13 July 2008

Legislative regular session wrapup and rankings: Senators and Governor, 2008

This week, the final report until the next session, will be presented the scorecard for Senate members and governor for the 2008 session. Senators will be graded on their votes on 10 bills, seven of which passed both chambers. The highest score of 100 represents a perfect conservative/reform voting record, while the lowest score of 0 represents a perfect liberal/populist voting record. The 10 bills and their weighings are:

HB 939 – gives a raise from $45,000 to $75,000 to Public Service Commissioners; a conservative/reform vote is against (10 percent)

HB 1122 – extends the period of early voting; a conservative/reform vote is for (5 percent)

HB 1198 – makes the state able to judge and punish campaigns for “false” information; a conservative/reform vote is against (10 percent)

HB 1347 – sets up a scholarship program for vouchers to be used by students in New Orleans for any public or private school; a conservative/reform vote is for (15 percent)

SB 51 – permits storage of a gun in vehicles on commercial property; a conservative/reform vote is for (10 percent)

SB 672 – raises legislators’ base annual salaries from $16,800 to $37,500 and indexes them; a conservative/reform vote is against (20 percent)

SB 807 – makes it easier for franchising for cable television thus stimulating competition and reducing pricing; a conservative/reform vote is for (10 percent)

SB 61 – forces insurers to provide homeowner’s insurance to members of the military for which they provide vehicle insurance; a conservative/reform vote is against (5 percent)

SB 134 – allows certain classified employees to engage in political advocacy; a conservative/reform vote is against (5 percent)

SB 653 – increases money to senators for staffing and for legislative aides; a conservative/reform vote is against (10 percent)

(Last votes for passage were used. Since an absence is treated the same as a “nay” vote, unless a legislator requested a day of leave any votes for which he was absent was counted as such. For those who did request leave, their scores are adjusted by the votes they missed.)

Below is listed the rank and scores in descending order of senators, with their party affiliations. The Senate was notable for producing some stunning turnarounds in voting behavior by some veterans. Sen. John Smith went from being one of the lowest scorers in the House last year to one of the highest in the Senate. Not quite as dramatic but still significant were the swings from liberalism/populism to conservatism/reformism by Sens. John Alario and Nick Gautreaux (perhaps as the latter became a Gov. Bobby Jindal floor leader). By contrast among Republicans, Sen. Mike Michot (also a Jindal floor leader) dropped from a high scorer to below the Senate average, while Sen. Sherri Smith Cheek added almost as many points as Michot lost.

This lead to some unexpected partisan mixture at the top and bottom of the scale. The four highest scorers at 80, Republican Sens. Bill Cassidy, Neil Riser, and Mike Walsworth, and Democrat Sen. Willie Mount, included the Democrat Mount. In fact, there were a majority of Democrats among the top 13 scorers. While the two lowest scorers, Sens. Cheryl Gray and Eric LaFleur, at 15 and 16, respectively, are Democrats, the next two, at 20, are Republican Sens. Robert Adley and Dale Erdey (although Adley switched from Democrat within the past year). Pres. Joel Chaisson and Pres. Pro-Tem Sharon Weston Broome, Democrats both, scored below the Senate and Democrat averages.

As a whole, the Senate was below the House in scores, averaging about a 43. Partisans also scored below their House counterparts, with Republicans at around 52 and Democrats close to 39 on average. Taken together, it seems that despite the 2007 elections being billed primarily about reform and Republican gains expecially in the House, the legislature did not seem to behave in the regular session in the direction of reform or become any more conservative.

Cassidy 80 Republican
Mount 80 Democrat
Riser 80 Republican
Walsworth 80 Republican
Amedee 77 Democrat
Gautreaux, N 75 Democrat
Long 70 Republican
Quinn 70 Republican
Smith, J 70 Democrat
Alario 65 Democrat
Cheek 65 Republican
Hebert 65 Democrat
McPherson 65 Democrat
Crowe 60 Republican
Donahue 60 Republican
Heitmeier 60 Democrat
Kostelka 60 Republican
Morrish 55 Republican
Shaw 55 Republican
Martiny 50 Republican
Shepherd 50 Democrat
Cravins 45 Democrat
Duplessis 45 Democrat
Dupre 45 Democrat
Thompson 45 Democrat
Gautreaux, B 40 Democrat
Michot 40 Republican
Chaisson 35 Democrat
Jackson, L 35 Democrat
Nevers 35 Democrat
Broome 30 Democrat
Dorsey 25 Democrat
Marionneaux 25 Democrat
Murray 25 Democrat
Adley 20 Republican
Erdey 20 Republican
LaFleur 16 Democrat
Gray 15 Democrat

Finally, Jindal himself was scored, using the seven items utilized for scoring the chambers that passed both of them, where for him a vote for was signing the bill or allowing it to become law without his signature and a vote against was vetoing the bill. The weighings to compute Jindal’s score were HB 939 10 percent, HB 1122 5 percent, HB 1198 15 percent, HB 1347 20 percent, SB 51 10 percent, SB 672 25 percent, and SB 807 15 percent.

Jindal scored an 85, voting in the liberal/populist direction only on the anti-free-speech HB 1198, higher than all Senators and almost all House members.

05 July 2008

Legislative regular session wrapup and rankings: Representatives, 2008

This week will be presented in addition to the governor’s decisions regarding bills the scorecard for House members for the 2008 regular session. Representatives will be graded on their votes on 10 bills, seven of which passed both chambers. The highest score of 100 represents a perfect conservative/reform voting record, while the lowest score of 0 represents a perfect liberal/populist voting record. The 10 bills and their weighings are:

HB 939 – gives a raise from $45,000 to $75,000 to Public Service Commissioners; a conservative/reform vote is against (10 percent)

HB 1122 – extends the period of early voting; a conservative/reform vote is for (5 percent)

HB 1198 – makes the state able to judge and punish campaigns for “false” information; a conservative/reform vote is against (10 percent)

HB 1347 – sets up a scholarship program for vouchers to be used by students in New Orleans for any public or private school; a conservative/reform vote is for (15 percent)

SB 51 – permits storage of a gun in vehicles on commercial property; a conservative/reform vote is for (10 percent)

SB 672 – raises legislators’ base annual salaries from $16,800 to $37,500 and indexes them; a conservative/reform vote is against (20 percent)

SB 807 – makes it easier for franchising for cable television thus stimulating competition and reducing pricing; a conservative/reform vote is for (10 percent)

HB 34 – shortens the hours that polls are open on election day; a conservative/reform vote is for (5 percent)

HB 436 – prevent rolling forward of property tax millages after 90 days and a governing authority may vote to dos o only once; a conservative/reform vote is for (5 percent)

HB 1022 – causes forfeiture of pension benefits paid by government for those convicted of a felony related to their official duties; a conservative/reform vote is for (10 percent)

(Last votes for passage were used. Since an absence is treated the same as a “nay” vote, unless a legislator requested a day of leave any votes for which he was absent was counted as such. For those who did request leave, their scores are adjusted by the votes they missed.)

Below is listed the rank and scores in descending order of representatives, with their party affiliations. Rep. Cameron Henry ended up being the only “perfect” conservative/reformer and, not surprisingly Republicans take the top spots, all but of them two freshmen or close to it. Surpisingly, however, some Democrats score fairly high, Rep. Neil Abramson scored well into conservative/reformer territory at 75 but perhaps a bigger surprise was Rep. Walker Hines at 70 who filed several pieces of legislation (which went nowhere) straight out of the hard left wing of the national Democrats. Warhorse Democrat Rep. Jim Fannin joined him at that level, perhaps changed by his new statuts as head of the House Appropriations Committee.

Nobody scored as a perfect “liberal/populist” but Speaker Pro-Tem Karen Peterson and Rep. A.B. Franklin did their best at 10. Democrats thoroughly dominated this end of the spectrum with holdover (and converted Democrat) Rep. Ernest Wooton and newcomer Rep. Nickie Monica scoring the lowest of the Republicans at 35. Speaker Jim Tucker tumbled from past high scores to, at 60, below the GOP average.

Party averages reflected the division. The average GOP score was about 62 while the average Democrat score was around 41. Interestingly, as a whole the most conservative group in the House was the pair of independents, holdover Rep. Joel Robideaux and newcomer Rep. Dee Richard, who between them averaged 65. As a whole, the House averaged a little over 51.

Next week will be reviewed scores of senators and the governor.

Henry 100 Republican
Ligi 95 Republican
Ponti 90 Republican
Talbot 90 Republican
Pearson 85 Republican
Geymann 80 Republican
Guinn 80 Republican
Katz 80 Republican
Lorusso 80 Republican
Abramson 75 Democrat
Kleckley 75 Republican
Burns, T 70 Republican
Champagne 70 Democrat
Chandler 70 Democrat
Cortez 70 Republican
Fannin 70 Democrat
Guillory, M 70 Democrat
Hines 70 Democrat
LaBruzzo 70 Republican
Little 70 Republican
Perry 70 Republican
Robideaux 70 Independent
Smith, J 70 Republican
Barras 65 Democrat
Burford 65 Republican
Burns, H 65 Republican
Connick 65 Republican
Howard 65 Republican
Lopinto 65 Republican
Smiley 65 Republican
Templet 65 Republican
Danahay 60 Democrat
Morris 60 Republican
Richard 60 Independent
Richardson 60 Republican
Trahan 60 Republican
Tucker 60 Republican
Waddell 60 Republican
Badon, A 55 Democrat
Badon, B 55 Democrat
Billiot 55 Democrat
Carter 55 Republican
Cromer 55 Republican
Ellington 55 Democrat
Greene 55 Republican
Hazel 55 Republican
Jackson, M 55 Democrat
Lambert 55 Republican
Mills 55 Democrat
Montoucet 55 Democrat
Pugh 55 Republican
Schroder 55 Republican
Simon 55 Republican
Guillory, E 50 Democrat
Hoffman 50 Republican
Nowlin 50 Republican
Pope 50 Republican
Richmond 50 Democrat
White 50 Republican
Carmody 45 Republican
Chaney 45 Democrat
Foil 45 Republican
Hill 45 Democrat
Hutter 45 Republican
Jones, S. 45 Democrat
LeBas 45 Democrat
McVea 45 Republican
St. Germain 45 Democrat
Dove 44 Republican
Anders 40 Democrat
Arnold 40 Democrat
Downs 40 Republican
Harrison 40 Republican
Henderson 40 Democrat
Morrell 40 Democrat
Roy 40 Democrat
Wilmott 40 Republican
Monica 35 Republican
Armes 35 Democrat
Gisclair 35 Democrat
Hardy 35 Democrat
Smith, G 35 Democrat
Smith, P 35 Democrat
Williams 35 Democrat
Wooton 35 Republican
Baldone 30 Democrat
Doerge 30 Democrat
Edwards 30 Democrat
Honey 30 Democrat
Jackson, G 30 Democrat
Johnson 30 Democrat
LaFonta 30 Democrat
Leger 30 Democrat
Marchand 30 Democrat
Ritchie 30 Democrat
Barrow 25 Democrat
Burrell 25 Democrat
Dixon 25 Democrat
Norton 25 Democrat
Aubert 15 Democrat
Gallot 15 Democrat
Jones, R. 15 Democrat
Franklin 10 Democrat
Peterson 10 Democrat

28 June 2008

Legislative regular session through Jun. 28, 2008

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 321 was signed by the governor; HB 350 was signed by the governor; HB 622 was concurred in by the Senate and House and sent to the governor; SB 87 was signed by the governor; SB 733 was signed by the governor; SB 807 was signed by the governor; SB 808 was conferred in, concurred in by the House and Senate, and sent to the governor.

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: SB 351 was conferred in, concurred in by the Senate and the House, and sent tot the governor.

SCORECARD:
Total House introductions: 1389; total Senate introductions: 813.

Total House good bills: 41; total Senate good bills: 23.

Total House bad bills: 36; total Senate bad bills: 15.

Total House good bills heard in committee: 30; total Senate good bills heard in committee: 18

Total House bad bills heard in committee: 27; total Senate bad bills heard in committee: 10.

Total House good bills passing committee: 20; total Senate good bills passing committee: 12.

Total House bad bills passing committee: 7; total Senate bad bills passing committee: 8.

Total House good bills passing the House: 15; total Senate good bills passing the Senate: 7.

Total House bad bills passing the House: 4; total Senate bad bills passing the Senate: 4.

Total House good bills passing Senate committee: 9; total Senate good bills passing House committee: 7.

Total House bad bills passing Senate committee: 4; total Senate bad bills passing House committee: 4.

Total House good bills passing Senate: 9; total Senate good bills passing House: 6.

Total House bad bills passing Senate: 2; total Senate bad bills passing House: 2.

Total House good bills sent to the governor: 9; total Senate good bills sent to the governor: 5.

Total House bad bills sent to the governor: 2; total Senate bad bills sent to the governor: 2.

Total House good bills signed by the governor: 5; total Senate good bills signed by the governor: 5.

21 June 2008

Legislative regular session through Jun. 21, 2008

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 350 was sent to the governor; HB 622 passed House, with minor amendments passed Senate committee, and passed the Senate; HB 888 passed the Senate, the House concurred and was sent to the governor; HB 988 passed Senate and was sent to the governor; HB 1372 passed the Senate and was sent to the governor; SB 733 had amendments concurred with by the Senate and was sent to the governor; SB 808 passed the Senate.

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 852 failed to pass the Senate; HB 939 passed the Senate and was sent to the governor; SB 351 passed the House; SB 672 had amendments concurred with by the Senate and was sent to the governor; SB 796 failed to pass the House.

SCORECARD:
Total House introductions: 1389; total Senate introductions: 813.

Total House good bills: 41; total Senate good bills: 23.

Total House bad bills: 36; total Senate bad bills: 15.

Total House good bills heard in committee: 30; total Senate good bills heard in committee: 18

Total House bad bills heard in committee: 27; total Senate bad bills heard in committee: 10.

Total House good bills passing committee: 20; total Senate good bills passing committee: 12.

Total House bad bills passing committee: 7; total Senate bad bills passing committee: 8.

Total House good bills passing the House: 15; total Senate good bills passing the Senate: 7.

Total House bad bills passing the House: 4; total Senate bad bills passing the Senate: 4.

Total House good bills passing Senate committee: 9; total Senate good bills passing House committee: 7.

Total House bad bills passing Senate committee: 4; total Senate bad bills passing House committee: 4.

Total House good bills passing Senate: 9; total Senate good bills passing House: 6.

Total House bad bills passing Senate: 2; total Senate bad bills passing House: 2.

Total House good bills sent to the governor: 8; total Senate good bills sent to the governor: 5.

Total House bad bills sent to the governor: 2; total Senate bad bills sent to the governor: 1.

Total House good bills signed into law: 3; total Senate good bills signed into law: 2.

20 June 2008

Floor action, Jun. 20: SB 402, SB 232, SB 233

DID YOU KNOW?
SB 402 by Sen. Bill Cassidy would have a study of shifting funds for uncompensated care among south Louisiana hospitals in proportion to the health care services provided for the uninsured statewide, starting next fiscal year. Rep. Neil Abramson at first prevented the matter from coming off the calendar by asking for such a vote which failed to move it 40-51. Minutes later, it successfully came off the calendar by a failed vote to table 43-53, but Abramson tried to table it, but the motion was defeated.

Rep. Erich Ponti, handling it, said this would better allocate resources to true needs. Rep. Joe Harrison offered amendments that were dumped out in committee that turned it into a study bill rather than implementation. Abramson asked whether these were challenging the will of the Health and Welfare Committee which he said otherwise would not have let it out. Harrison did not agree but said the amendment would bring a substantitve change. Rep. Hunter Greene then move to end all amendment consideration, and Rep. Jeff Arnold then made a substitute to end only this to which passed 60-35. Harrison yielded on close to Ponti who said a study only wouldn’t accomplish much, that a money-follows-the-person approach needed to be implemented for proper funding, and it wouldn’t even go into effect for several years only after the Legislature approved. The amendment failed 30-68.

Abramson then offered amendments. He characterized the bill at present as a fight over dollars between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, saying why New Orleans seemed to get disproportionate dollars because much more teaching went on there. So, he wanted to incrementally add sections of the state through each amendment so he could allow everybody to gang up on each section just like the bill does, but then withdrew them all, believing a point had been made.

Rep. Robert Johnson said the bill was mischaracterized, saying it followed the proportion of uninsured people living in a region, not ailing individuals. He said to vote for it now would invite future raids on other regions. He said the mix of the kind of operations also was not going to be worked into the proposed formula, either. He implied the author of was using it for political gain relevant to Cassidy’s announced run for Congress.

Rep. Pat Smith said Earl K. Long Hospital since it was able to attract more insured that it was being used as a cash cow to supplement other institutions. She said teaching occurred there, as well. Rep. Michael Jackson admitted he was running for Congress, and said he thought this process was good as a study which, after being done in three regions, could be extended because he did not want it to be there to beat up on New Orleans.

Closing, Ponti emphasized this was only a study, and wondered why some seemed scared of a study. He said Baton Rouge actually was less maldistributed than some other southern regions, and the northern part of the state operated under a different system not relevant to the south. He said then population shift from the hurricane disasters made this study more necessary than ever.

The bill, after establishment of lockout and quorum, failed 35-61.

DID YOU KNOW?
SB 232 by Sen. Willie Mount would place term limits on several boards and commissions of three years by constitutional amendemt. Handler Rep. Rick Gallot said if legislators had to be stopped at three terms (really, two-and-a-half), so should the education boards, State Civil Service Commission, Public Service Commission, etc. He also pointed out a two-year waiting period applied after being limited off one board to serve on another.

Rep. Cedric Richmond asked why leave out state elected officials; Gallot said it was Mount’s intent not to include them. Johnson wondered whether this limited discretion of voters, and Gallot said this was true but some to be affected would be appointed.

Rep. Rickey Hardy offered an amendment that would apply limits to judges, district attorneys, and sheriffs, with a grandfather clause. Rep. Cameron Henry asked if Hardy had consulted those being affected; he said he had not. Rep. Bodi White wondered why other parish-level officials weren’t included; Hardy said because he hadn’t thought of that. Rep. Nick Lorusso asked whether it was germane, and Speaker Jim Tucker ruled it didn’t since the bill addressed boards and commissions.

Gallot closed and the bill passed 92-8.

DID YOU KNOW?
With SB 232 passed, now the enabling legislation became relevant. Gallot offered the identical amendments which were adopted. The bill passed 93-6.

QUOTE OF THE DAY.
Is this amendment germane to the bill?
Yes it is.
Hardy to Lorusso, before Tucker could say anything.

19 June 2008

Floor action, Jun. 19: SB 137, SB 159, SB 342, SB 808

DID YOU KNOW?
SB 137 by Sen. Julie Quinn would make a secondary offense for those who either are text messaging or, if you are a driver with less than a year of licensing, using a cell phone while driving. Handler Rep. Hollis Downs said this would improve safety without having distractions from all drivers and especially new drivers.

Rep. Austin Badon, however, offered an amendment to turn this bill essentially into his HB 852 which banned non-hands-free use of cell phones for all and passed the House. To make matters more interesting, Rep. Walker Hines tried to hook an amendment on to raise his non-smoking stricture in cars if there were 15 year-olds in it (as opposed to the currenbt 13-year-old standard), trying in essence to amend on his bill (to remind him as he could not remember what it was, it was HB 1021) on the subject that failed in the Senate. Its germaneness was challenged by Rep. Mert Smiley but upheld on the basis that it was another driver distraction.

Rep. Jeff Arnold said he could not support the bill especially with Badon’s amendment. He said even operating a GPS device could run afoul of this law. Arnold also chided Hines for his continued tries at passing this bill even after several defeats. With Hines implying his previous bill lost on several occasions because of a lack of members, a lockout and quorum call both were made and the latter was established. The amendment failed 34-56.

Badon then addressed his amendment, saying if it was good enough to be passed on its own, it ought to be good enough for an amendment. Arnold reminded Badon that HB 852 was defeated handily in the Senate, and thought it might be hurting SB 137 to be attached. Rep. Tony Ligi said that the bill might not stem the tendency for multitasking. Badon replied the act isolated was not good regardless of other distractions which may or may not occur as a result of a cell phone’s use.

Badon closed saying this should not be just a “kid’s bill” and that his amendment would make sure it is done right the first time. The amendment failed 33-49. The bill unamended from the floor passed 69-19.

DID YOU KNOW?
Since SB 159 by Sen. Don Cravins wpould prohibit minors from using any wireless telecommunications device while operating a motor vehicle which almost mimicked SB 137, there was no debate and it passed 88-4.

DID YOU KNOW?
SB 342 by Sen. Dale Erdey would prohibit first-year drivers from using cell phones. With it being so similar to SB 137 and SB 159, it passed 88-6.

DID YOU KNOW?
SB 808 by Sen. Rob Marionneaux would redo the way the state deals with its capital outlay budget. Speaker Jim Tucker pointed out it was essentially a duplicate of his HB 582 passed out of the House days earlier. It clarifies the process, he said, and it passed 93-0.

16 June 2008

Floor action, Jun. 16: SB 789, SB 796

DID YOU KNOW?
SB 789 was to apply to boards and commissions for certain highway commissions in rural areas (designed for Iberia Parish). Rep Patrick Connick asked to introduce an amendment dealing with the Crescent City Connection. Rep. Jeff Arnold asked whether it was germane, and Speaker Jim Tucker ruled it wasn’t. Connick complained and asked for a vote on the ruling. Tucker called him aside and reminded him these motions were rare and never successful. Disgruntled, Connick asked for personal privilege and Tucker said only asfter the bill passed. “We’ve got three more years; I’ll be back” Connick said, withdrew, and the bill passed without it.

DID YOU KNOW?
SB 796 would remove debt supported by a taxpayer-dedicated revenue stream to be counted as debt for calculation purposes. Rep. Karen Carter Peterson asked why do this? Handler Rep. Chris Hazel stumbled through an explanation that he thought it would improve the state’s bond rating. Peterson wondered whether it ought to be returned to the calendar but then relinquished her questioning.

Tucker, who had left the chair at the beginning of the questioning, took the microphone, absolved Hazel for being a “good soldier” carrying the water for author Sen. Joe McPherson and called it a “very bad bill.” Tucker explained the basis of the bill, the money borrowed for the TIMED program being affected, and said this was not good budgetary or fiscal policy and that rating agencies would not change their ratings as a result of this and thought they would think it would make Louisiana less trustworthy.

Peterson said she had not gotten a note from the Gov. Bobby Jindal administration and asked what it thought. Tucker said he hadn’t, either, so he didn’t know what it thought. Other members got Tucker to repeat that it reflected poorly on the state’s reputation.

Hazel on closing repeated it would create no new debt. The bill was defeated 3-84 with only the representatives from McPherson’s district voting for it.

QUOTES OF THE DAY:
We all have been concerned about Mr. Fannin’s mental state and its changing over the next ten days.
Tucker, referring to Rep. Jim Fannin, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee who controls the pursestrings.

Members, I want to clarify, that was not a new record, he was handling a Senate bill
Tucker, referring to the 3-84 vote on SB 796 referring to a record for lopsided defeat – last year Rep. John LaBruzzo lost even more spectacularly on his own bill.

14 June 2008

Legislative regular session through Jun. 14, 2008

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 321 was sent to the governor; HB 350 passed the Senate; HB 734 passed the House, with minor amendments passed Senate committee; HB 790 was signed by the governor; HB 888 passed Senate committee; HB 960 was signed by the governor; HB 988 passed Senate committee; HB 1122 was signed by the governor; HB 1372 passed Senate committee; SB 87 was concurred in by the House and sent to the governor; SB 133 was signed by the governor; SB 167 was signed by the governor; SB 733 passed the House; SB 807 passed the House and was concurred in by the Senate; SB 808 with minor amendments passed House committee.

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 1198 passed the Senate; SB 351 passed House committee; SB 653 was discharged from House committee; SB 672 passed the Senate, passed House committee, and with minor amendments passed the House.

SCORECARD:
Total House introductions: 1387; total Senate introductions: 813.

Total House good bills: 41; total Senate good bills: 23.

Total House bad bills: 36; total Senate bad bills: 15.

Total House good bills heard in committee: 30; total Senate good bills heard in committee: 18

Total House bad bills heard in committee: 27; total Senate bad bills heard in committee: 10.

Total House good bills passing committee: 20; total Senate good bills passing committee: 12.

Total House bad bills passing committee: 7; total Senate bad bills passing committee: 8.

Total House good bills passing the House: 15; total Senate good bills passing the Senate: 7.

Total House bad bills passing the House: 4; total Senate bad bills passing the Senate: 4.

Total House good bills passing Senate committee: 8; total Senate good bills passing House committee: 7.

Total House bad bills passing Senate committee: 4; total Senate bad bills passing House committee: 4.

Total House good bills passing Senate: 5; total Senate good bills passing House: 5.

Total House bad bills passing Senate: 1; total Senate bad bills passing House: 1.

Total House good bills sent to the governor: 4; total Senate good bills sent to the governor: 4.

Total House bad bills sent to the governor: 1; total Senate bad bills sent to the governor: 0.

Total House good bills signed into law: 3; total Senate good bills signed into law: 2.

11 June 2008

Committee action, Jun. 11: SB 672, SB 232, SB 233, HB 1372, HB 988

DID YOU KNOW?
SB 672 would give a nice pay raise to legislators. Author Sen. Ann Duplessis gave little explanation since everybody knew what it was, reminding it had been amended further just to apply a salary increase, not that of supplements. House and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Rick Gallot moved for adoption, saying he’d hope votes would be forthcoming to at least get it to the floor for discussion. He got it, with Reps. Connick, Cromer, Ellington, Geymann, Henry, Jackson, Jones, Ligi, Marchand, Pugh, Ponti, Smiley, and himself voting in favor, while Barras, Danahay, Richard, and Smith voted against.

DID YOU KNOW?
SB 232 and SB 233 would place term limits on members of board and commissioners. Author Sen. Willie Mount explained SB 232 (a constitutional amendment) and welcomed amendments proposed last week defining the boards to be covered and that it would start the three-term limit clock on Aug. 15, for appointed positions only. They were adopted without objection, and the bill was adopted without objection.

SB 233, the enabling legislation, also was amended similarly and adopted without objection, and adopted without objection.

DID YOU KNOW?
HB 1372 is Rep. Mert Smiley’s annual exercise in ridding the state of boards and commissions that don’t seem to provide a whole lot. Smiley said the Legislative Auditor and legislative staff finds out some basic information about all of them and if they aren’t active, he puts them in the bill. Without any debate, it was reported favorably by the Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee.

DID YOU KNOW?
HB 988 by Rep. Wayne Waddell would prohibit allowing a legislator’s district offices to be leased from the legislator or his family. Without discussion, it was reported favotably without objection.

QUOTES OF THE DAY:
Let’s say that Sen. John … John Doe, I wanted to say Smith but he’s right here.
Rep. Nita Hutter in explaining her HB 906 which addresses anonymous ethics complaints, trying to come up with a hypothetical example of an ethics complaint.

I tell my constituents that there are 1.2 million John Smiths in the United States … and that number doubles on Saturday nights.
Sen. John Smith.

10 June 2008

Committee action, Jun. 10: SB 718, SB 204, SB 106

DID YOU KNOW?
SB 718 would remove the imposition of financial disclosure requirements similar to those that have to be followed by elected officials on members of boards and commissions (both statewide and those of political subdivisions). Author Sen. Danny Martiny’s bill intended for most that only places of residence of mailing address and that of work be revealed, along with sufficiently large business interests, and that members pledge for themselves and their families that they know of no conflicts of interests pertaining to their actions. Martiny suggested an amendment be made to make a pledge of recusal if a conflict did occur in service. For some, additional information would be required. He said this would redress an overzealous approach pursued during the ethics special session.

Amendments were offered that moved certain boards and commissions around from old to new categories and vice-versa.

Rep. Mert Smiley said he had received no calls about the issue and wondered whether the legislation was needed. Martiny said it was, because the theory was why be so intrusive in a global sense when concerns about specific individuals can be addressed specifically. He said he had heard from some constituents who were upset and that many others could be when they learn of the recently-passed requirements. Smiley, however, argued that one can always find good people to serve on boards even with the current requirements. Martiny said the imprecise categorization was not good. Smiley said the Legislature had done exactly what constituents had wanted.

Rep. Patrick Connick, on behalf of the Department of State, offered an amendment that would excise advisory museum board members and retirement system board members by putting disclosure requirements on only bodies that handled public dollars. However, the Ethics Board is planning to rule on whether these kinds of appointees would be counted under the new requirements, so it might be mooted. Rep. Karen Carter Peterson offered language that would define the new tier as having control of less than $10,000 a year, and later came back with new language that would supplant Connick’s. Rep. Rosalind Jones noted required reporting may actually increase since the new category expanded the number of boards covered, although House and Governmental Affairs chairman Rick Gallot said the House in other instruments already gone approving in that direction.

Amendments finally consolidated, Gallot proposed a vote on them but Rep. Dee Richard wanted to move the State Civil Service Commission into the higher tier. Gallot said it was better addressed separately and they went for the vote on all of the others, adopted without objection. Richard’s was then adopted without objection. Connick then wanted a couple of specific personnel shifts, and was adopted without objection.

Peterson then spoke on the bill. She complained the Legislature got bullied into making ethics changes and some mistakes were made, and felt put on that the Gov. Bobby Jindal Administration wouldn’t admit that. However, she said she didn’t see need for a lot of changes on this account but that a blanket approach neither was good. Martiny said he welcomed amendments if it helped pass the bill.

Rep. Jane Smith joined the complaint parade, saying she thought the bill was needed because you could not get as good people to serve with the current regulations, and she was tired that any attempt to change them was said to be “watering down.” Smiley spoke, saying correction was an ongoing process but that the initial changes accomplished an incredible amount of beneficial change and other complaints often forgot that.

Jindal’s Executive Counsel Jimmy Faircloth voiced support of the bill, but said there were no apologies for what was achieved in the special session, even if imperfect, and characterized as inaccurate any assertion that it discouraged any challenges to its language in these bills.

Peterson moved favorably as amended, and it was done without objection.

DID YOU KNOW?
SB 204 would make official journals printers for the state and political subdivisions put the information they commit to publish on behalf of these governments on the Internet, and would increase the maximum amount to be charged by this of 10 percent. Author Sen. Mike Walsworth first asked for an amendment that would force obituaries to be free that got put on the Senate floor to be removed, and it was without objection. Proponents argued a permanent printed record was necessary, and that newspapers provided a ready way by which to do this. Walsworth also argued that this would consolidate all journal aspects of a government in a single space for convenience of the public.

Smiley was encouraged when testimony revealed community newspaper tended to print obituaries for free anyway, and it excited him to move for passage. Without objection, it was.

DID YOU KNOW?
SB 106 by Sen. Blade Morrish would put into law requirements that nongovernmental entities report information if they receive state budget funds. Morrish said it was important to put them in law because rules can be so easily overridden by the chambers.

Gallot moved to defer, because he said leaving in chamber rules led to more flexibility, but a substitute was offered to counter that. On the latter, Danahay, Henry, Ligi, Ponti, Pugh, Richard, and Smiley voted in favor while Barras, Connick, Cromer, Jackson, Jones, Peterson, and Gallot voted against. A tie means failure, so the committee without objection delivered the coup d’grace with Gallot’s motion.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
Where I grew up, “transparency” wasn’t a compliment.
Martiny.

WEDNESDAY: HB 988 and HB 1372 are scheduled to be heard in the Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee.

07 June 2008

Legislative regular session through Jun. 7, 2008

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 321 passed Senate committee and the Senate; HB 582 with minor amendments passed committee and with minor amendments passed the House; HB 734 with minor amendments failed to pass the House; HB 790 was sent to the governor; HB 960 was sent to the governor; HB 1122 passed the Senate; SB 87 with minot amendments passed the House; SB 167 passed the House and was sent to the governor; SB 807 was discharged from House committee

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 852 passed Senate committee; HB 1198 passed Senate committee; SB 796 passed House committee.

SCORECARD:
Total House introductions: 1387; total Senate introductions: 813.

Total House good bills: 41; total Senate good bills: 23.

Total House bad bills: 36; total Senate bad bills: 15.

Total House good bills heard in committee: 29; total Senate good bills heard in committee: 18

Total House bad bills heard in committee: 27; total Senate bad bills heard in committee: 10.

Total House good bills passing committee: 19; total Senate good bills passing committee: 12.

Total House bad bills passing committee: 7; total Senate bad bills passing committee: 8.

Total House good bills passing the House: 13; total Senate good bills passing the Senate: 7.

Total House bad bills passing the House: 4; total Senate bad bills passing the Senate: 3.

Total House good bills passing Senate committee: 4; total Senate good bills passing House committee: 6.

Total House bad bills passing Senate committee: 4; total Senate good bills passing House committee: 1.

Total House good bills passing Senate: 3; total Senate good bills passing House: 3.

Total House good bills sent to the governor: 2; total Senate good bills sent to the governor: 2

MONDAY: SB 808 is scheduled to be heard in the House Appropriations Committee.

03 June 2008

Floor action, Jun. 3: HB 340, HB 939, HB 1224, HB 1273, HB 1341

DID YOU KNOW?
HB 340 would require correction facilities wardens to meet the same ethics reporting qualifications as senior exeutive branch officials. Handling the bill after initially skipping it on the calendar, Sen. Don Cravins argued the powers that wardens had concerning contracting and budgeting and other matters made it logical that these officials fill out these kinds of reports.

Sen. Bill Cassidy offered an amendment to remove information required from wardens that could identify where they live, which was accepted without objection. Sen. Ben Nevers said the wardens’ boss already had to report and that should be good enough, while Sen. John Alario argued even with the Cassidy amendment that he still had concerns about the safety of wardens’ families. Cravins then consented to send the bill back to the calendar to work out amendments that might save a bill that appeared to be in trouble.

After a brief interval, more amendments came from Cassidy that would not disclose the spouse’s place of employ which were adopted without objection. Alario still was not satisfied and asked for a deferral of the bill. Sen. Mike Walsworth said these were civil servants who really did not depend on politics for their appointments and thus should not need to be covered by ethics requriemetns designed for political appointees.

Closing, Cravins said he believed in the bill and trusted the House supporters behind it. He claimed they are not typical state employees. He allowed Sen. Buddy Shaw to speak who said if reuirements were good enough for judges, it was good enough for wardens. The bill failed 7-26, but Cravins gave notice for reconsideration.

DID YOU KNOW?
HB 939 would increase the salaries of members of the Public Service Commission. Amid laughter, it was returned to the calendar.

DID YOU KNOW?
HB 1224 would place a moratorium on new home- and community-based service providers for two years, except for those that are part of residential facilities in certain low-serviced areas. It passed 38-0.

DID YOU KNOW?
HB 1273 would have the state study cost-control mechanisms and promulgate rules to accomplish this for most Medicaid waiver programs. Input would be required from stakeholders including families being served. Alario asked handler Sen. Willie Mount about the bill’s language affirming that costs must be lowered might have an adverse impact on the quality of care. Alario also was concerned that the process had too little public and legislative input in the process, and in conjunction with a reduction of state developmental centers these seemed to be at loggerheads. Mount suggested amendments to resolve these.

Sen. Joe McPherson asked from where the bill came, and about the status of the state’s implementation of the Barthelemy case. Mount didn’t know, and McPherson wondered about how this bill was compatible with the case’s settlement which demands more provision of these waiver slots. Mount said implementation of uniform standards might make it a better process that might spend wisely and fulfill individual’s needs.

Alario sent up an amendment which would give the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget to approve any rules adopted by the state, to safeguard needs of those affected. It was adopted without objection.

Mount added on closing a report on implementation of Barthelemy was forthcoming in June. The bill passed 37-0.

DID YOU KNOW?
HB 1341 would install uniform minimum qualifications that would allow caregivers to serve under state waiver programs only if the state would issue a waiver that determines the family member would be the best person to serve the disabled individual, but grandfathers in exsiting family workers Alario asked to amend to push the effective date back to 2009. McPherson thought the amendment irrelevant if because of the grandfather provision and in fact by pushing the effective date forward six months would allow too many exceptions, and that it could allow unscrupulous relatives to slip into the exemption. Alario thought existing laws should take care of those unscrupulous people. McPherson argued that supervision of non-institutionalized care was lax so this could be a significant problem, and said since it was an administration bill he had to object. The amendment failed 13-18. The bill then passed 36-0.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“This bill increases the number of riverboats in the state to 45 and 5 machines each … y’all paying attention yet? I’ve passed a lot of bad stuff out of here today.”
Sen. Danny Martiny, joking during his presnetation of HB 1131 which would provide alternative ways of inspecting gaming riverboats.

WEDNESDAY: HB 988 and HB 1198 are scheduled to be heard by the Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee.

02 June 2008

Committee action, Jun. 2: HB 703, HB 709, SB 796

DID YOU KNOW?
HB 703 would amend the Constitution to take a quarter of funds above the ceiling established for mineral revenues and instead of sending it to the Budget Stablization Fund send it to coastal restoration fund. Author Rep. Damon Baldone said little money was going to come from the federal government for years so this would get the restoration process much more quickly.

House Appropriations Committee chairman Rep. Jim Fannin cautioned this would be a diversion of funds around $300 million from the latest surplus and hamstring it to this purpose. Rep. Joe Harrison argued the coastal part of the state contributed much to the state and that this would be good legislation to preserve it. But Rep. Mert Smiley said the state had many needs and needed the flexibility, plus it had shown sufficient commitment with previous actions and legislation.

Baldone then asked to defer this bill, cautioning this needed to be addressed and the state needed to put its money where its mouth is on the issue. He then brought forward HB 709 which would not take a quarter off of a top but would after the $750 million ceiling put into the Fund. He pointed out this was less onerous on revenues but also asked for its deferral.

DID YOU KNOW?
SB 796 would change the way the state’s debt ceiling debt is computed by removing from its calculation dedicated revenues to paying off debt, which practically speaking would exempt expenditures for the TIMED program. Author Sen. Joe McPherson told the House Ways and Means Committee that while on a yearly basis it didn’t take up much bonding power (particularly because it has an offsetting revenue stream included), it made statistics in terms of per capita debt look higher than what McPherson called “accurate,” leading to explotation by what he termed “irresponsible reporters.” It would cut the per capita figure by half.

Chairman Rep. Hunter Greene wondered by “debt was being excluded from debt.” McPherson said it was ability to repay that was important, not the total amount. Greene said this was supported by tax dollars just like any other debt, and compared the semantics used by McPherson to “gaming” vs. “gambling.” McPherson said the change would force the media and some politicians from exploiting the issue and over time this debt was going to increase because of the TIMED program that would make it look even “worse.” Greene felt his testimony alone performed a good educative function, and maybe statistics ought to be reported to reflect that.

Rep. Cameron Henry wondered whether this was a way to allow more debt than what is currently intended, which could lower the bond rating of the state. McPherson said the marginal nature of it he wouldn’t think would do that.

Rep. Joel Robideaux queried why the bill’s information was on different colored paper. He also asked whether future statewide dedicated debt approved by voters would fit into this new category that is excluded, and McPherson said it would. Rep. Harold Ritchie said he would like to see an amendment on the revenue side that would parcel out money coming from state sources and from federal sources, but did not offer anything.

When the time came for it to move, Greene said it would increase capacity for debt and he was opposed that, and also the media would pick up on this. The bill passed 8-6 with Reps. Carter, Danahay, Guillory, Honey, Perry, Richard, Ritchie, and Robideaux in favor, while Baldone, Burrell, Henry, Hoffman, Smith, and Greene were against.

QUOTES OF THE DAY:
“I’ve spent an entire career wearing out blue jeans’ knees trying to borrow money from banks.”
McPherson.

TUESDAY: HB 1357 is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Judiciary B Committee.

31 May 2008

Legislative regular session through May 31, 2008

Some changes on the list of bills come this week. HB 914 which would allow declared recurring surplus dollars to be used to finance the NOW waiver for community-based health care, which would improve the financial footing of the program, could also have the effect of not be used to work down the NOW waiver backlog. Therefore, it is being removed from the good category. For the same reason, the same is being done to SB 647. Removed from the bad category are HB 5 and HB 1011, which during committee hearings were amended into benign forms, the former having removed its provision to create paid state holidays, the latter removing provisions that would give convicted felons special access to voting registration.

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 790 passed the Senate; HB 960 passed the Senate; HB 1122 passed Senate committee; HB 1372 with minor amendments passed the House; SB 133 was sent to the governor.

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 384 was involuntarily deferred by committee; HB 939 passed Senate committee.

SCORECARD:
Total House introductions: 1387; total Senate introductions: 813.

Total House good bills: 41; total Senate good bills: 23.

Total House bad bills: 36; total Senate bad bills: 15.

Total House good bills heard in committee: 28; total Senate good bills heard in committee: 18

Total House bad bills heard in committee: 27; total Senate bad bills heard in committee: 10.

Total House good bills passing committee: 19; total Senate good bills passing committee: 12.

Total House bad bills passing committee: 7; total Senate bad bills passing committee: 8.

Total House good bills passing the House: 13; total Senate good bills passing the Senate: 7.

Total House bad bills passing the House: 4; total Senate bad bills passing the Senate: 3.

Total House good bills passing Senate committee: 3; total Senate good bills passing House committee: 5.

Total House good bills passing Senate: 2; total Senate good bills passing House: 1.

Total House good bills sent to the governor: 0; total Senate good bills sent to the governor: 1

MONDAY: SB 796, SB 808, HB 582 and HB 1209 are scheduled to be heard by the House Ways and Means Committee; HB 834 is scheduled to be heard by the House Appropriations Committee.

27 May 2008

Floor action, May 27: HCR 34, HCR 100

DID YOU KNOW?
HCR 34 would ask Congress to call a constitutional convention for the sole purpose of authorizing statehood for Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. Author Rep. Sam Jones insisted that there never had been a vote to allow either of these non-second-order states to decide whether they wanted to become full-fledged states. He said it would be a good symbolic gesture to other countries relative to Puerto Rico to show the magnamity of the U.S.

Rep. Kay Katz pointed out Puerto Rico had had a referendum not to become a state. Jones insisted it was not a “real” vote and said this resolution would accomplish this. Rep. Sam Little pointed out that the Framers of the Constitution did not intend for D.C. to become a state, and that they had a representative, and that he didn’t want to give them two senators. Rep. Don Trahan asked why weren’t the territories in the South Pacific included? Jones said they weren’t big enough to be considered for statehood.

Closing, Jones said it was only fair since P.R. had been a territory since 1917 and that they shouldn’t continue being “second-class citizens.” A lockout was requested, and the resolution failed 20-51.

DID YOU KNOW?
HCR 100 would study “positive and negative” effects presumed to be caused by the high-stakes testing that are the LEAP and GEE tests. Author Rep. Juan LaFonta’s bill passed without objection.

WEDNESDAY:
HB 1306 is scheduled to be heard in the House Education Committee; HB 981 is scheduled to be heard by the House and Governmental Affairs Committee.

24 May 2008

Legislative regular session through May 24, 2008

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 321 passed the House; HB 350 passed the House; HB 734 with minor amendments passed committee; HB 790 passed Senate committee; HB 960 passed Senate committee; HB 988 passed House; SB 133 passed the House; SB 733 passed House committee; SB 807 passed House committee.

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 680 was involuntarily deferred by committee; HB 911 passed Senate committee; HB 1198 with minor amendments passed the House.

SCORECARD:
Total House introductions: 1383; total Senate introductions: 813.

Total House good bills: 42; total Senate good bills: 24.

Total House bad bills: 38; total Senate bad bills: 15.

Total House good bills heard in committee: 28; total Senate good bills heard in committee: 18

Total House bad bills heard in committee: 29; total Senate bad bills heard in committee: 10.

Total House good bills passing committee: 19; total Senate good bills passing committee: 12.

Total House bad bills passing committee: 7; total Senate bad bills passing committee: 8.

Total House good bills passing the House: 12; total Senate good bills passing the Senate: 7.

Total House bad bills passing the House: 3; total Senate bad bills passing the Senate: 3.

Total House good bills passing Senate committee: 1; total Senate good bills passing House committee: 5.

Total House good bills passing Senate: 0; total Senate good bills passing House: 1.

21 May 2008

Committee action, May 21: HB 790, HB 446, HB 960, HB 911

DID YOU KNOW?
HB 790 would eliminate the July election date. Author Rep. Franklin Foil noted to the Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee it was similar to Sen. Jack Donahue’s SB 271. Again, Sec. of State Jay Dardenne pointed out how turnout, at an average of 5.8 percent, was abysmal during these elections and would save about a million bucks a year by ending it. Without objection, it was reported favorably.

DID YOU KNOW?
HB 446 would remove the state’s requirement that there be an official printed journal of the acts passed by the state. Author Rep. Hunter Greene asked for voluntary deferral since his HB 431, a constitutional amendment which does the same thing, was on the floor awaiting action and it would be premature to deal with it until the other’s fate was known.

DID YOU KNOW?
HB 960 would increase early voting in more parishes. Dardenne said a limited number should be added (given costs and logistics); the bill provided for 10. Sen. Lydia Jackson asked about which ones would be added; Dardenne pointed out he would make that decision and bring it to legislative committees, and even as the bill did not specify a timetable, Dardenne thought he could get the job done in time for elections as long as the relevant committees were able to hear it. Author Rep. Rick Gallot pledged quick review by the House and Governmental Affairs Committee. Without objection it was reported favorably.

DID YOU KNOW?
HB 911 allows elected officials to attend other officials’ campaign fundraisers without paying for it. Author Gallot said this was unintended and he also expanded it to include all public servants’ attendance. Sen. Edwin Murray wondered whether the name and office of the attendee should be listed on a program to qualify for the exemption. Gallot didn’t think so, and Murray thought that was appropriate. Without objection, it was reported favorably.

19 May 2008

Committee and floor action, May 19: SB 108, HB 321, HB 350

DID YOU KNOW?
SB 106 was back, to the Senate Finance Committee regarding reporting by nongovernmental organizations wishing to receive state funds. Author Sen. Blade Morrish briefly outlined some changes he addressed, including making it easier to bring in “late” submissions by a two-thirds vote of the committee. But Sens. John Alario and Edwin Murray were skeptical that this would allow members to fully exert their abilities to dump these items into the budget. Morrish stressed information had to be provided for all members to see. With these amendments, it was adopted without objection.

This actually happened after a reconsideration to insert a previous technical amendment. Then after that, another reconsideration had to voted upon because of an error in the amendments, so that was undone, new amendments put on and the matter again voted into approval.

DID YOU KNOW?
HB 321 would increase the number of charter schools allowed in the state (exclusive of the Recovery School District’s) from 42 to 70. Rep. Don Trahan pointed out that these were public schools and that 70 was a good number because then pretty much every district could have one if they wanted it. He said the desire of districts to experiment with the greater flexibility should be indulged, and typically were used to help at-risk schools and had to mirror the at-risk population in composition of students.

Rep. Jean Doerge asked what were the financial implications. Trahan said most of them had to be approved by either a local school board or BESE or both, so they would be aware of any financial implications. Rep. Richard Burford asked about attendance zones; Trahan said in most cases they were the ones drawn by the school board.

The bill passed 91-0.

DID YOU KNOW?
HB 350 by Rep. Walt Leger would allow the Recovery School District to contract with for-profit education providers. He said it already was being done in Orleans but by contract, and by having them deal directly with the RSD they could more efficiently operate the most difficult schools.

The bill passed 99-0.

TUESDAY: SB 807 is scheduled to be heard by the House Commerce Committee.

17 May 2008

Legislative regular session through May 17, 2008

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 55 with minor amendments passed the House; HB 808 with minor amendments passed the Senate; HB 835 passed the House; HB 1016 was substituted for by HB 1372; HB 1357 with minor amendments passed the House; HB 1372 passed committee; SB 87 with major amendments passed House committee.

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 911 with minor amendments passed the House; SB 351 with minor amendments passed Senate committee and the Senate; SB 672 with minor amendments passed committee; SB 796 passed Senate committee and the Senate.

SCORECARD:
Total House introductions: 1372; total Senate introductions: 808.

Total House good bills: 42; total Senate good bills: 24.

Total House bad bills: 38; total Senate bad bills: 15.

Total House good bills heard in committee: 28; total Senate good bills heard in committee: 18

Total House bad bills heard in committee: 26; total Senate bad bills heard in committee: 10.

Total House good bills passing committee: 19; total Senate good bills passing committee: 12.

Total House bad bills passing committee: 7; total Senate bad bills passing committee: 8.

Total House good bills passing the House: 8; total Senate good bills passing the Senate: 7.

Total House bad bills passing the House: 2; total Senate bad bills passing the Senate: 3.

Total House good bills passing Senate committee: 0; total Senate good bills passing House committee: 4.

MONDAY: HB 384 and HB 1082 are scheduled to be heard by the House Appropriations Committee.

13 May 2008

Committee action, May 13: HCR 112, HB 923, HB 987

DID YOU KNOW?
HCR 112 would confine conference reports to stay solely with disagreements between chambers. Rep. Cameron Henry said it just made sense to keep changes congruent with what was intended in the bills and not let extraneous, surprise measures be attached which might be opposed by majorities in both houses but who want the original intent behind the bill to succeed.

Rep. Mert Smiley said this kind of resolution was needed. He said too much good legislation gets altered to allow undesirable aspects to be put on it and this forces hard choices. Rep. Rosalind Jones and Mike Danahy both essentially said they thought it would decrease latitude to create better bills. Henry said there were multiple opportunities to have good legislation pass through and (the co-author assisting Henry in testimony) Sen. Buddy Shaw added that as long as amendments in conference were tied to what was openly discussed in both chambers, they could be added. Jones, however, insisted that the resolution did not say that.

Smiley moved to approve but House and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Rick Gallot moved instead defer. On a party-line vote of those present with Democrats in favor, it failed 5-9. The motion to pass favorably then was approved without objection.

DID YOU KNOW?
HB 923 would enable disabled and elderly voters to vote by mail would expand the kinds of documentation to be used for confirmation, allow the designated status to be indefinite unless a ballot comes back undeliverable, and to tighten requirements relevant to mental disability. After adding a minor amendment, it was approved without objection.

DID YOU KNOW?
HB 987 would expand the kinds of documentation presented to vote with assistance at the polls, even on election day. After adding a minor amendment, it was approved without objection.

WEDNESDAY: HB 409 and HB 446 are scheduled to be heard in the Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee.

12 May 2008

Committee action, May 12: SB 796, SB 106, SB 672

DID YOU KNOW?
SB 796 by Sen. Joe McPherson would allow the state to issue more debt by excluding from the debt ceiling any debt backed by a statutory tax or assessment. Practically speaking, this would take the TIMED program debt out of calculating the limit, meaning the state could borrow more for other purposes.

He told the Senate Finance Committee this would “keep us from what we do so well, beat up on ourselves” by making debt statistics per capita look better. He said it would be a more accurate representation of the actual debt capacity of the state and it would not, he insisted, allow more extravagant spending even as TIMED took about half of the debt.

After some discussion, Sen. Jack Donahue learned that the ceiling was calculated just once a year. He also wondered whether this was fiscally responsible given that the cost of projects can balloon in cost over their lifespans – debt may be capped, but expenses aren’t. McPherson insisted this was more a cosmetic change and that expenses if in the form of debt still are covered under the cap.

The bill was reported favorably without objection.

DID YOU KNOW?
SB 106 would require greater reporting by nongovernmental organizations to relevant legislative committees in order to have state money appropriated to them. Sen. Blade Morrish said it was taking a joint resolution passed during the recent special session and putting it into law.

Sen. John Alario said putting it into statute was good but he said it wasn’t exactly like the resolution and so he wanted more time to merge the two. Sen. Lydia Jackson said the bill should be more general than the resolution since the law itself would make changes less flexible. Morrish agreed to address these concerns and voluntarily deferred.

DID YOU KNOW?
SB 672 would increase legislative salaries to 35 percent of what members of the U.S. Congress received – in practical terms, nearly $51,000 a year for a part-time job not even including the per diem and office allowance (being doubled as well) which would make state legislators among the highest paid in the nation. Sen. Ann Duplessis said the excess monies just declared made this more affordable than ever.

There were no questions and no objections; the bill was reported favorably.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
Fiscal responsibility is in the eye of the beholder.
McPherson.

TUESDAY: HB 808 is scheduled to be heard by the House Health and Welfare Committee.

11 May 2008

Legislative regular session through May 10, 2008

NOTE: Due to amendments, HB 83 has been rendered innocuous and thus has been removed from the list of bad bills.

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 55 with minor amendments passed committee; HB 321 with minor amendments passed committee; HB 350 passed committee; HB 436 failed to pass the House; HB 506 passed the House; HB 988 with minor amendments passed committee; HB 1022 failed to pass the House; HB 1122 with minor amendments passed the House; HB 1157 was substituted by HB 1365; HB 1365 passed committee; SB 1 with minor amendments passed committee; SB 27 failed to pass Senate; SB 221 with minor amendments passed committee; SB 527 was substituted by SB 808; SB 807 passed the Senate; SB 808 with minor amendments passed committee.

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 939 passed the House; HB 1198 passed committee; SB 61 with minor amendments failed (again) to pass Senate.

SCORECARD:
Total House introductions: 1366; total Senate introductions: 808.

Total House good bills: 42; total Senate good bills: 24.

Total House bad bills: 38; total Senate bad bills: 15.

Total House good bills heard in committee: 28; total Senate good bills heard in committee: 16.

Total House bad bills heard in committee: 26; total Senate bad bills heard in committee: 8.

Total House good bills passing committee: 17; total Senate good bills passing committee: 12.

Total House bad bills passing committee: 7; total Senate bad bills passing committee: 5.

Total House good bills passing the House: 6; total Senate good bills passing the Senate: 6.

Total House bad bills passing the House: 2; total Senate bad bills passing the Senate: 1.

Total House good bills passing Senate committee: 0; total Senate good bills passing House committee: 3.

MONDAY: SB 351, SB 683, and SB 796 are scheduled to be heard by the Senate Finance Committee.

06 May 2008

Floor action, May 6: SB 807, SB 224, SB 232, SB 233, HB 1022

DID YOU KNOW?
SB 807 would mimic similar legislation in 19 states that would create statewide, rather than local, cable franchises and allow up to five percent of fees collected to go to local governing authorities. Sen. Ann Duplessis initially offered several amendments to make agreements also authorized by local authorities and to give them more control.

Despite a similar bill drawing tremendous discussion and a gubernatorial veto in 2006, the bill passed 27-8.

DID YOU KNOW?
SB 224 would mandate tenants be members of public housing boards. Sen. Derrick Shepherd said it was only fair. But Sen. Danny Martiny proposed an amendment to exclude Kenner. He said Shepherd brought the bill out of a dispute with Kenner about a particular member serving on a housing board and Kenner officials did not want this, asking as a favor for the Senate to pass this change. Shepherd, under federal indictment, said this was not directed at Kenner and took “great offense” at his integrity being questioned. Martiny said there was no prohibition on tenants serving; a mayor simply could appoint them. The amendment passed 25-5. The bill then failed 16-19.

DID YOU KNOW?
SB 232 would place term limits, three, on major state boards and commissioners, mostly education and civil service in nature. Sen. Willie Mount said it would take place after 2008 elections. Since it was a constitutional amendment, it took a two-thirds vote to pass, and it did 31-4.

DID YOU KNOW?
SB 233 by law would extend the three-term limit to all boards and commissions. Author Mount said what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander in terms of term limits. The bill passed 29-4.

DID YOU KNOW?
HB 1022 would yank benefits from state employees, including elected officials, who commit certain felonies. If unvested employees get convicted, author Rep. Tony Ligi said they would forfeit benefits and the state would get its portion back. If vested, the person loses nothing but no cost-of-living increases would be forthcoming. No subsequent benefits would come their way; garnishment might be possible for restitution.

Rep. Michael Jackson wanted to know who was covered (members of statewide retirement systems) and specifics about potential crimes. He also wanted to know what would happen in the case of a wrongful conviction, but Ligi said he knew of no cases where such a conviction could be overturned. Rep. Jeff Arnold wanted to know what would happen to the “innocents” (spouse and children) of the convicted. Ligi said they would receive the employee part of the pension, and that the persons convicted still go could to work after getting out of jail and did not have to live on a pension. But the state part would stay in the fund. Rep. Rick Gallot asked about how marriage contracts would be affected; Ligi said the spouse had the right in vesting and in the non-vested case, since no right existed, it was a moot point. Rep, Juan LaFonta said in the case of the vested, these penalties would be unfair to the families. Ligi responded by saying the employee needed to take responsibility for these matters. Rep. Cedric Richmond said spouses would still suffer through sacrifices. Ligi said the penalty is not being given by the state, but by the offending spouse by misbehavior. Richmond said this was too much punishment affecting somebody innocent. Ligi argued without this standard, all suffer in the state through malfeasance and a bad reputation that affects economic prospects that also hurt families. Richmond said bills like this dragged down Louisiana’s image.

Ligi waived closing, and the bill failed 39-55.

WENDESDAY: HB 321 and HB 350 are scheduled to be heard by the House Education Committee; HB 808 is scheduled to be heard by the House Health and Welfare Committee.

05 May 2008

Committee action, May 5: SB 527, SB 1, SB 672, SB 772

DID YOU KNOW?
SB 527 by Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Chairman Rob Marionneaux would replace the present cumbersome if not illusory current capital outlay system. Commissioner of Administration Angele Davis called the situation “untenable” with the current system that allows tremendous overcommitments and that it needed reform to better reflect the reality of what actually happened in the process. She also said the request for a local share on projects of 20 percent (maximum) would create a better distribution of funds, sending money to projects that are really needed and local governments that really needed them. She also thought a feasibility study (done by the state from information provided) should be part of the process, and wanted to maintain a $200 million spending cap and a Nov. 1 deadline for inclusion.

Sen. Robert Adley wanted more specifics about feasibility, and while the representatives didn’t want to commit to specifics at this time, Adley thought it was important to put specific language in the bill at this time defining the legislative authority. He also was concerned about the appeal process as it also would be established by the Division of Administration and was not specific at this time. Other than these things, Adley said the only difference he saw with this and his SB 1 was no cap on total authorized projects which allowed maximal gubernatorial discretion in deciding what to fund. Davis argued a cap would unnecessarily limit cash flow management. Adley argued it could be done through changing the law that would let a legislative committee make adjustments rather than leaving it to the governor.

Sen. Yvonne Dorsey wanted an amendment to push the deadline to Dec. 15, to allow elections being settled during election years to be held and all legislators could participate in the process. Davis did not seem to think that would be a problem, and the amendment was adopted without objection.

Adley came back with amendments. Rules promulgated would be approved by budget committees and clarifications of committees to approve things and effective dates. They were accepted without objection. After some other questions, Adley moved to approve and it was done without objection.

DID YOU KNOW?
After approving SB 527, Adley asked that his SB 1 be amended to duplicate SB 527, and approved. This was done.

DID YOU KNOW?
SB 672 would provide a pay raise for legislators to full-time status. Author Sen. Ann Duplessis said that after a lot of prayer and research she now wanted to amend the bill from a $70,000 base pay to tie it to the pay of members of Congress, members making 30 percent and leaders more – making it closer now to $50,000. Unvouched expenses also were doubled. These amendments were adopted without objection.

Sen. Eric LaFleur pointed out that at this level compared to that derived by the previous commission to study compensation was higher. Sen. Jack Donahue also said there needed to be more study of what the Legislature actually does to tie it to a pay level. In response, Duplessis said something like that hasn’t been done because of “cameras.” Sen. Sharon Weston Broome said enough work had been done in various places and that there was no need for further study.

Sen. John Alario, however, preached caution in light of cuts being contemplated elsewhere in the budget. Even so, Duplessis argued, the bill should advance and the bill could be held pending other budget discussions. But that was not convincing and so she asked to defer the bill until next week.

DID YOU KNOW?
SB 772 would bank surplus funds recognized during a legislative session that could be sued for tax rebates or cuts. Sen. Troy Hebert said it would increase fiscal discipline and encourage returning excess monies to the citizenry.

Alario thought maybe it should not be all monies, but a proportion. Rep. Joel Robideaux said he was open to that. Alario also thought maybe liens should not be prohibited from being placed on these give-backs. Hebert said he was amenable to such a change. Alario thought overall the bill was better than “repealing a bunch of taxes.”

Donahue asked how this bill differed from others that were to allow rebates checks from nonrecurring funds. Robideaux said the money would be captured before the Legislature got to it and automatically be available for redistribution back. Sen. Mike Walsworth, however, noted that surpluses came about regardless of whether there is legal recognition of it, allowing unrecognized surpluses to avoid going into the fund, so the bill could be subverted.

Sen. Lydia Jackson, however, thought the concept too limiting that the money only could be distributed to taxpayers, or draw interest to eventually have that done. She said therefore it could not be used for general tax relief and in case the state wanted to spend it on other things. She argued bills like this ceded the Legislature’s authority. Hebert said perhaps it could be broadened to earmark money for tax relief, but insisted it remain locked from other uses.

Given the budgetary considerations ongoing, Finance Chairman Mike Michot asked if Hebert would defer the bill a week, and he was agreeable to that.

QUOTES OF THE DAY:
“The wisest member.”
Duplessis, after Donahue said he would have liked for input from Alario who he called “our oldest member.”

“I remember discussing this with Gov. Claiborne when I was first elected …”
Alario, on SB 672.