Thursday, May 23rd, 2013

Tea party storm largely inside IRS — so far
by STEPHEN OHLEMACHER - Associated Press (LA)

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Republicans shout, Democrats shrug over auditor's request for financials
by Jeff Adelson - Times-Picayune (excerpt)

In response to a letter from Purpera's office, the Republican Party sent out an email message Wednesday blasting the auditor's office and suggesting that the request was politically motivated and possibly tied to the party's opposition to a budget proposal put forward by some House members earlier this year. Lorusso was not one of the key figures behind that plan. It also tied the request to the ongoing revelations that federal IRS employees targeted filings by Tea Party groups for closer scrutiny. In a letter to the auditor's office, the party also sought records of similar requests made to the Democratic Party and copies of any correspondence between the auditors office and lawmakers regarding the financial statements. "We have grave concerns that this action is an attempt out of the Obama administration's playbook to halt our ability to express free speech," party Executive Director Jason Dore said in the email.

Breakaway district bill advances
by Will Sentell - Advocate (excerpt)

Nearing a showdown vote, a House committee Wednesday approved one of the bills aimed at creating a new school district in southeast Baton Rouge. The vote was 14-7 in the House Appropriations Committee, which reviewed the bill for the cost impact. The measure, Senate Bill 199, next faces action in the full House.

A companion measure, Senate Bill 73, is a proposed ballot measure that is awaiting action in a separate committee. If it wins committee approval, as expected, both bills will face a late-session showdown in the House, where the plan died last year.

The proposal would carve out a new school district that includes 10 elementary, middle and high schools that are now part of the East Baton Rouge Parish school system.

Senate OKs pay raise for judges
by Lauren McGaughy - Times-Picayune (excerpt)

Louisiana's judges would receive pay raises of between $16,000 and $19,250 over five years under a bill approved by the Senate on Wednesday. The bill was passed over the objections of some lawmakers who noted that state workers have not received a pay raise in six years. Senate Bill 188, sponsored by state Sen. Danny Martiny, R-Metairie, would adopt recommendations made by the Judicial Compensation Commission in January to raise 2013 salaries for Louisiana's Supreme Court justices by 5.5 percent, appellate court judges by 3.7 percent and general trial court and city/parish judges by 4 percent. After 2013, salaries for all four categories of judges would increase by 2.1 percent a year for the next four years, in line with the historic rate of judicial salary increases in southern states since 1983. A Supreme Court justice making roughly $152,000 in 2013 would see his or her pay increase to more than $171,000 by 2018.

Assessors could raise their own pay under bill headed to House floor
by Jeff Adelson - Times-Picayune (excerpt)

Assessors in Louisiana would be able to raise their own salaries by up to about 17 percent over four years under a bill headed to the state House. But lawmakers warned assessors that doing so could prompt a backlash from their constituents. The House Ways and Means Committee approved Senate Bill 63 by Sen. Fred Mills, R-Breaux Bridge, on Wednesday, sending the measure to the House floor for a vote. The Senate has already approved the bill. Rep. Taylor Barras, R-New Iberia, stressed that the bill doesn't require assessors to increase their pay, but would give them that power. The last time assessors received a pay increase was seven years ago, Barras said.

Senate panel approves bill to raise LSU student fees
by Lauren McGaughy - Times-Picayune (excerpt)

Louisiana State University students would see their fees increase between $48 and $2,500 under a bill approved by the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday. The bill passed without opposition and now heads to the Senate floor for final consideration. House Bill 671, sponsored by Rep. Frank Foil, R-Baton Rouge, would allow the LSU Board of Supervisors to assess all students a $48 per-semester fee for campus maintenance, depending on the number of credit hours a student is carrying. Students enrolled in the LSU dental program in New Orleans would be assessed an extra $575 per year in fees for supplies and prosthetic devices beginning next academic school year. And students taking online or "distance learning" courses would be assessed an extra fee.

Senate passes amended Equal Pay for Women Act
by Lauren McGaughy - Times-Picayune (excerpt)

Female state workers should be paid as much as their male colleagues, Louisiana lawmakers declared Wednesday. The state Senate passed a much narrower version of the Equal Pay for Women Act that failed in that same chamber last week. Senate Bill 153 by state Sen. Edwin Murray, D-N.O., was one of several pieces of legislation introduced this year seeking to lessen the state's gender pay gap for both public and private workers. But an amendment offered by state Sen. Patrick "Page" Cortez, R-Lafayette, on Wednesday restricted the legislation to make it applicable to state workers only. Murray objected to the adoption of Smith's amendment, saying the private sector is home to the largest gender pay disparities in the state. But the amendment was adopted with nearly 70 percent of the Senate's support.

Common core ban resolution fails
by Michelle Mllhollon - Advocate (excerpt)

The state Senate scuttled a resolution Thursday asking the state to withdraw from a new set of educational standards. Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 68 would target what is known as common core — a set of standards adopted by nearly every state to give students more depth on key subjects and make students more competitive with their peers worldwide.

Among the issues raised by the resolution: the standards were developed through the financial resources of private foundations, bypassing local school boards; the state has little control over changes; and students’ religious practices will factor into tests and assignments.

The resolution recommends the immediate termination of “all plans, programs, activities, and expenditures relative to implementation of the common core state standards.” Local tea party members back the termination.

Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013

Medicaid expansion, Obamacare rejection bills fail in Louisiana House
by Sheila V Kumar - Times-Picayune (excerpt)

Two completely different bills dealing with the federal health care overhaul, one using federal funding to provide insurance to the working poor and the other trying to nullify parts of the Affordable Care Act, died on the House floor Tuesday. House Bill 233 by Rep. Patricia Smith, D-Baton Rouge, would have required the state Department of Health and Hospitals to accept federal dollars under the Affordable Care Act, sometimes known as Obamacare, to pay for coverage in a private insurance-based model. The legislation mirrors a bill that has been passed in Arkansas allowing the Medicaid expansion dollars to pay for private insurance plans in a federally mandated health insurance exchange.

Senate passes 3 gun bills; one is headed to Jindal's desk
by Lauren McGaughy - Times-Picayune (excerpt)

Journalists, bloggers or anyone else who intentionally publishes concealed-carry handgun permit information would be subject to stiff penalties under a bill passed by the Louisiana Senate on Tuesday. Two other gun bills also were approved. House Bill 8, sponsored by state Rep. Jeff Thompson, R-Bossier City, would penalize the release of concealed handgun permit information. The bill was approved 33-2 with New Orleans Democrats Karen Carter Peterson and Edwin Murray voting against it. Under the legislation, penalties for publication would include a $10,000 fine, six months in jail, or both. Law enforcement officers who share such information knowing it would be published could be fined $500 and also spend six months in jail.

Public school aid plan fails
by Will Sentell - Advocate (excerpt)

A $3.5 billion spending plan for public schools was rejected by a state Senate committee Tuesday, which will likely kill the measure for the session.

The proposal, Senate Concurrent Resolution 23, was denounced primarily for proposed changes in how the state would change funding for special education students. After about 90 minutes of criticism, a move to shelve the measure won approval without objection in the Senate Education Committee.

The action means that, unless there is a sudden change, the state will return to its 2011-12 public school funding package to aid schools for the 2013-14 school year, with no changes to special education aid. Parents and students are not likely to notice changes.

Social media driving bill clears final legislative hurdle
by Michelle Millhollon - Advocate (excerpt)

The state Senate gave final legislative approval Tuesday to a prohibition against tweeting while driving.

Senate Bill 147 now goes to the governor’s desk after the Senate voted 34-1 in favor of it.

The bill would make it illegal for drivers to tweet, post on Instagram or use other social network sites.

Legislature holds onto tuition control
Associated Press (LA)

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Tuesday, May 21st, 2013

Obama and the IRS: The Smoking Gun?
by Jeffrey Lord (excerpt)

AMERICAN SPECTATOR

“For me, it’s about collaboration.” — National Treasury Employees Union President Colleen Kelley on the relationship between the anti-Tea Party IRS union and the Obama White House

Is President Obama directly implicated in the IRS scandal? Is the White House Visitors Log the trail to the smoking gun? The stunning questions are raised by the following set of new facts.

March 31, 2010. According to the White House Visitors Log, provided here in searchable form by U.S. News and World Report, the president of the anti-Tea Party National Treasury Employees Union, Colleen Kelley, visited the White House at 12:30pm that Wednesday noon time of March 31st. The White House lists the IRS union leader’s visit this way: Kelley, Colleen Potus 03/31/2010 12:30

Medicaid expansion bill set aside
by Marsha Shuler - Advocate (excerpt)

An effort to find a way Louisiana could expand the ranks of Medicaid — by proposing private companies sell the insurance — ran into a roadblock Monday in the Republican-dominated state Senate Finance Committee.

The panel voted 7-3 to defer action on the measure, which attempted to move Louisiana toward what is called the “Arkansas model,” which would allow access to private insurance for those who would be included in the Medicaid expansion. Medicaid is the health insurance program for the poor that is paid for by federal and state governments. The federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, called Obamacare, would expand Medicaid to include people who previously made too much money to qualify, but not enough to afford adequate health coverage.

Medicaid expansion is optional to states. Gov. Bobby Jindal has rejected the expansion, saying it is too costly, and the GOP delegation, which has a legislative majority, also opposes it.

Senate panel rejects school funding formula, will revert to 2011-2012 numbers
by Lauren McGaughy - Times-Picayune (excerpt)

Louisiana lawmakers Tuesday rejected a proposed funding formula for the state's public school students, saying changes to funding for special education and gifted and talented students hadn't been properly studied. The state will now revert back to the 2011-2012 formula, which opponents said will cost the state $30 million. The Senate Committee on Education deferred the formula during a hearing Tuesday morning. Under current law, the state will now revert to the last formula. Since the Louisiana Supreme Court deemed last year's formula null and void because it included funding for the state's voucher and course choice program, the state will revert back to the last constitutional formula from 2011-2012. The Minimum Foundation Program, or MFP, formula determines how much state monies each individual public school student receives. The 2013-14 formula presented to the Senate committee this year included substantial changes to how special education and gifted students would be funded, with extra weight -- and state monies -- to be given to schools which see improvements in student performance.

House approves three bills providing protections for Louisiana's veterans
by Lauren McGaughy - Times-Picayune (excerpt)

Three bills aimed at protecting Louisiana's military heroes will now head to Gov. Bobby Jindal's desk for his signature, after passing easily on the House floor Monday afternoon. All three pieces of legislation are part of the governor's 2013 legislative package.

The three bills passed included:

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Amendment would protect hospitals, nursing homes from cuts
by Marsha Shuler - Advocate (excerpt)

The state Senate Finance Committee on Monday advanced two proposed constitutional amendments that opponents said would protect more areas of the budget from cuts.

The propositions, contained in House Bills 532 and 533, would provide more financial stability for hospitals, nursing homes, intermediate care facilities and pharmacists through constitutionally protected funds.

But that would be to the detriment of higher education — the only other big unprotected area of the budget — and legislators would lose even more budget flexibility, opponents said. The committee voted 9-1 to approve the measures, with state Sen. Dan Claitor, the lone no vote. The bills now move to the state Senate floor.

Scholarship transparency bill OK'd by House
Advocate (excerpt)

A bill that would shed light on who receives college scholarships awarded by higher education board members passed in the state House of Representatives Monday on an 88-0 vote.

Senate Bill 31, by state Sen. Dan Claitor, R-Baton Rouge, would require that the board members make public who they are giving scholarships to and the value of the award.

State Rep. Chris Broadwater, a Republican from Hammond handled the bill on the House floor Monday. He told his colleagues SB31 would provide transparency and safeguard against appointed officials abusing their authority.

Pay raise bill heads to Senate
Advocate (excerpt)

The Senate Finance Committee quickly signed off Monday on multi-year, 4 percent pay raises for Louisiana clerks of court.

Under House Bill 174, the clerks could opt for 4 percent pay raises in each of four years. The money to cover the raises would have to come from self-generated funds.

State Rep. Jeff Arnold, D-New Orleans, said the raises are optional and would be the first opportunity in seven years for a pay increase. The bill now heads to the state Senate floor.

Judicial pay raise bill advances
Associated Press (LA)

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