor-president.
Lawmakers in the Louisiana House have bumped up their scrutiny of tax break proposals that often have won easy and quick passage in previous years. State Rep. Walt Leger, D-New Orleans, won passage of his House Bill 726 to revamp a tax credit program that doles out tax credits as percentages of investments made into certain types … Continue reading →