DID YOU KNOW
SB 1 by Sen. Joe McPherson would tweak indigent health care in Louisiana. Secretary of Health and Human Services Fred Cerise explained the broad outlines of the program. The plan would be to create “medical homes” to which the indigent would be assigned and could receive care. Any participating provider could provide their care and be reimbursed, so long as they agreed to install health information technology systems electronically based. The state’s existing charity hospital system was expected to be a major component of this system. All of this was to produce a more efficient system.
While various senators asked for more details, Chairman McPherson responded by saying this bill was intended to be a broad outline, containing the medical home and electronically-transferable records provision. While vague at this time, it was supposed to be brought into specific reality over time. Further, the state needed to create this outline now because it was currently not feasible economically from the private sector’s perspective unless government got behind it. Several supporting senators pitched questions to Cerise that gave him the chance to say money was available to get it going.
McPherson said the bill was supposed to be budget-neutral – no additional expenditures beyond current costs. He had produced a fiscal note which said the two regions (I and V) to be covered would be $227 million, although some costs were still undetermined. McPherson talked about finding ways to divert other federal funds to support the system, and said federal government rules were too rigid at present to allow some reforms they wanted.
Sen. Tom Schedler noted that, historically, the existing system had fought allowing a certain kind of federal funding (“disproportionate share’) outside of the charity system. He said this system had to be genuinely competitive, which he didn’t see in it and the system would resist letting those funds go outside of the system as a result. Through other questions, he noted that the vagueness of this bill allowed all sorts of promises to be made for more competitiveness but that they didn’t have to happen, and seemed skeptical that the bill would make any substantive changes.
Supporters who testified said the current system had costs that were too high and outcomes that were too low, and that this system would work. They also argued that the state had more poor and higher-cost insurance than compared to others, making giving the poor vouchers to buy their own insurance more problematic. Opponents, perhaps because the bill did not necessarily exclude market-driven solutions, were nowhere to be found to testify.
Technical amendments were offered and accepted without objection, and reported favorably without objection.
DID YOU KNOW
HB 436 is to reform the indigent defense system. Author Rep. Danny Martiny noted the present funding mechanism, a combination of low state funding, user fees, and local court fees, was unstable and inadequate that enabled little oversight. He felt this bill would provide for uniform delivery of indigent care even if it disrupts the present arrangement of the 41 separate boards (conforming to the state judicial districts). This would enhance chances of reforming the fiscal portion of the system, with the state chipping in more funds.
Martiny explained the 41 boards would be eliminated, and would be governed by a successor state board. Districts and their employees would remain the same. Regional districts could be created, up to 11. Existing funding would not be removed at the local level. More focus would be put on training and evaluation of public defenders.
Supporters noted that the concept of local boards has become obsolete, but that local districts would be given maximal freedom to run their affairs, as long as they showed accountability. They noted an impressive number of endorsements from the legal community backing the bill, and reflected best practices. Adequate defense meant real criminals would not escape punishment, and innocent people would not be jailed.
A number of specific, technical questions were asked, but members seemed pleased. Technical amendments were passed without objection, as was the bill.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
I hope I live long enough to see it.
Schedler, when told the charity system was going to adopt a system more like the non-government sector in the future.
09 May 2007
06 May 2007
Legislative regular session through May 5
THIS WEEK FOR THE GOOD: HB 25 passed committee; HB 248 passed committee with major amendments, enough to strike it from the list of good bills; HB 474 passed committee with technical amendments; SB 127 passed committee.
THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 214 was withdrawn; HB 575 passed committee with minor amendments; HB 619 passed committee with minor amendments.
SCORECARD:
Total House introductions: 912; total Senate introductions: 328.
Total House good bills: 26; total Senate good bills: 11.
Total House bad bills: 13; total Senate bad bills:7.
Total House good bills heard in committee: 4; total Senate good bills heard in committee: 2.
Total House bad bills heard in committee: 2; total Senate good bills heard in committee: 0.
Total House good bills passing committee: 3; total Senate good bills passing committee: 1.
Total House bad bills passing committee: 2; total Senate good bills passing committee: 0.
MONDAY: HB 266 is scheduled to be heard by the House Appropriations Committee; HB 23 is scheduled to be heard by the House Ways and Means Committee; SB 52 is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Finance Committee
WEDNESDAY: HB 436 is scheduled to be heard by the House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee.
THIS WEEK FOR THE BAD: HB 214 was withdrawn; HB 575 passed committee with minor amendments; HB 619 passed committee with minor amendments.
SCORECARD:
Total House introductions: 912; total Senate introductions: 328.
Total House good bills: 26; total Senate good bills: 11.
Total House bad bills: 13; total Senate bad bills:7.
Total House good bills heard in committee: 4; total Senate good bills heard in committee: 2.
Total House bad bills heard in committee: 2; total Senate good bills heard in committee: 0.
Total House good bills passing committee: 3; total Senate good bills passing committee: 1.
Total House bad bills passing committee: 2; total Senate good bills passing committee: 0.
MONDAY: HB 266 is scheduled to be heard by the House Appropriations Committee; HB 23 is scheduled to be heard by the House Ways and Means Committee; SB 52 is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Finance Committee
WEDNESDAY: HB 436 is scheduled to be heard by the House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee.
02 May 2007
Committee action, May 2: HB 474, 698, 248, 347, 575, 619
DID YOU KNOW?
Rep. Jim Morris broke his maiden with HB 554, a bill concerning procedures regarding notarial exams, and received the hearty congratulations of the House and Governmental Affairs Committee. It also had now on it a new member to the chamber as well, Patrick Williams.
DID YOU KNOW?
HB 474 by Chairman Charlie Lancaster cleans up a number of mostly technical matters dealing with the state election code. Sec. of State Jay Dardenne filled in the committee about the lengthy bill. Perhaps its most significant change was that it would not permit drivers’ license numbers and mothers’ maiden names to be released publicly. Technical amendments went unread and undebated, and everything about it was passed without objection. HB 698 by Lancaster did the same regarding the old-new closed federal election primaries to begin next year where otherwise there could be inconsistency in its implication (clarifying the mandate that no-party “independent” voters could vote in a major party primary unless the central committee resolved not to allow it). Amendments were placed on it and the measure passed without objection.
DID YOU KNOW?
HB 248 by Rep. Glenn Ansardi would add a week of early voting and shorten by one hour on both ends hours of election day. Supporters argue that election commissioners are being discouraged from participating because of long hours on election day, and more early voting would create more beneficial flexibility.
Rep. Juan LaFonta said he had shown up just for this bill. “I’ve never liked this bill,” he said, and then got less complimentary. He said senior citizens needed earlier hours and that shift workers needed all 14 hours. He said there was no way he could vote for the bill. Rep. Jalila Jefferson-Bullock echoed that, saying she couldn’t understand why shorter hours would attract more commissioners and that early voting extended hours would not compensate because different kinds of people voted early.
Dardenne said his statistics showed the 6-7 AM and 7-8 PM hours had the least amount of participation, together less than 10 percent of the total. St. Tammany parish statistics showed between 7-9 percent turnout over several elections, with the evening portion being about double that of the morning. Clerks and other election officials testified that it was becoming increasingly difficult to recruit commissioners as training requirements have become tougher, and that long hours were a major impediment to recruiting.
Rep. Jeff Arnold said there were other alternatives that should be tried before cutting hours, such as split shifts. But officials reported this just would mean more training of more people and mid-day personnel headaches, plus continuity problems between “shifts” that might cause lawsuits. Arnold insisted that none of this would be known unless it was tried.
Vice Chairman Rick Gallot offered an amendment to strip out the reduction of hours. Since Democrats outnumbered Republicans and it fell on a party-line vote (with a GOP absence), it passed. The amended bill then passed without objection. Rep. Wayne Waddell apparently had been aware of this situation and had asked on this contingency to defer his similar HB 648, Lancaster announced.
DID YOU KNOW?
Gallot’s HB 347 would increase salaries considerably for election commissioners, in most cases doubling them. Many had spoken favorably on the idea during the HB 248, so Lancaster moved to send it to Appropriations to investigate covering the $5 million-plus additional annual cost, which the committee approved without objection.
DID YOU KNOW?
HB 575 by LaFonta would have absentee ballots sent unsolicited to all registered voters. He said this would increase voting turnout. Lancaster asked why not go all the way and get rid of precinct-based voting. LaFonta said he didn’t want to get rid of the precincts, seeing it as a disaster-related issue to supplement the current system, which is why its cost would be an extra $16 million. Dardenne said this would cause adoption of a two-track election system that would create tremendous issues; he said study rather than action was warranted.
Arnold said he was willing to introduce an amendment, if the disasters really were the impetus, to make the bill apply retroactively and the state could redo elections back to the end of 2005. On second thought, he said he wouldn’t. Acknowledging the sarcasm, LaFonta suggested that might have constitutional problems.
Lancaster said one system or the other should be picked. Gallot said study rather than action was appropriate. After a technical amendment, LaFonta asked for passage, but a motion was made to defer which failed along party lines. The same allowed the bill to prevail, and it also will head to the Appropriations Committee.
DID YOU KNOW?
HB 619 by Jefferson would restore the legislation that allowed for displaced voting, with the provisions. This would include allowing first-time voters who had not positively identified themselves to election authorities. She called the prior experiment successful but said conditions had not changed enough so that it still was needed.
Dardenne testified that, from a policy standpoint, it was not a good idea, primarily because the previous rules applied only to the New Orleans city elections, not the entire state. “It would be a disaster” he said, creating far too complicated situations for an election to be run properly. He pointed out numerous options existed for displaced voters, including the existing early/absentee procedures. There were many technical problems with it, as well – for example, every satellite precinct would have to have ballots for every state election. “You are going to create chaos … if you pass this bill.”
Rep. Mert Smiley argued that the 38 percent turnout in the New Orleans mayor’s race wasn’t really that successful. Dardenne said as far as procedurally, it worked well. Arnold said only 5 percent turned out for recent judge’s races, but Lancaster pointed out these were very different kinds of contests. Dardenne emphasized the infrastructure simply was not there to handle this and would be much more costly. Jefferson disagreed that there would be chaos and that it could be figured out.
Lancaster asked what was possible without any large-scale changes. Dardenne said the FAX/mail procedure would not be very disruptive. Lancaster said at least the 3,700 or so who voted by that way should be given that chance again.
Rep. Hunter Greene noted that the bill did not require any official verification of a ballot that the person casting it was displaced. “You have to balance the possibility of fraud with these ways of voting,” he noted. He didn’t see why they couldn’t just make a request and drop an absentee ballot in the mail. He also noted that after a year and a half many of these “displaced” people were really more citizens of where they now live rather than being citizens of Louisiana. Jefferson insisted people were changing locations too often to have mail catch up with them.
Lancaster said Jefferson should strip the bill down and that he could only support a “reasonable” bill. “We can’t pass an ‘impossible’ bill,” he said, a term with which Jefferson kept complaining about its use. Rep. Charmaine Marchand said this attitude “disturbed” her. Lancaster offered an amendment that would take out satellite centers and create a sunset provision, as Dardenne had said the automatic sending of the absentee ballot to displaced voters, with adequate ballot security, was not that disruptive but would be very labor intensive and would delay reporting of the results.
But Jefferson said she “can’t compromise” and LaFonta asked for a vote. Once more, Democrats allowed the bill to prevail on a party-line vote.
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
The chairman admonished me not to touch anything while he was gone.
Gallot, after Lancaster ducked out for a moment.
We’re going to turn House and Governmental into Appropriations.
Lancaster, after a series of bills passed that would imposed tens of millions of new costs.
Next week, the controversial meeting.
Lancaster, referring to the slew of ethics bills coming up on the next week’s agenda.
Rep. Jim Morris broke his maiden with HB 554, a bill concerning procedures regarding notarial exams, and received the hearty congratulations of the House and Governmental Affairs Committee. It also had now on it a new member to the chamber as well, Patrick Williams.
DID YOU KNOW?
HB 474 by Chairman Charlie Lancaster cleans up a number of mostly technical matters dealing with the state election code. Sec. of State Jay Dardenne filled in the committee about the lengthy bill. Perhaps its most significant change was that it would not permit drivers’ license numbers and mothers’ maiden names to be released publicly. Technical amendments went unread and undebated, and everything about it was passed without objection. HB 698 by Lancaster did the same regarding the old-new closed federal election primaries to begin next year where otherwise there could be inconsistency in its implication (clarifying the mandate that no-party “independent” voters could vote in a major party primary unless the central committee resolved not to allow it). Amendments were placed on it and the measure passed without objection.
DID YOU KNOW?
HB 248 by Rep. Glenn Ansardi would add a week of early voting and shorten by one hour on both ends hours of election day. Supporters argue that election commissioners are being discouraged from participating because of long hours on election day, and more early voting would create more beneficial flexibility.
Rep. Juan LaFonta said he had shown up just for this bill. “I’ve never liked this bill,” he said, and then got less complimentary. He said senior citizens needed earlier hours and that shift workers needed all 14 hours. He said there was no way he could vote for the bill. Rep. Jalila Jefferson-Bullock echoed that, saying she couldn’t understand why shorter hours would attract more commissioners and that early voting extended hours would not compensate because different kinds of people voted early.
Dardenne said his statistics showed the 6-7 AM and 7-8 PM hours had the least amount of participation, together less than 10 percent of the total. St. Tammany parish statistics showed between 7-9 percent turnout over several elections, with the evening portion being about double that of the morning. Clerks and other election officials testified that it was becoming increasingly difficult to recruit commissioners as training requirements have become tougher, and that long hours were a major impediment to recruiting.
Rep. Jeff Arnold said there were other alternatives that should be tried before cutting hours, such as split shifts. But officials reported this just would mean more training of more people and mid-day personnel headaches, plus continuity problems between “shifts” that might cause lawsuits. Arnold insisted that none of this would be known unless it was tried.
Vice Chairman Rick Gallot offered an amendment to strip out the reduction of hours. Since Democrats outnumbered Republicans and it fell on a party-line vote (with a GOP absence), it passed. The amended bill then passed without objection. Rep. Wayne Waddell apparently had been aware of this situation and had asked on this contingency to defer his similar HB 648, Lancaster announced.
DID YOU KNOW?
Gallot’s HB 347 would increase salaries considerably for election commissioners, in most cases doubling them. Many had spoken favorably on the idea during the HB 248, so Lancaster moved to send it to Appropriations to investigate covering the $5 million-plus additional annual cost, which the committee approved without objection.
DID YOU KNOW?
HB 575 by LaFonta would have absentee ballots sent unsolicited to all registered voters. He said this would increase voting turnout. Lancaster asked why not go all the way and get rid of precinct-based voting. LaFonta said he didn’t want to get rid of the precincts, seeing it as a disaster-related issue to supplement the current system, which is why its cost would be an extra $16 million. Dardenne said this would cause adoption of a two-track election system that would create tremendous issues; he said study rather than action was warranted.
Arnold said he was willing to introduce an amendment, if the disasters really were the impetus, to make the bill apply retroactively and the state could redo elections back to the end of 2005. On second thought, he said he wouldn’t. Acknowledging the sarcasm, LaFonta suggested that might have constitutional problems.
Lancaster said one system or the other should be picked. Gallot said study rather than action was appropriate. After a technical amendment, LaFonta asked for passage, but a motion was made to defer which failed along party lines. The same allowed the bill to prevail, and it also will head to the Appropriations Committee.
DID YOU KNOW?
HB 619 by Jefferson would restore the legislation that allowed for displaced voting, with the provisions. This would include allowing first-time voters who had not positively identified themselves to election authorities. She called the prior experiment successful but said conditions had not changed enough so that it still was needed.
Dardenne testified that, from a policy standpoint, it was not a good idea, primarily because the previous rules applied only to the New Orleans city elections, not the entire state. “It would be a disaster” he said, creating far too complicated situations for an election to be run properly. He pointed out numerous options existed for displaced voters, including the existing early/absentee procedures. There were many technical problems with it, as well – for example, every satellite precinct would have to have ballots for every state election. “You are going to create chaos … if you pass this bill.”
Rep. Mert Smiley argued that the 38 percent turnout in the New Orleans mayor’s race wasn’t really that successful. Dardenne said as far as procedurally, it worked well. Arnold said only 5 percent turned out for recent judge’s races, but Lancaster pointed out these were very different kinds of contests. Dardenne emphasized the infrastructure simply was not there to handle this and would be much more costly. Jefferson disagreed that there would be chaos and that it could be figured out.
Lancaster asked what was possible without any large-scale changes. Dardenne said the FAX/mail procedure would not be very disruptive. Lancaster said at least the 3,700 or so who voted by that way should be given that chance again.
Rep. Hunter Greene noted that the bill did not require any official verification of a ballot that the person casting it was displaced. “You have to balance the possibility of fraud with these ways of voting,” he noted. He didn’t see why they couldn’t just make a request and drop an absentee ballot in the mail. He also noted that after a year and a half many of these “displaced” people were really more citizens of where they now live rather than being citizens of Louisiana. Jefferson insisted people were changing locations too often to have mail catch up with them.
Lancaster said Jefferson should strip the bill down and that he could only support a “reasonable” bill. “We can’t pass an ‘impossible’ bill,” he said, a term with which Jefferson kept complaining about its use. Rep. Charmaine Marchand said this attitude “disturbed” her. Lancaster offered an amendment that would take out satellite centers and create a sunset provision, as Dardenne had said the automatic sending of the absentee ballot to displaced voters, with adequate ballot security, was not that disruptive but would be very labor intensive and would delay reporting of the results.
But Jefferson said she “can’t compromise” and LaFonta asked for a vote. Once more, Democrats allowed the bill to prevail on a party-line vote.
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
The chairman admonished me not to touch anything while he was gone.
Gallot, after Lancaster ducked out for a moment.
We’re going to turn House and Governmental into Appropriations.
Lancaster, after a series of bills passed that would imposed tens of millions of new costs.
Next week, the controversial meeting.
Lancaster, referring to the slew of ethics bills coming up on the next week’s agenda.
30 April 2007
Floor action, Apr. 30: State of the State address
DID YOU KNOW?
Gov. Kathleen Blanco gave her State of the Sate address. For commentary, see here.
(Note: to remind of the convention used, if more than one similar bill is on an agenda, only the bill primarily identified as “Good” or “Bad” will be listed)
TUESDAY: HB 43 and HB 53, are scheduled to be heard by the House Ways and Means Committee; SB 48 and SB 127 are scheduled to be heard by the Senate Retirement Committee.
WEDNESDAY: HB 248, HB 575, and HB 619 are scheduled to be heard by the House and Governmental Affairs Committee; HB 25 is scheduled to be heard by the House Health and Welfare Committee. SB 195 is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Insurance Committee; SB 320 is scheduled to be heard by the Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee.
Gov. Kathleen Blanco gave her State of the Sate address. For commentary, see here.
(Note: to remind of the convention used, if more than one similar bill is on an agenda, only the bill primarily identified as “Good” or “Bad” will be listed)
TUESDAY: HB 43 and HB 53, are scheduled to be heard by the House Ways and Means Committee; SB 48 and SB 127 are scheduled to be heard by the Senate Retirement Committee.
WEDNESDAY: HB 248, HB 575, and HB 619 are scheduled to be heard by the House and Governmental Affairs Committee; HB 25 is scheduled to be heard by the House Health and Welfare Committee. SB 195 is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Insurance Committee; SB 320 is scheduled to be heard by the Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee.
20 April 2007
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly -- Prefiled bills though April
Well, practically since pre-filing is over tonight Apr. 20 (good: only as many 720 new future bills to go), so let’s see what has been sprung on the Legislature for the regular session:
THE GOOD: HB 154 by Rep. Hollis Downs would redirect sales tax money coming from activities related to transportation actually to be used for transportation capital improvements (similar bills: HB 648, HB 661, SB 258, SB 260). HB 171 by Rep. Kay Katz would eliminate corporate franchise taxes which would spur economic development (similar bills: HB 663, HB 768). HB 228 by Rep. Steve Scalise would create a more accurate way of measuring the maximum expenditure amount permitted to the state without extraordinary procedures. HB 248 by Rep. Glenn Ansardi would reduce voting hours by two to make elections more workable (similar bill: HB 768). HB 266 by Rep. Blade Morrish would create stronger oversight of recipients of appropriations that do not come through the executive budget. HB 279 by Rep. Gary Beard would create tax policy that provides disincentives for divorce. HB 436 by Rep. Danny Martiny will bring increased rationality to the organization and funding of indigent defense in Louisiana. HB 444 by Rep. Tim Burns will provide incentives for individual rather than state responsibility for health insurance. HB 474 by Rep. Charlie Lancaster strengthens ballot and private security regarding elections. HB 486 by Rep. Jim Fannin would reduce costs to homeowners regarding compliance with the states building code in areas that do not require meeting some of its standards. HB 576 by Rep. Jim Tucker would rid the state of its intervention into markets by forcing retail sale of ethanol and bio-fuels. HB 598 by Rep. Mike Powell would provide for more accurate testing of school accountability by ensuring standardized tests are given near the end of the school year. HB 614 by Beard prohibits partial-birth abortion, complementing federal law (similar bill: SB 161). HB 623 by Scalise would enhance educational quality by setting up a school voucher program (similar bill: HB 731). HB 733 by Rep. Joel Robideaux would tighten disclosure requirements for lobbyists (similar bill: SB 163). HB 804 by Scalise would establish a child tax credit used only in the case where taxes actually must be paid. HB 836 by Burns would encourage investment by making that income tax free.
SB 48 by Sen. Walter Boasso would establish a means to force the state to begin to pay down its largest unfunded accrued liabilities in its pension funds. SB 51 by Sen. Julie Quinn would limit governing authorities from unilaterally increasing tax millages that become possible through reassessment beyond the rate of inflation without voter approval (similar bills: HB 306, HB 530). SB 52 by Sen. Mike Michot would redirect sales taxes related to transportation to transportation projects. SB 98 by Sen. Tom Schedler would facilitate a shift away from institutional to community-based long-term care saving the state money. SB 126 by Sen. Max Malone would amend the Constitution to close a loophole which allows state pardons to be used for federal felonies in determining eligibility to run for elective office (similar bill: SB 145). SB 127 by Boasso would amend the Constitution to put retirement systems on more stable financial footing. SB 174 by Sen. Robert Adley would create a more comprehensible capital budgeting outlay process. SB 185 by Quinn would lower insurance rates by abolishing the Louisiana Insurance Rating Commission (similar bills: HB 561 HB 724 HB 860). SB 195 by Sen. James David Cain would privatize the state-owned insurer.
(Similar bills to HB 23: HB 207, HB 289, HB 291, HB 363, HB 364, HB 365, HB 418, HB 419, HB 445, HB 448, HB 533, HB 550, HB 581, SB 64, SB 66, SB 81. Similar bills to HB 48: HB 421, HB 449, HB 700. Similar bills to HB 53: HB 529, HB 608, HB 667. Similar bills to HB 86: HB 130, HB 268, HB 357, HB 508, HB 714, Similar bills to HB 138: HB 597, SB 157. Similar bill to HB 228: HB 492. Similar bill to SB 28: SB 43.)
THE BAD: HB 214 by Rep. Rick Farrar would encourage the state of Louisiana to dive deeper into the insurance business and discourage competition (similar bills: HB 528, HB 782, HB 825). HB 273 by Rep. Eric LaFleur would make it easier for candidates to report sources of campaign contributions if they largely self-fund their candidacies. HB 362 by Rep. Taylor Townsend would amend the Constitution to make it more difficult for state government to cut taxes. HB 407 by Rep. Karen Carter would allow continuing the stealth fee for litter removal on drivers’ licenses. HB 461 by Rep. Rick Gallot would reduce school safety and infringe on Second Amendment rights. HB 480 by Rep. Damon Baldone would make the state income tax even more progressive and reduce state revenues by exempting the lowest-level current filers. HB 518 by Rep. William Daniel IV would facilitate wasteful use of long-term care monies by repealing early the moratorium on nursing home bed space provision even as too many remain in circulation. HB 575 by Rep. Juan LaFonta would dramatically increase costs of state elections by soliciting absentee/early ballots rather than relying on registered voters to request them. HB 619 by Jalila Jefferson-Bullock would continue unnecessary loosening of ballot security laws at state expense. HB 731 by Farrar would give a regular schedule of salary raises to elected judges regardless of the actual change in cost of living. HB 822 by Cedric Richmond would prematurely return schools from the Recovery School District to the Orleans Parish School District. SB 203 by Sen. Ben Nevers would get the state more deeply involved in insurance by creating a catastrophic fund (similar bill: SB 276). SB 295 by Sen. Derrick Shepherd would pay Senators and legislative assistants full-time salaries for jobs defined in the state Constitution as part-time. SB 309 by Sen. Joel Chaisson would amend then Constitution to allow the state to take on more debt. SB 320 by Sen. Charles Jones would create lax standards allowing for election-day voting and registering that invite fraud (similar bill: SB 225).
THE UGLY: HB 287 by Rep. Billy Montgomery would create a tax break for certain barge line, towing, and other water transportation companies; what justifies this? His HB 591 carves out an exception to general firefighter civil service laws that makes some promotions in Bossier City noncompetitive, and others determined only by an initial evaluative period of just two years; again, why?
THE GOOD: HB 154 by Rep. Hollis Downs would redirect sales tax money coming from activities related to transportation actually to be used for transportation capital improvements (similar bills: HB 648, HB 661, SB 258, SB 260). HB 171 by Rep. Kay Katz would eliminate corporate franchise taxes which would spur economic development (similar bills: HB 663, HB 768). HB 228 by Rep. Steve Scalise would create a more accurate way of measuring the maximum expenditure amount permitted to the state without extraordinary procedures. HB 248 by Rep. Glenn Ansardi would reduce voting hours by two to make elections more workable (similar bill: HB 768). HB 266 by Rep. Blade Morrish would create stronger oversight of recipients of appropriations that do not come through the executive budget. HB 279 by Rep. Gary Beard would create tax policy that provides disincentives for divorce. HB 436 by Rep. Danny Martiny will bring increased rationality to the organization and funding of indigent defense in Louisiana. HB 444 by Rep. Tim Burns will provide incentives for individual rather than state responsibility for health insurance. HB 474 by Rep. Charlie Lancaster strengthens ballot and private security regarding elections. HB 486 by Rep. Jim Fannin would reduce costs to homeowners regarding compliance with the states building code in areas that do not require meeting some of its standards. HB 576 by Rep. Jim Tucker would rid the state of its intervention into markets by forcing retail sale of ethanol and bio-fuels. HB 598 by Rep. Mike Powell would provide for more accurate testing of school accountability by ensuring standardized tests are given near the end of the school year. HB 614 by Beard prohibits partial-birth abortion, complementing federal law (similar bill: SB 161). HB 623 by Scalise would enhance educational quality by setting up a school voucher program (similar bill: HB 731). HB 733 by Rep. Joel Robideaux would tighten disclosure requirements for lobbyists (similar bill: SB 163). HB 804 by Scalise would establish a child tax credit used only in the case where taxes actually must be paid. HB 836 by Burns would encourage investment by making that income tax free.
SB 48 by Sen. Walter Boasso would establish a means to force the state to begin to pay down its largest unfunded accrued liabilities in its pension funds. SB 51 by Sen. Julie Quinn would limit governing authorities from unilaterally increasing tax millages that become possible through reassessment beyond the rate of inflation without voter approval (similar bills: HB 306, HB 530). SB 52 by Sen. Mike Michot would redirect sales taxes related to transportation to transportation projects. SB 98 by Sen. Tom Schedler would facilitate a shift away from institutional to community-based long-term care saving the state money. SB 126 by Sen. Max Malone would amend the Constitution to close a loophole which allows state pardons to be used for federal felonies in determining eligibility to run for elective office (similar bill: SB 145). SB 127 by Boasso would amend the Constitution to put retirement systems on more stable financial footing. SB 174 by Sen. Robert Adley would create a more comprehensible capital budgeting outlay process. SB 185 by Quinn would lower insurance rates by abolishing the Louisiana Insurance Rating Commission (similar bills: HB 561 HB 724 HB 860). SB 195 by Sen. James David Cain would privatize the state-owned insurer.
(Similar bills to HB 23: HB 207, HB 289, HB 291, HB 363, HB 364, HB 365, HB 418, HB 419, HB 445, HB 448, HB 533, HB 550, HB 581, SB 64, SB 66, SB 81. Similar bills to HB 48: HB 421, HB 449, HB 700. Similar bills to HB 53: HB 529, HB 608, HB 667. Similar bills to HB 86: HB 130, HB 268, HB 357, HB 508, HB 714, Similar bills to HB 138: HB 597, SB 157. Similar bill to HB 228: HB 492. Similar bill to SB 28: SB 43.)
THE BAD: HB 214 by Rep. Rick Farrar would encourage the state of Louisiana to dive deeper into the insurance business and discourage competition (similar bills: HB 528, HB 782, HB 825). HB 273 by Rep. Eric LaFleur would make it easier for candidates to report sources of campaign contributions if they largely self-fund their candidacies. HB 362 by Rep. Taylor Townsend would amend the Constitution to make it more difficult for state government to cut taxes. HB 407 by Rep. Karen Carter would allow continuing the stealth fee for litter removal on drivers’ licenses. HB 461 by Rep. Rick Gallot would reduce school safety and infringe on Second Amendment rights. HB 480 by Rep. Damon Baldone would make the state income tax even more progressive and reduce state revenues by exempting the lowest-level current filers. HB 518 by Rep. William Daniel IV would facilitate wasteful use of long-term care monies by repealing early the moratorium on nursing home bed space provision even as too many remain in circulation. HB 575 by Rep. Juan LaFonta would dramatically increase costs of state elections by soliciting absentee/early ballots rather than relying on registered voters to request them. HB 619 by Jalila Jefferson-Bullock would continue unnecessary loosening of ballot security laws at state expense. HB 731 by Farrar would give a regular schedule of salary raises to elected judges regardless of the actual change in cost of living. HB 822 by Cedric Richmond would prematurely return schools from the Recovery School District to the Orleans Parish School District. SB 203 by Sen. Ben Nevers would get the state more deeply involved in insurance by creating a catastrophic fund (similar bill: SB 276). SB 295 by Sen. Derrick Shepherd would pay Senators and legislative assistants full-time salaries for jobs defined in the state Constitution as part-time. SB 309 by Sen. Joel Chaisson would amend then Constitution to allow the state to take on more debt. SB 320 by Sen. Charles Jones would create lax standards allowing for election-day voting and registering that invite fraud (similar bill: SB 225).
THE UGLY: HB 287 by Rep. Billy Montgomery would create a tax break for certain barge line, towing, and other water transportation companies; what justifies this? His HB 591 carves out an exception to general firefighter civil service laws that makes some promotions in Bossier City noncompetitive, and others determined only by an initial evaluative period of just two years; again, why?
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