The Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee voted along party lines on House Bill 841 by Rep. Avon Honey, D-Baton Rouge which was designed to enable Governor Bobby Jindal to accept the unemployment benefit money from the stimulus package.This is the legislation that the House republicans said they would have voted against if they knew what was in the Amendment.Rep. Honey (D-Baton Rouge) had made a reference to the stimulus package but the House still voted yes.When news broke that the legislators voted on legislation that they did not read, Governor Jindalvowed he would veto the legislation.Now, he probably does not have to do so since the package appears to have died in the Senate.Jindal made a “deal” over the legislation when he said publically prior to his national appearances early this year that he would not be accepting the unemployment benefits of the stimulus package and asked for other Governors to the sameHe made that statement prior to going on Meet The Press and prior to his appearing as the counter-balance to Barack Obama’s State of the Union address.
HUD
Today, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan joined volunteers from the St. Bernard Project and other local organizations to rebuild a New Orleans home that was destroyed in Hurricane Katrina TODAY, June 22, launching the Obama Administration's Summer of Service Initiative. While in New Orleans, Secretary Donovan is promote the importance of service as part of President Obama's National Day of Service activities. Donovan will also join the St. Bernard Project to welcome a family back into their Gentilly-neighborhood home that was recently renovated with support from the St. Bernard Project. This is Secretary Donovan's second trip to New Orleans since joining the Obama administration.
Governor Jindal And the Session
This is a recap from Sunday night.Governor Bobby Jindalannounced how the legislature is taking action on certain Administrative legislation:
Below is a quick recap of the progress Governor Bobby Jindal’s package bills (in the “2009 Legislative Agenda to Protect Louisiana’s Future”) made today in the legislative session:
Governor Package Bills Gaining Approval on the House Floor Today:
SB 94 by Sen. Donahue - Adds the crime of molestation of a juvenile involving an educator to the existing molestation of a juvenile statute.
·Approved by the LA House of Representatives today.
SB 223 by Sen. Claitor - Improves school discipline through clarifying circumstances in which teachers may remove students from the classroom, requiring suspended students make up any missed schoolwork so that behavioral consequences do not lead to students falling further behind academically and statutorily authorizing schools to require that students who misbehave attend mandatory after-school or Saturday intervention programs with a parent.
·Approved by the LA House of Representatives today.
Governor Package Bills Gaining Approval in Committee Today:
SB 1 by Sen. Chaisson - Increases the 5 percent cap of cutting dedicated fund budgetary units to 10 percent.
·Passed out of the House Committee on Appropriations today.
SB 2 by Sen. Chaisson - Eliminates the 2-year limit on dedicated fund reductions.
·Passed out of the House Committee on Appropriations today.
SB 267 by Sen. Michot - Enacts an annual reporting requirement and a biennial review of statutorily created funds.
·Passed out of the House Committee on Appropriations today.
HB 720 by Rep. Jane Smith - Establishes a Tax Amnesty Program for 2009.
Passed out of the Senate Committee on Finance today.
Governor Bobby Jindal held a press conference on Monday and outlined the budget negotiations and discussed those bills that are important to the administration during this final week of the legislature.
Jindal said that the administration is working together with the House and the Senate and that two legislative bodies are getting closer with their numbers on the budget but that there is no agreement as of yet.Jindal said that the Senate is insistent upon the House voting on HB 335 which the Senate last week put into an amendment to another House bill that deals specifically with funding higher education. Earlier during the session, the House passed the Senate budget without fully debating House Bill 335 and so the Senate wants the House to discuss that issue to ensure higher education funding.
Jindal also said that as of today, he has signed over 90 bills.
Regarding the various and numerous tax credit bills, Governor Jindal said that he wanted to see what the entire budget looked like before deciding what to do about the tax credits legislation.
The governor also said that he was focusing upon the sexual predator bills and classroom behavior. He said that one of reasons why Louisiana is not able to retain their teachers is due to the decorum in the classrooms.
The governor also discussed the proposed memorandum of understanding on CharityHospital which the Department of Health and Hospital brokered. The governor said that Tulane has signed the memorandum and he is expecting LSU to sign the same document later today.
However, the Gov. said that he was not naïve to suspect that there would not be any amendments to the process between Tulane and LSU. He said that both universities will need to make a commitment to help deliver healthcare reforms and that the institutions are going to have to work together to improve the help system, build a safety net but said that he could see some curves along the road.
The governor also said that he had predicted along with others that the entire budget process would go down to the very last thing of the session.
David Vitter, Mary Landrieu and Health Care
Louisianans for Real Healthcare Reform called on Louisiana’s two senators to return the millions of dollars in campaign donations they have received from the healthcare industry.
According to the group, “Senators Vitter and Landrieu have come under intense criticism for an alleged conflict of interest in their acceptance of millions of dollars in contributions from the health insurance lobby, while at the same time opposing the inclusion of a public option to compete with private health insurance companies as a part of President Obama’s plan for healthcare reform.
To remedy this, the group has asked Senator Vitter and Senator Landrieu to return the millions of dollars they have received from the insurance lobby.Zach Hudson, a spokesperson for the group, said that it is the only way for them to maintain credibility if they continue to oppose a public plan.”
In a standard statement on the issue, Aaron Saunders, the press secretary for Sen. Landrieu released upon request Senator Landrieu’s response.Here it is: Senator Landrieu is committed to reforming the health care system and ensuring that all Americans are covered. She is currently reviewing all of the reform proposals, but does not believe that health care reform starts with a public option. Sen. Landrieu supports a predominantly private system that features a federal backup plan that serves as a safety net. This approach is part of the bipartisan Health Americans Act, which she has co-sponsored. As the debate proceeds, Sen. Landrieu is open to compromise in a comprehensive legislative package, and is focused on appropriate consumer protection and patient-centered care.
Sen. Landrieu makes policy decisions based on what is best for the people of Louisiana, not on campaign contributions.
In a separate statement, Saunders wrote to Bayoubuzz the following in connection with the criticisms: "In addition, since these ads were first launched, the majority of Louisianians who have called our office have encouraged Sen. Landrieu to oppose, not support, a public option. "
Governor Jindal's ethics and transparency is coming in question from another front. The League of Women Voters has issued a statement urging that the legislature provide more transparency in the office of Gov. Jindal. The governor has often framed "ethics reform" as one of the key planks of his administration. Here are the comments from the League of Women Voters:
Protect your right to know how and what influences are involved in spending your taxpayer dollars.
Call: the House of Representatives and tell them to "Just say NO to SB 278." 225.342-6945.
SB 278 would broaden the exception for certain records concerning the governor's operations. Of particular concern is the bill would protect documents that are used, prepared for or held by or on behalf of the governor and relate to: Executive deliberations and work product. The League believes that you, the public have a right to know how decisions that affect you and your family in the Governor's office and anywhere else that SB 278 inhibits your right to see public records.
Background: Louisiana law generally provides that documents of public bodies shall be open to the public. However, hundreds of exceptions to the general rule have been created both in statute and case law. This session, the Legislature is again considering redefining the public records exception for the office of the governor. One bill (SB 278) being pushed by the administration could have devastating effects on the status of public records and should be rejected.
While a limited exception for the governor may be in order, it should be crafted narrowly to ensure maximum access while protecting only the most sensitive documents. A PAR survey of public records exceptions for governors among the states indicates that few states allow their governors considerable discretion in designating certain records as private and/or exempt broad categories of records in the governor's office _ such as working papers, correspondence or records that would reveal contemplated policy. However, none statutorily grants a public records exception as broad as the one for Louisiana's governor.
Informed and involved, we can make a difference!!!
The League of WoMen Voters of Louisiana
Legislative wrapup:
The League of Women Voters of Baton Rouge are once again providing a wrap up of the legislative session. Here is the information:
Jim Brandt, President of PAR
John Maginnis, Political Columnist
Glenn Koepp, Secretary of the La. Senate
Alfred W. "Butch" Speer, Clerk of the LA. House of Rep.
Registration and networking open at 11 a.m. The Louisiana Reality Check program will begin at 12 Noon on June 26th, 2009 at Drusilla Place , 3482 Drusilla Lane, Baton Rouge, LA. Tickets are $35.00 each. To Guarantee
your seating, call 927-2255 & mail your check made payable to: LWVBR,728 North Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA70802 .
Be one of the first to know what really happened at the 2009 Legislative session, which has been one of the most contentious sessions in recent years with significant budget cuts, falling revenues, tax credits, and with priorities that puzzle concerned citizens, some legislators and statewide officials, too. Find out from Louisiana's most respected pundits and experts on legislative affairs next Friday. Learn what the Legislature and the Governor have done for or to the People of Louisiana from different points of view and how are their actions going to affect you and your family and why?
Bring your questions and join us, just 18 hours after the close of the LA Legislative session, when the League of WoMen Voters of Baton Rouge's will present the 15th annual "The Louisiana Reality Check" for citizens and League members who want to know, at Drusilla Place, 3482 Drusilla Lane, Baton Rouge, LA. at lunch on June 26. This is a comprehensive review/analysis of the 2009 legislation, politics, and personalities by Jim Brandt, President of PAR; Glenn Koepp, Secretary of the LA Senate ; John Maginnis, syndicated Political Columnist; and Alfred W. "Butch" Speer, Clerk of the LA House of Representatives.
For more information and your invitation, Check: http://WWW.LWVBR.ORG.
Seating is limited to the first 100 people so please make your reservation today and plan to arrive early to network with the speakers and your peers.If you have any questions, please call 225.927.2255.
Net proceeds support the Baton Rouge League of WoMen Voters projects and voter service programs in the Greater Baton Rouge Area.
