Legislative regular session rankings, 2013

And so the session is complete, save an unprecedented and would be miraculous veto override session being called. Thus, it’s time to compute the voting scorecard for the 2013 session. Twelve issues were selected and weighed for computation, all but two having been voted upon in both chambers. These were chosen mostly from the watch list compiled throughout the session, along with others of some importance. For a bill’s vote(s) to be selected, in both chambers there had to be more than one legislator not voting for the winning or losing side.

Being that passage of bills depends upon the seated membership of a body, not voting is counted as a negative vote. However, if a legislator had a leave of absence granted for that day, his absent votes weren’t counted for bills voted on that day and the score adjusted to take that into account.

Here are the bills with votes for final passage in every case on which the scorecard was computed, with the conservative/reform position and the weighing indicated:

Legislative regular session through Jun. 29. 2013

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 653 was signed by the governor; SB 61 was vetoed by the governor.

FINAL SCORECARD:

Total number of bills, House: 729; total number of bills, Senate: 262.

Total number of good bills, House: 51; total number of good bills, Senate: 16.

Total number of bad bills, House: 49; total number of bad bills, Senate: 12.

Total House good bills heard in House committee: 39; total Senate good bills heard in Senate committee: 10.

Total House bad bills heard in House committee: 39; total Senate bad bills heard in Senate committee: 11.

Total House good bills passed by House committee: 15; total Senate good bills passed by Senate committee: 8.

Total House bad bills passed by House committee: 9; total Senate bad bills passed by Senate committee: 6.

Total House good bills approved by House: 10; total Senate good bills approved by Senate: 8.

Total House bad bills approved by House: 6; total Senate bad bills approved by Senate: 4.

Total House good bills heard in Senate committee: 10; total Senate good bills heard in House committee: 5.

Total House bad bills heard in Senate committee: 6; total Senate bad bills heard in House committee: 4.

Total House good bills approved by Senate committee: 8; total Senate good bills approved by House committee: 5.

Total House bad bills approved by Senate committee: 3; total Senate bad bills approved by House committee: 4.

Total House good bills approved by Senate: 8; total Senate good bills approved by House: 4.

Total House bad bills approved by Senate: 3; total Senate bad bills approved by House: 4.

Total House good bills going to governor: 7; total Senate good bills going to governor: 4.

Total House bad bills going to governor: 3; total Senate bad bills going to governor: 4.

Total House good bills signed by governor/filed with Secretary of State: 7; total Senate good bills signed by governor/filed with Secretary of State: 4.

Total House bad bills signed by governor/filed with Secretary of State: 4; total Senate bad bills signed by governor/filed with Secretary of State: 2.

Legislative regular session through Jun. 22, 2013

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 6 was signed by the governor; HB 8 was signed by the governor, HB 98 was signed by the governor; HB 525 was signed by the governor; HB 717 was signed by the governor; HB 725 was signed by the governor; SB 20 was signed by the governor; SB 31 was signed by the governor; SB 90 was signed by the governor.

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 174 was signed by the governor; HB 352 was signed by the governor; SB 63 was signed by the governor; SB 215 was signed by the governor.

SCORECARD:

Legislative regular session through Jun. 15, 2013

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 582 was signed by the governor;  SB 45 was signed by the governor.

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD:  SB 33 was signed by the governor.

SCORECARD:

Legislative regular session through Jun. 8, 2013

With the Legislature out of session, our wallets again are safe. With 20 days from its end for the governor to decide on the fate of bills, in three weeks the Log will publish its 2013 scorecard. Until then, the last gory details can trickle out. Unfortunately, one of them regards SB 165 which would have scaled back considerably the motion picture investors tax credit, but which instead got gutted by amendment at the last minute, and thus is removed from the list of good bills.

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 8 was sent to the governor; HB 98 was concurred in and sent to the governor; HB 525 was concurred in; HB 717 with minor amendment passed the Senate, was concurred in, and was sent to the governor; SB 20 was sent to the governor; SB 31 went to conference, passed the Senate, passed the House, and was sent to the governor; SB 45 was sent to the governor; SB 90 was sent to the governor.

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 352 was concurred in and sent to the governor; HB 653 with minor amendment passed the Senate, failed in concurrence, went to conference, passed the Senate, passed the House, and was sent to the governor; SB 33 was sent to the governor; SB 61 was sent to the governor; SB 63 was sent to the governor; SB 215 with minor amendment passed the House, was concurred in, and was sent to the governor.

Legislative regular session through Jun. 1, 2013

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 6 was concurred in by the House; HB 98 with minor amendment passed the Senate; HB 111 with minor amendment passed the Senate; HB 525 with minor amendment passed the Senate; HB 582 was sent to the governor; HB 725 passed Senate committee and passed the Senate; SB 20 was passed by the House and concurred in by the Senate; SB 31 was rejected by the Senate and conference committee called; SB 45 passed the House; SB 90 with minor amendment passed the House and was concurred in by the Senate; SB 165 with minor amendment passed the House and was concurred in by the Senate;

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 174 was sent to the governor; HB 352 with minor amendment passed the Senate; HB 653 with major amendment passed Senate committee; SB 33 with minor amendment was passed by the House and concurred in by the Senate; SB 61 with minor amendment passed the House and was concurred in by the Senate; SB 63 with minor amendment passed the House and was concurred in by the Senate; SB 215 passed House committee.

SCORECARD

Committee action, May 28: SB 215, SB 188

DID YOU KNOW?

SB 215 by Sen. David Heitmeier would allow for Mississippi River ferries in the New Orleans area to be operated with money from the state. Rep. Jeff Arnold explained to the House Appropriations Committee that without Crescent City Connection tolls, in order to run ferries money that would have gone to the CCC from fees collected from trucks and trailers in Orleans Parish that also go to the Causeway to pay off its bonds. The other half had been paying off CCC bonds but now would go to the Chalmette ferry. It would not include the Canal Street ferry although a subsequent agreement could include operation of more, and the $4 million subsidy would sunset in 2018.

Rep. Robert Billiot asked about privatization efforts and whether attempts would continue. He was told they were looking at the Regional Transit Authority (which is not a private operator) to do that next year.

With no opposition, the bill passed.

Legislative regular session through May 25, 2013

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 6 with minor amendment passed the Senate; HB 8 with minor amendment passed the Senate; HB 98 with minor amendment passed Senate committee; HB 111 with minor amendment passed Senate committee; HB 582 passed the Senate; SB 20 with minor amendment passed House committee; SB 31 with minor amendment passed the House; SB 36 passed House committee; SB 90 with minor amendment passed House committee; SB 165 passed House committee.

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 174 passed Senate committee and the Senate; HB 233 failed to pass the House; HB 352 passed Senate committee; HB 682 passed House committee; SB 33 passed House committee; SB 61 with minor amendment passed House committee; SB 63 with minor amendment passed House committee.

SCORECARD

Committe action, May 21: HB 625, SB 33

DID YOU KNOW?

HB 625 by Rep. Randal Gaines would undo the loosening of tenure protections previously passed in terms of disciplinary procedures for teachers. It claimed many procedural issues from previous reform that needed resolution, and was causing confusion.

Rep. Nancy Landry from the House Education Committee pointed out that this seemed pretty much like the system that had been replaced, and that had caused an unrealistically-low removal rate of ineffective teachers. Gaines said the previous effort was too hasty and a familiar system was best to correct for the asserted shortcomings. Landry said this turned the focus away from achievement and these changes in the bill broke the link between outcomes and continued employment. She said there may be procedural problems worth fixing, but that this bill went far beyond that.

Rep. Chris Broadwater asked who would pay for these added procedures, which seemed to him this would increase costs on schools. However, it was possible that arbitrators would pass costs onto other parties.

Legislative regular session through May 18, 2013

Interestingly, this week one bill made the unusual move of going from one category to another. HB 693 had started as a bad bill because it expanded the use of motion picture investor tax credits. But as a result of committee action this week, it became not only more like HB 696 which limits exposure to credits, but goes even farther. Thus, it flips categories.

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 6 passed Senate committee; HB 8 passed Senate committee; HB 68 was substituted for by HB 729; HB 161 was withdrawn; HB 525 was approved by Senate committee; HB 582 passed House committee; HB 693 with minor amendment passed House committee; HB 725 with minor amendment passed the House; HB 727 passed House committee; SB 4 was withdrawn; SB 45 passed House committee; SB 165 with minor amendment passed the Senate,

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 174 passed Senate committee; HB 240 passed House committee; HB 352 with minor amendment passed the House; HB 387 with minor amendment passed the House; HB 706 failed to pass the House; SB 33 passed House committee; SB 63 passed the Senate.

Committee action, May 13: SB 215, HB 693, HB 268

DID YOU KNOW?

SB 215 by Sen. Francis Heitmeier would force funding for Mississippi River ferries by transferring operations to metropolitan New Orleans’ Regional Transit Authority. The House Transportation, Highways, and Public Works Committee was told that they would collect fees, but then also take money from license plate fees in the area. This was in response to the state defunding their operations.

It attracted no substantial questions or opposition, and therefore was approved without objection.

Legislative regular session through May 11, 2013

Because of improving amendment, HB 115 has been removed from the bad bill list.

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 87 with minor amendment passed House committee; HB 98 with minor amendment passed the House; HB 111 with minor amendment passed the House; HB 162 with minor amendment passed House committee; HB 197 was substituted by HB 725; HB 444 with minor amendment passed House committee; HB 666 was involuntarily deferred; HB 696 was reported unfavorably by House committee and with major amendment passed the House; HB 725 passed House committee; SB 31 with minor amendment passed House committee; SB 45 with minor amendment passed the Senate; SB 118 with minor amendment passed House committee; SB 165 with minor amendment passed Senate committee; SB 259 passed the Senate.

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 160 passed the House; HB 179 was involuntarily deferred; HB 233 with major amendment passed House committee; HB 240 with minor amendment passed House committee; HB 352 passed House committee; HB 387 with minor amendment passed House committee; HB 519 passed House committee; HB 653 was unfavorably reported by House committee and with major amendment passed the House; HB 706 passed House committee; SB 33 with minor amendment passed the Senate.

Committee action, May 6: HB 240, HB 519

DID YOU KNOW?

HB 240 by Rep. Kenny Havard would allow legislative committees to interpose themselves in the administrative contracting process, for those more than $5 million, to see whether a contract is worth it and its implications, even as it already is part of the Administrative Procedure Act.  Technical amendments were to the House Appropriations Committee offered and adopted without objection.

Opponents from the Division of Administration noted that this added an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy, despite several other vetting stops within both the executive branch and Legislature, which has the effect of discouraging privatization and in that respect, contrary to Havard’s assertion, was anti-privatization. It also forcibly makes contractors to offer job opportunities to former state employees into privatized operations, which are neither necessary nor appropriate at all times. It also subjects privatization to additional scrutiny beyond tasks done by government employees.

Rep. Roy Burrell wondered whether any follow-up was done to check on whether laid off employees subsequently took on lower-paid jobs or had any job at all. They replied that often this frees employees for better positions even in government.

Legislative regular session through May 4, 2013

HB 116 is being removed from the list of bad bills as it has mutated into a benign form. The same is true with HB 343; however, these will be monitored to ensure future amendment do not unwind the reasons for which they were initially objectionable. With tax and budgetary reform in flux, many mutations may occur in the next week. And, a new bill by substitute joins the list of the good, SB 259 by Sen. Barrow Peacock, which will shore up unfunded accrued liabilities in pensions for firefighters.

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 6 passed the House; HB 88 was involuntarily deferred; HB 98 with minor amendment passed committee; HB 111 with major amendment passed committee; SB 4 with minor amendment passed committee; SB 20 passed the Senate; SB 36 with major amendment passed the Senate.

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 160 with minor amendment passed committee; HB 174 with minor amendment passed committee; HB 284 was involuntarily deferred; SB 33 with minor amendment passed Senate committee; SB 125 with major amendment passed Senate committee; SB 153 with minor amendment passed Senate committee; SB 215 passed the Senate.

Committee action, Apr. 29: HB 576, HB 331, HB 162

DID YOU KNOW?

HB 576 by Rep. Chris Broadwater would create a special statewide taxing district that would use a state property tax, approved by voters, with funding dedicated to higher education academic operations, run by higher education management boards. It pegs the amount to general funding, where it is not supposed to compensate for reductions in state support. The homestead exemption would apply. He offered up an amendment that said these votes could happen only when at least another statewide election was on the ballot, and the House Ways and Means Committee adopted it without objection.

He defended against the notion that it was a tax increase by saying it simply created a choice. Opponent Tim Barfield of the Department of Revenue said it would allow one part of the state to impose on another even if they have very divergent views on the tax, and it disproportionately affects those on fixed incomes. Broadwater tried to draw an analogy between statewide elections for taxation and that of U.S. Senators, and that the fixed income argument was different. He noted that a few taxing districts had been created in the past couple of years – but all examples given were local.

He moved to report, which received objection, and it failed 6-11, most favorable votes coming from Democrats.

Legislative regular session through Apr. 27, 2013

Note: For those unfamiliar with the process, a legislative committee may “hear” a bill by deferring it to a future session. Thus, it may consider the bill later and take some kind of action on it then. This also applies when the author voluntarily defers the bill, because it theoretically could be brought back up later, or when there is action taken upon but no formal resolution to a bill, as occurred this week with SB 153. Finally, even when a bill is approved by a committee, rules or a preference to have another referral may send it to another committee instead of to the chamber floor.

Also, during the session sometimes “substitute” bills are filed, as noted in last week’s post. This occurs when a previously-introduced bill is changes substantially, which effectively negates the previous bill. For example, HB 21 has been substituted for by HB 717 in this session.

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 717 with major amendment passed the House; SB 20 with minor amendment passed Senate committee; SB 118 with major amendment passed the Senate.

Committee action, Apr. 24: HB 341, SB 20, SB 68, SB 153

DID YOU KNOW?

HB 341 by Rep. Tim Burns is the omnibus election bill, a version of which tweaks the election code. Mostly very marginal and uncontroversial in nature, this year’s has the intriguing change of deleting the requirement of publishing the inactive voter list in print and, after an amendment, to put it online. Representatives of the Secretary of State told the House and Governmental Affairs Committee this allowed for constant viewing of the list, that many parishes no longer even had newspapers locally to print the lists, and would reduce costs.

Opponents representing newspaper interests were present, but did not speak to criticize that part of the bill. Without objection, the bill with amendments was approved.

DID YOU KNOW?

SB 20 by Sen. Bret Allain would require more advance notice when local governments desire to raises taxes in one form or another, with at least 30 days of notice of a meeting to do so. After minor amendments were approved, the bill was approved by the Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee without objection.

Committee action, Apr. 23: HB 623, HB 537

DID YOU KNOW?

HB 537 by Rep. Katrina Jackson would amend the Constitution to raise tobacco taxes and dedicate the funds as by subsequent law. She deferred HB 623, which would do the same except not dedicate anything. She started with an amendment that dedicated revenues specifically to Medicaid and medical education, as well to pay down unfunded accrued liabilities, which was offered by Rep. Chris Broadwater and was adopted without objection.

She briefly described the bill to the House Ways and Means Committee and took technical questions and clarifications. A list of supporters’ and a very lengthy list of opponents’ names were read off, although most declared they didn’t want to speak on the matter.

Interestingly, the American Cancer Society declared itself against the bill, because the amount of increase of 32 cents a pack on cigarettes it deemed insufficient to change behavior. Retailer representatives predictably said business would be hurt, and pointed out outdated information from Jackson. They claimed it would not generate revenues predicted and even put the industry out of business and hurt customers.

Jackson, in closing, expressed disappointment that the ACS would testify against the bill, and claimed the bill would decrease medical costs. She said these revenues also could go to educating health care professionals to fight deleterious effect of smoking.

The bill failed 7-12.

Legislative regular session through Apr. 20. 2013

It was the last week to file bills, so except for substitutes that will take the place of others or the exceptional circumstance where a bill gets mutated into something good or bad by amendment, the list is complete. Withdrawn bills prior to the end of filing also have been struck from the list.

THE GOOD: HB 680 by Rep. Dee Richard would repeal corporate income and franchise taxes (similar bills: HB 700, HB 715); HB 689 by Richard would reduce individual income taxes and provides for changes in exceptions (similar bill: HB 701); HB 696 by Rep. Jack Montoucet reduces of eliminates many less-useful tax exceptions; SB 256 by Sen. Dan Claitor would clarify which vehicles may receive an alternative fuel tax credit.

THE BAD: HB 675 by Rep. Karen St. Germain would increase fuel taxes annually by the rate of inflation; HB 679 by Rep. Erich Ponti would expand the use of the wasteful film tax credit (similar bill: HB 693); HB 682 by Rep. Paul Hollis would create more sales tax exclusions for a special interest (similar bills: HB 702, SB 248); HB 704 by Rep. Katrina Jackson would raise state income taxes; HB 706 by Rep. Barbara Norton would take away voter’s veto power over a portion of Shreveport’s sales tax; HB 707 by Rep. Marcus Hunter effectively would increase sales taxes paid by certain business by not reimbursing them for being tax collectors for the state; HB 709 by Hunter would introduce legislative micromanagement into certain tax exemption decisions; HB 711 by Rep. Regina Barrow in statute would tax single-use grocery bags; HB 712 by Jackson would raise taxes automatically in times of forecast budget deficit rather than look for reduction of spending; HB 713 by Rep. Julie Stokes would increase sales taxes paid by certain business by not reimbursing them for being tax collectors for the state and raise tobacco taxes.

Legislative regular session through Apr. 13, 2013

As noted in the initial list, with the announcement that the entire package presented by Gov. Bobby Jindal for tax reform would not be presented, individual bills were added to the good and bad, along with any others filed the first week of the session.

THE GOOD: HB 271 by Rep. Hunter Greene would repeal income taxes over time (similar bills: HB 505, HB 507, HB 669; SB 138); HB 338 by Rep. Harold Ritchie would lower corporate income taxes; HB 394 by Ritchie would reduce individual income tax rates (similar bill: HB 609); HB 634 by Rep. Alan Seabaugh would reduce both corporate income and franchise taxes (similar bill: HB 637).

THE BAD: HB 304 by Rep. Kirk Talbot increases tobacco taxes but does not dedicate the increase to a non-recurring purpose related to smoking (similar bill: HB 574); HB 536 by Rep. Katrina Jackson would increase income taxes for many individuals and corporations; HB 610 by Talbot would add state sales taxes to additional transactions (similar bill: HB 653).

Committee action, Apr. 10: SB 202, SB 45, SB 31, SB 118

DID YOU KNOW?

SB 202 by Sen. Ben Nevers would change the grade point average requirements for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Scholars, by elevating quality points earned for certain kinds of advanced kinds of classes or core courses. After some minor amendments were accepted, State Education Superintendent John White argued the bill better aligned diplomas with TOPS and simplified the how the two related. It would take effect for the college entrance class of 2017, not throwing curveballs to students already in progress.

The committee approved favorably without objection.

DID YOU KNOW?

SB 45 by Sen. Yvonne Dorsey-Colomb would merge a few Baton Rouge-area technical college campuses into Baton Rouge Community College. The technical college’s tuition rates for continuing students would remain the same for two years and maintain programs. There would be costs, but they would be covered by the tuition increase for new students. System President Joe May said this would cut administrative costs and allow money to be rolled into the classroom.

After approved minor amendments, the committee approved favorably without objection.

The Good, Bad, and Ugly -- Prefiled bills for 2013 Regular Session

Welcome to the Louisiana Legislature Log’s coverage of the 2013 Regular Session, with the listing of the good, bad, and ugly prefiled bills. Starting in two weeks, updates will come on these on a weekly basis, as well as selective coverage of committee and floor action on them.