Legislative regular session scores, 2016

With all business disposed of relative to the 2016 Regular Session, legislators and the governor can receive grades (barring a miraculous veto override session). Fourteen bills were selected and weighed for computation, all but four having been voted upon in both chambers. These were chosen from the watch list compiled throughout the session. For a bill’s vote(s) to be selected, in one chamber 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 special session through Jul. 2, 2016

And the governor dealt with the final parts to the Second Extraordinary Session of 2016:

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 50 was signed by the governor; SB 10 was signed by the governor.

Legislative special session through Jun. 25, 2016

The Second Extraordinary Session of 2016 has concluded, with the following results, none of which were good:

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 35 was signed by the governor; HB 50 passed the Senate, was concurred in by the House, and was sent to the governor;  SB 10 with major amendment passed House committee, passed the House, was rejected by the Senate, had conference report approved by the Senate, and conference report approved by the House.

Legislative regular session through Jun. 25, 2016

While technically the governor still has a bit of time to make veto decisions, as far as relevant bills on the watch list, he has dealt with all of them. Thus, next week in this space will appear the voting scorecard for the 2016 regular session.

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 922 was signed by the governor; HB 948 was signed by the governor; HB 1019 was signed by the governor; SB 317 was signed by the governor; SB 406 was signed by the governor; SB 446 was signed by the governor; SB 466 was signed by the governor.

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 223 was signed by the governor; HB 805 was signed by the governor.

SCORECARD:
Total number of bills, House: 1167; total number of bills, Senate: 477.

Total number of good bills, House: 84; total number of good bills, Senate: 31.

Total number of bad bills, House: 65; total number of bad bills, Senate: 25.

Total House good bills heard in House committee: 53; total Senate good bills heard in Senate committee: 21.

Total House bad bills heard in House committee: 43; total Senate bad bills heard in Senate committee: 20.

Total House good bills passed by House committee: 21; total Senate good bills passed by Senate committee: 11.

Total House bad bills passed by House committee: 13; total Senate bad bills passed by Senate committee: 9.

Total House good bills approved by House: 16; total Senate good bills approved by Senate: 11.

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

Total House good bills heard in Senate committee: 13; total Senate good bills heard in House committee: 8.

Total House bad bills heard in Senate committee: 8; total Senate bad bills heard in House committee: 4.

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

Total House bad bills approved by Senate committee: 7; total Senate bad bills approved by House committee: 3.

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

Total House bad bills approved by Senate: 7; total Senate bad bills approved by House: 2.

Total House good bills going to governor: 10; total Senate good bills going to governor: 7.

Total House bad bills going to governor: 7; total Senate bad bills going to governor: 2.

Total House good bills signed by governor/filed with Secretary of State: 10; total Senate good bills signed by governor/filed with Secretary of State: 7.

Total House bad bills signed by governor/filed with Secretary of State: 7; total Senate bad bills signed by governor/filed with Secretary of State: 0.

Legislative special session through Jun. 18. 2016

The fun never seems to stop as the second special session doggedly persists. New bills managed to hit one of the lists.

THE BAD: SB 10 by Sen. Rick Ward would foist a non-refunded inventory tax on practically all filers with more than a trivial amount of inventory; SB 13 by Sen. J.P. Morell would repeal deductibility of capital gains for state income tax computation.

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 35 passed Senate committee and the Senate; HB 38 with major amendment passed House committee; HB 50 passed the House and with minor amendment passed Senate committee; SB 10 passed Senate committee and the Senate: SB 13 with minor amendment passed Senate committee

Legislative regular session through Jun. 18. 2016

As the second special session limps along, the dying embers of the regular session remain.

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 1155 was signed by the governor; HB 1156 was signed by the governor.

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 32 was signed by the governor; HB 1102 was signed by the governor.

Legislative special session through Jun. 12, 2016

And the fun never stops regarding Democrat Gov. John Bel Edwards, with his proclamation of yet another special session – one starting a half hour after the regular session that came so quickly only then could legislators file bills. The Log will cover it, but starting with the state of bills as they exist today. As always, budget bills will not be included, but plenty of tax items are.

This leads to some complicated assessments of what is good and bad. For example, Rep. Julie Stokes has a set of bills, including amending the Constitution, that she insists would accomplish revenue neutral tax simplification. However, taken separately, they could provoke either tax cuts or hikes. As they progress, this space will assess them and assign them to a category if need be, depending upon what combination emerges.

THE GOOD: HB 21 by Rep. Gene Reynolds would lower marginal rates on state individual income taxation; HB 64 by Rep. Chris Broadwater would repeal corporate income and franchise taxes and eliminate some refundable tax credits.

Legislative regular session through Jun. 11, 2016

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 922 was sent to the governor; HB 948 was sent to the governor; HB 1019 was sent to the governor; SB 80 was concurred in by the Senate and sent to the Secretary of State; SB 329 was signed by the governor; SB 406 was sent to the governor; SB 446 was sent to the governor; SB 466 was sent to the governor;

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 223 was sent to the governor; HB 266 was signed by the governor; HB 805 had the House and Senate concur in conference and was sent to the governor.

SCORECARD:

Legislative regular session through Jun. 4, 2016

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 606 was signed by the governor; HB 842 was signed by the governor; HB 922 was passed by Senate committee and the Senate and concurred in by the House; HB 948 was concurred in by the Senate; HB 1019 with major amendment passed the Senate and was concurred in by the House; HB 1081 was signed by the governor; HB 1155 passed the Senate and was sent to the governor; HB 1156 was sent to the governor; SB 80 with minor amendment passed the House; SB 317 with minor amendment passed the House, was concurred in by the Senate, and was sent to the governor; SB 329 was sent to the governor; SB 406 passed the House; SB 446 with minor amendment passed the House and was concurred in by the Senate; SB 466 passed House committee and the House; SB 473 failed to gain Senate concurrence.

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 32 passed the Senate and was sent to the governor; HB 223 passed the Senate; HB 266 was sent to the governor; HB 805 passed the Senate and failed to gain House concurrence; HB 1102 was sent to the governor; SB 260 was sent to the governor; SB 262 was sent to the governor.

SCORECARD:

Legislative regular session through May 28. 2016

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 606 passed the Senate and was sent to the governor; HB 842 was sent to the governor; HB 922 with minor amendment passed Senate committee; HB 948 passed the Senate; HB 1019 with minor amendment passed Senate committee; HB 1081 passed the Senate and was sent to the governor; HB 1155 passed Senate committee; HB 1156 passed the Senate; SB 329 with major amendment passed the House and was concurred in; SB 446 with minor amendment passed House committee; SB 466 with minor amendment passed the Senate; SB 473 with minor amendment passed the House.

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 32 with minor amendment passed Senate committee; HB 223 passed the Senate; HB 266 passed the Senate; HB 805 passed Senate committee; HB 878 was deferred involuntarily; HB 1102 was concurred in; SB 260 passed the House; SB 262 passed the House.

SCORECARD:

Committee action, May 24: SB 446, HB 922, HB 1019

DID YOU KNOW?

SB 446 by Sen. Sharon Hewitt would have the Board of Regents conduct a review of its operations. She explained to the House Education Committee that a systematic reporting was necessary in order to use most efficiently resources, with an eye towards the future. Limited financial resources made an understanding of what resources were at hand, what gaps exist, and what must be done to close these crucial. The report should have an ideal end state, present state, and the barriers from going to the former from the latter. Then the Legislature would deal with the results next year. She had offered amendments that would clarify expectations, which were adopted unanimously.

Rep. Chris Broadwater found merit to the bill, saying it would prompt the Regents to move faster and farther than might happen otherwise. Four years from the past revision of the master plan he thought meant it was time to review it. But, he said he did not want the bill to make it stale for the future, so he suggested a sunset date. Hewitt said she agreed, and Broadwater offered an amendment to sunset at the end of the next fiscal year that was adopted without dissent.

Rep. Pat Smith wanted to know if Hewitt was amenable to amending to gather data on diversity and degreed status of staff. She didn’t, and the amendment was adopted without objection.

Legislative regular session through May 21, 2016

SB 373 exits the list of good bills, as amendments allow for a needless commission with a needless duty to stay in existence.

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 386 was signed by the governor; HB 606 passed Senate committee; HB 842 was concurred in; HB 948 with minor amendment passed Senate committee; HB 1081 passed Senate committee and the Senate; HB 1156 passed Senate committee; HB 1167 failed to pass the House; SB 80 with minor amendment passed House committee; SB 317 with minor amendment passed House committee; SB 473 with minor amendment passed House committee.

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 7 was signed by the governor; HB 223 passed Senate committee; HB 771 was deferred involuntarily; HB 985 was deferred involuntarily; HB 1102 passed the Senate; SB 254 was deferred involuntarily; SB 260 passed House committee; SB 262 passed House committee.

Committee action, May 17: SB 260, SB 473

DID YOU KNOW?
SB 260 by Sen. Dan Morrish would repeal the local charter authorizer portion of state law. Currently, BESE may designate up to 40 statewide, and these may bypass local boards. He stressed to the House Education Committee they were not elected, unlike the other entities, and didn’t like the idea that chartering could occur without elected official participation.

Supporters of the bill testified that to allow this was akin to having a nongovernment organization making law, that meritorious schools will get charters through elected bodies, that multiple authorizers tend to produce schools with lower outcomes, and duplicated regulation. However, they admitted through questioning that no authorizers existed, and only two applicants ever.

Opponents noted authorizers also were adjuncts of government agencies, faced rigorous qualifications and oversight as well as any schools the authorized, and maximized choice. Rep. Chris Broadwater, however, wondered whether a system never used ought to be retained and what should happen to encourage its use. He was told the rigor and lack of knowledge of the system might be the cause, and noted in other states this worked. It was supposed to be stringent to ensure quality; indeed, these were higher standards than any other schools in the state.

Legislative regular session through May 14, 2016

This week, HB 454 mutated into a benign form by removing from it a burdensome requirement to have the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget approve of over a hundred state contracts a month. And another bill that by substitute became HB 1167 becomes good, by Rep. Stuart Bishop that would allow school choice within any school district, subject to legal constraints and availability. Also, by substitute SB 342 transformed into a benign bill.

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 386 was concurred in; HB 573 was withdrawn; HB 606 passed Senate committee; HB 812 was signed by the governor; HB 842 with minor amendment passed the Senate; HB 922 passed the House; HB 1005 passed Senate committee; HB 1081 passed Senate committee; HB 1156 with minor amendment passed the House; SB 80 with minor amendment passed House committee; SB 174 was signed by the governor; SB 329 passed House committee; SB 373 passed Senate committee and the Senate; SB 466 with major amendment passed Senate committee; SB 473 passed Senate committee.

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 7 was concurred in; HB 74 was deferred involuntarily; HB 109 was signed by the governor; HB 1102 passed Senate committee; SB 256 with minor amendment passed Senate committee and the Senate; SB 262 with minor amendment passed Senate committee and passed the Senate; SB 332 passed Senate committee

Committee action, May 9: HB 256, HB 454, HB 74, HB 1005

DID YOU KNOW?
HB 256 by Sen. Mike Walsworth would carve out appropriations to higher-qualifying senior citizen centers, he told the Senate Finance Committee. But Sen. Jim Fannin asked for with Walsworth’s assent an amendment to make this award discretionary. That was adopted without objection, and so was the bill.

DID YOU KNOW?
HB 454 by Rep. Dee Richard would lower threshold for legislative review of contracts from $40,000 to $25,000 using all means of finance. Sen. Jack Donahue, noting that the threshold for letting was only $20,000, asked how many more would be included for review, which would be about 130 a month; currently, the law includes only discretionary general funding so none yet have needed review. He expressed skepticism that such a workload could be maintained. Even Richard said he would not look thoroughly at so many, but said he wanted to publicize the issue of their numbers and amounts to cut these. Donahue, a contractor by trade, said it took him considerable time to review these for his business.

Fannin said the process to do this would be so time consuming that the bill should have a fiscal note. Chairman Eric LaFleur said this change would move from transparency to oversight of contracts.

Sen. Bret Allain offered an amendment to move the amount back to $40,000 and eliminated the approval requirement. Fannin wondered whether a 30-day window could work, but some contracts are of such duration that this would rush the procurement process. Allain said his amendment would be a workable way to accomplish this. Sen. Sharon Hewitt said priority should go to larger contracts, but seemed unsure whether this bill would properly do this. Without objection, the amended was adopted, which cut down the number to about 120 a month.

Dueling motions to report or defer came up. It was reported favorably with all Republicans present voting for it, all Democrats present against.

DID YOU KNOW?
HB 74 by Richard would reduce contracts from the present level by $183.2 million. That number matched the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students shortfall. Fannin wanted to know how it worked; Richard said that was left up to administrative discretion.

Sen. Regina Barrow argued that this bill would be too restrictive, but Richard said there would be sufficient slack for cuts to be made without affecting crucial services. The bill also allows waivers for several conditions, so that it may not achieve savings anyway.

Other senators agreed, assuming that all health care contracts were off the table. Hewitt said the appropriations process might be a better venue to make more targeted. The bill then was deferred involuntarily.

DID YOU KNOW?
HB 1005 by Rep. Tom Wilmott would prevent agencies spending above monthly averages of the previous fiscal year in the last two months of the current fiscal year without approval by the commissioner of administration, in acquisitions, supplies and travel. Currently agencies have incentive to spend everything, but if the spending rate is lower than historical norms, this may indicate not as much should have been appropriated. Wilmott said he had research to show spikes in spending in these areas in the last two months. Without objection, it was favorably reported.

Legislative regular session through May 7, 2016

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 386 with minor amendment passed Senate; HB 392 was substituted for and became HB 1156; HB 453 with minor amendment passed the House; HB 558 passed the House; HB 586 with major amendment failed to pass the House; HB 594 was deferred involuntarily by Senate committee; HB 812 passed the Senate; HB 842 passed Senate committee; HB 1005 passed the House; HB 1148 with minor amendment passed the House; HB 1155 passed House committee; HB 1156 passed House committee; SB 174 passed the House and was sent to the governor; SB 317 with minor amendment passed Senate committee and passed the Senate; SB 406 with major amendment passed House committee; SB 446 with minor amendment passed Senate committee and passed the Senate.

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 7 passed the Senate; HB 74 passed the House; HB 109 was sent to the governor; HB 266 passed Senate committee; HB 454 with minor amendment passed the House; HB 805 with major amendment passed Senate committee; HB 1045 was deferred involuntarily; HB 1102 with major amendment passed the House; SB 433 passed House committee.

SCORECARD:

Committee action, May 4: HB 892, HB 543, HB 971, HB 805

DID YOU KNOW?
HB 892 by Rep. Ted James would change existing tenure laws for teachers. He told the House Education Committee he had not reached consensus on the bill and asked for voluntary deferral, getting it.

DID YOU KNOW?
HB 543 by Rep. Frank Hoffman would dilute accountability standards for teachers. He said the value-added mechanism was not working as intended, and the bill would allow voluntary use of it. But he asked for a voluntary deferral, saying more negotiation with others to present some kind of change was needed, and this was granted.

DID YOU KNOW?
HB 971 by Rep. Steve Carter would restrict the ability of university sports teams to play away from home. He said he thought it the most controversial he ever had brought, but said a drafting error might have contributed to that. He offered an amendment to clear that up, which was accepted that applied the measure only to money not self-generated, not from students. The 375-mile limit would not apply to football or basketball.

Legislative regular session through Apr. 30, 2016

The substitute for HB 151 became HB 1148. And a substitute bill mutated into something good: SB 473 by Sen. Ronnie Johns would re-establish the Health Premium Payment Program for Medicaid recipients that could save the state money.

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 152 was deferred involuntarily; HB 453 failed to pass the House; HB 558 with minor amendment passed House committee; HB 573 with minor amendment passed House committee; HB 606 with minor amendment passed House committee; HB 922 passed House committee; HB 948 with minor amendment passed the House; HB 1005 passed House committee; HB 1019 with minor amendment passed the House; HB 1021 was deferred involuntarily; HB 1081 with minor amendment passed the House; SB 406 with minor amendment passed Senate committee and passed the Senate.

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 7 with minor amendment passed Senate committee; HB 74 with major amendment passed House committee; HB 101 was deferred involuntarily; HB 109 passed Senate committee and the Senate; HB 266 passed the House; HB 454 passed House committee; HB 598 failed to pass the House; HB 693 with major amendment passed House committee; HB 943 with minor amendment passed the House; SB 260 passed Senate committee and with minor amendment passed the Senate; SB 436 passed Senate committee.

Committee action, Apr. 25: HB 454, HB 174, HB 1021

DID YOU KNOW?
HB 454 by Rep. Dee Richard would force reporting of contracts of a certain amount to the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget. The current amount is $40,000; this bill would lower it to $25,000, he told the House’s Appropriations Committee.

Rep. Pat Smith said she thought the committee would have to meet more often to review more contracts, which at the current threshold numbers 1,700. Richard didn’t think that necessary.

Without objection, the bill was approved.

Legislative regular session through Apr. 23, 2016

HB 125, on the list of bad bills, has been removed as a substitute bill for it has transformed into a benign bill. By contrast, SB 470 with a floor amendment has become so watered down that it no longer qualifies as a good bill.

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 151 was substituted for by some unspecified bill and passed House committee ; HB 439 passed House committee; HB 453 with minor amendment passed House committee; HB 586 with minor amendment passed House committee; HB 606 with minor amendment passed House committee; HB 812 passed Senate committee; HB 842 with minor amendment passed the House; HB 948 with minor amendment passed House committee; HB 1019 with minor amendment passed House committee; HB 1081 with minor amendment passed House committee; SB 174 passed House committee; SB 329 passed the Senate.

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 223 passed the House; HB 231 passed House committee; HB 266 with minor amendment passed House committee; HB 598 with minor amendment passed House committee; HB 805 with minor amendment passed the House; HB 1079 was deferred involuntarily; HB 1102 with minor amendment passed House committee.

Committee action, Apr. 20: HB 606, HB 266, HB 1019, HB 1081, HB 598, HB 1079

DID YOU KNOW?

HB 606 by the House Health and Welfare Committee Rep. Frank Hoffman would prohibit state funding to any organization that performs abortion, regardless of whether the funding went to abortion. After a minor amendment was approved, supporters said that such organizations deceptively steered women towards abortions, distorted the overwhelming role abortions played in their service provision and revenues, and have many options for health care.

Rep. Kenny Cox wondered whether money that went to such organizations could be diverted to other pressing health needs, such as addressing diseases related to reproduction. Rep. Mike Johnson noted the complete constitutionality of the bill that would not restrict abortion.

Opponents claimed it would be restrictive and would not protect women because of economic disparities. Rep. Katrina Jackson noted that sufficient providers existed that could receive funding otherwise going to abortion providers, some providing free services, which opponents disputed. Johnson asked if it were an economic burden to women, why adoption was not a viable option. He wondered whether Planned Parenthood representatives were present and willing to testify, and one showed up. Johnson asked a number of questions about finances and incriminating video evidence concerning organization, which she gave little in the way of answers except to try to defend the content on the videos. Additional questions by Jackson also were evaded.

Legislative regular session through Apr. 16, 2016

The session rolls on, with the only “new” bills coming from substitutes.

THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 6 was deferred involuntarily; HB 103 was deferred involuntarily; HB 153 was withdrawn; HB 315 was deferred involuntarily; HB 594 passed the House; SB 89 was substituted for by SB 470; SB 174 passed Senate committee; SB 307 with minor amendment passed Senate committee and passed the Senate; SB 351 with minor amendment passed Senate committee and the Senate.

THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 32 with minor amendment passed House committee; HB 82 was deferred involuntarily; HB 84 was deferred involuntarily; HB 98 was deferred involuntarily; HB 155 was deferred involuntarily; HB 159 was withdrawn; HB 167 was deferred involuntarily; HB 223 with minor amendment passed House committee; HB 805 with minor amendment passed House committee; SB 254 with major amendment passed the Senate; SB 433 with minor amendment passed Senate committee and the Senate.

Committee action, Apr. 13: SB 393, SB 84

DID YOU KNOW?
SB 393 by Sen. Troy Carter would call for a limited constitutional convention. Carter explained to the Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee that the time had come for one to create budgetary flexibility. The Legislature would serve as the convention. He said he had no preconceived notions as to the final product, but that it would address fiscal matters.

Sen. Jim Fannin said it concerned him that negative changes could occur without some prior agreement over what should come out. Carter replied that this kind of argument only discourages from taking the responsibility to make needed changes that would prevent panicked, last-minute solutions on an ongoing basis. Fannin questioned whether this convention could achieve much more than making changes in statute.

Carter then announced he would defer the bill in order to change some the dates, which would not allow the proposal to go to voters in the spring.

Regular legislative session through Apr. 9, 2016

Filing of bills finally has ended, with a final batch of the good and bad:

THE GOOD: HB 977 by Rep. Rick Edmonds brings greater flexibility to the state’s voucher program; HB 986 by Rep. John Schroder would eliminate certain statutory dedications and funds; HB 1005 by Rep. Tom Willmott would encourage more efficient use of agency resources; HB 1019 by Edmonds would protect the unborn from being killed due to genetic malformation; HB 1021 by Edmonds would require voter approval before initiation of camera traffic enforcement; HB 1075 by  Rep. Steve Carter would create more informative accountability grades for school districts; HB 1081 by Rep. Mike Johnson would outlaw a gruesome form of abortion; HB 1091 by Rep. Barry Ivey would reintroduce closed primary elections for Congress; HB 1095 by Rep. Alan Seabaugh would have the state join an effort to reduce federal government deficit spending; SB 406 by Sen. Eddie Lambert would bring more stability to indigent defense funding (similar bill: SB 418); SB 416 by Sen. Jack Donahue would apportion more accurately costs of operating special funds; SB 417 by Donahue would establish a rolling sunset for many statutory dedications; SB 446 by Sen. Sharon Hewitt would prod towards restructuring higher education; SB 452 by Sen. Bodi White would increase flexibility of local education employers in offering retirement benefits; HB 466 by Hewitt would facilitate restructuring state health care.

THE BAD: HB 971 by Steve Carter meddles too intrusively and selectively in collegiate athletic scheduling; HB 985 by Schroder could cost the state more in its Taylor Opportunity Programs for Students; HB 1023 by Rep. Kenny Havard would weaken needlessly education accountability standards; HB 1045 by Rep. Dustin Miller overregulates teacher pay policies; HB 1079 by Rep. Dee Richard would cause greater potential voter confusion; HB 1102 by Rep. Stuart Bishop would allow the state to enforce surrogate motherhood contracts; HB 1112 by Rep. Ted James would legalize cannabis medical use even as it scientifically offers almost no significant benefits; SB 393 by Sen. Troy Carter would call an elitist and unduly restricted constitutional convention; SB 401 by Sen. Ryan Gatti would put civil jury trials even more out of reach by raising the nation’s highest threshold even more; SB 433 by Sen. JP Morrell would limit the effectiveness of the State Bond Commission; SB 436 by Carter would implement overly intrusive and unnecessary employment regulations; SB 438 by Sen. Karen Peterson would enable government unionization at taxpayer expense; SB 449 by Sen. Wesley Bishop would restrict unduly options for government contractors.

Committee action, Apr. 6: SB 245, SB 148

DID YOU KNOW?
SB 245 by Sen. John Milkovich would reduce the dates on which local tax elections could be held. He told the Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee that these standalone elections, because of their low turnout, favored local government over taxpayers. He presented a long jeremiad trying to establish that the middle class paid too much in taxes relative to other groups and that it worked too hard to find the time to vote in every election. He said legislators should represent the people, not local government with its lobbyists, and only have tax elections during higher-stimulus elections to help out busy people.

After technical amending, Sen. Neil Riser expressed sympathy, but pointed out that local governments can petition for a special election as an “emergency” which can moot the point of the bill. Even as the term was removed from statute, the Constitution still allowed for it on four dates not always in conjunction with other scheduled dates, with “emergency” being a very subjective term.

Sen. Troy Carter, but pointed out that in Orleans Parish in particular the bill would remove some high-turnout dates as possibilities for elections. He said in this instance voter access should trump saving money. Milkovich said if the bill passed out of committee he would amend it on the floor to allow Orleans could hold these elections on those dates.

Regular legislative session through Apr. 2, 2016

Bill introduction nearly has concluded, with a few more relevant ones popping up this past week:

THE GOOD: HB 922 by Rep. Bob Hensgens would allow for more realistic fee-setting for nursing homes without legislative micro-management; HB 948 by Rep. Steve Carter would create more efficient use of higher education facilities; SB 373 by Sen. Beth Mizell would repeal a useless local district.

THE BAD: HB 925 by Rep. Joseph Bouie would regulate unnecessarily business and needlessly duplicate; HB 928 by Rep. Barbara Norton would introduce the unsound concept of comparable worth into the state regulating pay; HB 943 by Rep. Chris Leopold too restrictively imposes on executive branch personnel administration.

Committee action, Mar. 28: SB 358, budget remarks

DID YOU KNOW?

HB 358 by Sen. Blade Morrish would repeal the MediFund Board and transfer its powers to the Board of Regents. Morrish explained to the Senate Finance Committee that elimination of the Board, which essentially the Regents operate, would streamline government. It hasn’t really functioned as intended nor does its attached fund have any money. The Regents now would control that.

Sen. Sharon Hewitt asked why not eliminate the fund? Morrish said he simply wanted to make government more efficient. Higher Education Commissioner Joseph Rallo said he wanted to keep the fund because it was a tax-exempt receptacle for donations.

After approval of technical amendments, the bill was reported favorably without objection.

DID YOU KNOW?

Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne gave the committee an update on budgetary reductions that occurred to the Department of Health and Hospitals. Among the more interesting points made, he noted savings coming from an unanticipated fall in Bayou Health enrollment, increased scrutiny on client eligibility for programs (which had something to do with Bayou Health enrollment decline), renegotiating contracts with providers including with the partners administering charity hospitals, and some gamesmanship with delaying payments to the partners between fiscal years with the federal government. In all, it represented a $70 million reduction in state and $115 million cut in federal funds.

Sen. Conrad Appel asked whether a good portion of the cuts were recurring. DHH Undersecretary Jeff Reynolds said they were and could be incorporated into next fiscal year’s budgets. He also said better oversight of the Pediatric Day Health Care program also could produce additional savings. Appel pointed out the philosophy behind fiscal policy should focus on restructuring that maximizes efficiency to meet spending targets, which as DHH comprised about 40 percent of the budget could lead to large savings.

Sen. Jim Fannin wondered how accurate the numbers could be for next year, pointing out that Revenue Estimating Conference numbers had not proven that accurate in recent years. Reynolds noted that the unexpected decline in Bayou Health enrollees, for example, could reverse without any warning, leading to a shortfall. Dardenne also expressed hope that some lawsuit settlements could come through to help the general fund.

Hewitt wondered why environment had changed in just a couple of weeks. She noted two weeks previously there seemed to be a crisis atmosphere concerning DHH cuts, but when revealed these seemed easier than that. Dardenne said more time to figure out data trends, a shift in focus with more scrutiny on efficiencies, and the idea of swapping present fees with future fees all manifested in that time period. She echoed Appel’s comment that small changes could yield big savings, with events of the past two weeks demonstrating that, and also that spending had to be by need, not by picking revenue targets and spending up to them.

Sen. Bret Allain wondered whether the partnership arrangements would be necessary under Medicaid expansion, given that, with the recent cuts, partners continued to emit dire statements about low rates. Dardenne and Reynolds both said the beginning of the next fiscal year with the onset of expansion would be an excellent time to rethink the entire concept.