Friday, January 27th, 2012

Louisiana Institute of Public Policy and Politics (3rd Session)
(excerpt)

The Louisiana Institute of Public Policy and Politics is hosting a seminar series on Advocacy and Issue Management. It began two weeks ago with presentations by newly elected House Speaker Chuck Kleckley. Senate Pro Tempore Sharon Weston Broome, the Governor's legislative director Scott Angelle, Louisiana GOP Executive Director Jason Dore and lobbyists Johnny Koch and Jimmy Burland. The second seminar featured several powerful, high profile Governmental and Non-Profit Organizational Advocates. Last Tuesday participants heard from Business and Trade Association Representatives.

This Coming Tuesday, January 31- Independent Lobbyists

Jim Harris- Harris, Deville and Associates
Tom Spradley- Spradley and Spradley
Ryan Haynie- Haynie and Associates
Cindy Bishop- Checkmate Strategies
Bud Courson & Jim Nickel- Courson Nickel
and
Kyle Ruckert- Chief of Staff for U.S. Senator David Vitter

The sessions are held each Tuesday night in January in the Executive Board Room at Business First Bank in Baton Rouge.

PHOTO: (l to r) Bernie Pinsonat- Southern Media and Opinion Research, Dan Borne- LA Chemical Association, Randy Hayden- Creative Communications, Institute Director Pat Bergeron, John Williams- Beer Industry League of LA and Brian Landry- LA Association of Business and Industry

TO SEE MORE PICS FROM THE EVENT CLICK ON STORY TITLE LINK ABOVE.

If you are interested in attending these sessions contact Pat Bergeron at 225-405-6296 or email: cpbmsb@msn.com

Jindal: Reform needed now
by Barbara Leader - News Star (excerpt)

The state must take bold action and do it now, Gov. Bobby Jindal said Thursday as he toured northeastern Louisiana with the state's new superintendent of education, John White.

Jindal spoke to the Monroe Chamber of Commerce about what he called a "critical time" in Louisiana's history and the role his aggressive education reform package will play in the state's continuing journey to improvement. White joined Jindal at the Monroe Chamber of Commerce but spent most of his visit in area schools observing teachers and students.

Jindal's multifaceted reform package, which he detailed to the chamber, includes putting highly effective teachers in every classroom, giving parents and students equal opportunity in education and giving school leaders the flexibility to spend their dollars on policies that improve student achievement.

Gov. Bobby Jindal proposes grading early childhood programs
Associated Press (LA)

TO READ THS AP WIRE ARTICLE CLICK ON STORY TITLE LINK ABOVE.

National figures to speak in BR
by Will Sentell - Advocate (excerpt)

About 800 people are expected to attend an education gathering Monday in Baton Rouge that will include speeches by state and national leaders, including former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, schools choice advocate Howard Fuller and former New York City education Chancellor Joel L. Klein.

The gathering, which is called “Leadership For Change,” will also include talks by Gov. Bobby Jindal, who says public school improvements are his top priority for 2012; U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La.; and state Superintendent of Education John White.

The event is the brainchild of Louisiana House Education Committee Chairman Steve Carter, R-Baton Rouge. Carter said about three months ago he was talking with a few people about some of the education changes taking place across the country. “I would love to bring some of these people to talk about what they have done, how they did it,” Carter recalled saying. “One thing led to another,” he added. The day-long event will take place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

State super bonds with students
by Barbara Leader - News Star (excerpt)

State Superintendent of Education John White visited three schools in northeastern Louisiana on Thursday as part of his statewide "listening tour."

White, who was named the state's superintendent this month, will oversee the implementation of Gov. Bobby Jindal's education reform package, which focuses on teacher effectiveness, accountability and providing educational opportunities for those in the state's struggling schools.

"These are things that I believe deeply in, but in the end it comes down to how it actually happens" he said. "In order to do that we've got to learn, and there's no one better to learn from than teachers and kids. And that's why I'm really here today." In preparation for the work that lies ahead, White said he wants to visit students, classrooms and teachers across the state.

Sheriff will be arrested
by Zack Southwell - News Star (excerpt)

The sheriff of Caldwell Parish is expected to be arrested Friday after the parish's district attorney handed troopers a warrant. Lt. Julie Lewis, the public affairs unit supervisor for State Police Troops D, E, F and G, said Mark McKee, 37th District Attorney for Caldwell Parish, hand-delivered the warrant to Troop F on Thursday calling for the arrest of Steve May.

The Inspector General's Office conducted the investigation, and the warrant for May's arrest drawn up by McKee's office. "He spoke to the state police's superintendent, Col. Mike Edmonson," Lewis said. "They were discussing arrangements for May's arrest." May will present himself to authorities Friday.

Lewis said May is likely to be placed into custody and charged with malfeasance. She said May likely will be booked at Caldwell Parish Detention Center.

Budget deficit projected
by MICHELLE MILLHOLLON - Advocate (excerpt)

The $895 million shortfall projected for the upcoming state spending year stems partly from the use of more than $300 million in one-time money to balance the current year’s $25 billion state operating budget.

Also contributing to the state’s money problems are the number of offenders returning to prison for parole violations and the impact of tuition increases on the college TOPS scholarship program. The shortfall assumes what would be the first significant increase in basic state aid for public schools in several years.

However, state officials cautioned that Gov. Bobby Jindal is still crafting his proposed state operating budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1. Whether the governor actually will include a nearly 3 percent increase in basic state funding for public schools is unknown.

EDITORIAL: Cutting off pensions of officials convicted of corruption is fair
Times-Picayune (excerpt)

Public officials and employees get generous pensions funded for the most part by taxpayers. That's why the public loathes seeing officials and public employees continuing to receive fat pensions even after convictions for public corruption. Two bills filed for the upcoming legislative session seek to deny publicly financed pensions to public employees convicted of felony corruption charges, and lawmakers should pass these proposals. House Bill 9, by state Rep. Tony Ligi of Metairie, would send to the ballot a constitutional amendment authorizing laws to deny retirement benefits to public workers and officials convicted of corruption. The bill would need approval from two-thirds of the House and Senate and ratification by a majority of voters in the Nov. 6 election. A companion measure detailing the new policy, House Bill 10, would go into effect only if the constitutional amendment is enacted. The bill lists 35 federal and state "public corruption crimes" in which a conviction would trigger the pension ban. They include extortion, payroll fraud, taking kickbacks and conspiracy to defraud the government, among others. The pension bans would apply to officials and employees in office as of January 2013 and for crimes committed or convictions obtained after Jan. 1, 2013.

2 sides present cases as Grace trial begins
by Bill Lodge - Advocate (excerpt)

Former St. Gabriel Mayor George L. Grace was painted by prosecutors Thursday as a manipulative man demanding bribes from city vendors years before the FBI targeted him for an undercover sting that led to his current trial on racketeering charges.

Defense attorneys drew a different picture, referring to Grace as an honest man unfairly targeted by FBI agents hoping to corrupt and convict him after years of frustration over failed efforts to place him behind bars.

“Only George Grace is to blame for the position he finds himself in today,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Jefferson told a jury of eight women and four men in Baton Rouge. “He (Grace) made the decision to sell the power of his office,” Jefferson added during opening statements.

Former state Senator loses appeal in tax evasion case
Associated Press (LA)

TO READ THIS AP WIRE ARTICLE CLICK ON STORY TITLE LINK ABOVE.

Thursday, January 26th, 2012

Roemer gains allies in presidential race
by MICHELLE MILLHOLLON - Advocate (excerpt)

On the campaign trail, Roemer said he does not want to abandon the work he has done, but realizes he needs to attract invitations to national debates. So far, Roemer has been shut out of 22 debates, gaining more attention on networks like Comedy Central than in hard-hitting news reports. He is limiting his campaign contributions to $100 or less in a bid to shun the big corporations that he claims grease the Washington political machine.

“It’s about money,” said political consultant Bernie Pinsonat. “Washington is about money. Being president is about money.” Political consultant Roy Fletcher said the Harvard-educated Roemer is a great debater who speaks well and thinks fast on his feet.

Whether Americans Elect could give him leverage depends on who is backing it and how much money is behind it, Fletcher said. Roemer said Americans Elect is not a party and would not put up any money for him. He said the organization would provide a platform. He would remain a Republican.

Jindal unveils pension plans
by Marsha Shuler - Advocate (excerpt)

Gov. Bobby Jindal unveiled a plan to overhaul Louisiana’s debt-laden state employee pension system Wednesday that would increase retirement contributions for some 54,000 current employees, reduce benefits and up the retirement age for many of them.

Jindal also said he wants to change the retirement system for new hires, moving away from a set monthly check to one where employees would get a lump sum on retirement based on contributions and earnings in a 401K type set-up.

Jindal laid out the plans as he decried the $18.5 billion debt of the four state retirement systems and how hefty constitutionally required annual payments on that debt are taking dollars away from education and health care.

Jindal says grade shows tenure system is broken
by Mike Hasten - The Daily Advertiser (excerpt)

BATON ROUGE — Louisiana is taking steps that can assure that there's an effective teacher in every classroom, a national survey shows, but it's still got a long way to go.

The state Teacher Policy Yearbook, assembled by the National Council on Teacher Quality, ranks Louisiana 17th overall in 2011 with the same "C-" grade as 2009. Implementing seven new goals in this assessment caused shifts in performance scores but the state moved up three slots in the ranking. "While this report demonstrates Louisiana's overall improvement, and particularly the work we've done around adopting an evaluation model to inform and support teacher effectiveness, it's clear that we still have a great deal of work to do to position our educators for continued success and growth — which of course is so closely linked to the success and development of our students," State Superintendent of Education John White said.

Asked about the report, Gov. Bobby Jindal said he agrees with it and he finds that its suggestions mirror many of the changes he's proposing in this legislative session.

New La. education superintendent says reform plan needed, 'doable"
by Jeff Matthews - The Town Talk (excerpt)

To John White, Gov. Bobby Jindal's proposed education overhaul isn't complicated. Nor should it be controversial.

White, Louisiana's new superintendent of education, was in Alexandria on Wednesday, visiting schools, speaking with business leaders and sharing his thoughts about Jindal's initiatives to change how teachers are treated and offer parents more educational choices for their children.

"I think what the governor's plan does is it creates an environment where, No. 1, there's a focus on a merit-based management of the work force," White said. "And also, parents are able to choose from a variety of options to guide their children to the right experience, so we get to a system a little more driven by the consumer and not the monopoly provider."

State still 'C-'
by Mike Hasten - News Star (excerpt)

BATON ROUGE — Louisiana is taking steps that can assure that there's an effective teacher in every classroom, a national survey shows, but it's still got a long way to go.

The state Teacher Policy Yearbook, assembled by the National Council on Teacher Quality, ranks Louisiana 17th overall in 2011 with the same "C-" grade as 2009.

Implementing seven new goals in this assessment caused shifts in performance scores, but the state moved up three slots in the ranking. Sandi Jacobs, vice president of the Washington-based LCTQ and director of the research project that assessed all 50 states' policies, described Louisiana as "an interesting state." She said it has "done some significant things on teacher effectiveness in the past two years."

Campbell chosen chairman of PSC
by Mark Ballard - Advocate (excerpt)

Foster Campbell, of Bossier Parish, was chosen Wednesday as chairman for the five elected members of the Louisiana Public Service Commission.

The unsuccessful Democratic candidate for governor in 2007 was elected on a 3-2 vote by the state’s regulators who oversee the costs charged by utility, trucking and phone companies. He will preside over the commission’s monthly meetings and serve as the regulators’ spokesman.

Traditionally, the commission had rotated the chairmanship between the five members. When Campbell’s turn came, his fellow commissioners skipped him. Campbell was elected in 2003 to represent north Louisiana from Alexandria to Arkansas.

Regents not sold on ideas in report
by JORDAN BLUM - Advocate (excerpt)

The Louisiana Board of Regents on Wednesday distanced itself from an external study that argued the “ideal” higher education setup would exist if there were no Southern University System and if the LSU System gave up its campuses in Shreveport, Alexandria and Eunice.

The state’s higher education coordinating body is instead morphing the draft report into updated role, scope and mission statements for each of the state’s public colleges that are expected to be finalized in February.

The updated mission statements divide the state’s colleges into five categories: a comprehensive research university, specialized units, statewide universities, regional universities and community and technical colleges. LSU is the comprehensive university, while the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Louisiana Tech University and the University of New Orleans are the three statewide universities.

Obama to announce new Gulf of Mexico oil and gas lease sale today
by Jonathan Tilove - Times-Picayune (excerpt)

President Barack Obama will announce today a new oil and gas lease sale in the central Gulf of Mexico to be held in New Orleans on June 20. The lease sale, which will include all available unleased areas in the Central Planning Area off of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, will make about 38 million acres available, and could result in the production of 1 billion barrels of oil and 4 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, according to Interior Department estimates. The announcement will come as part of a day of events in Nevada and Colorado in which the president will put some flesh on the bones of the administration "Blueprint for An America Built to Last," committed to an "all-of-the-above" approach to developing all available sources of American energy.

La. Supreme Court censures judge
by Vickie Welborn - Shreveport Times (excerpt)

MANSFIELD – The Louisiana Supreme Court has publicly censured DeSoto District Judge Robert Burgess for violating the judicial conduct code and ordered him to pay $1,738 in costs. Burgess, one of two judges serving the 42nd Judicial District, was cited for intervening on behalf of his niece in her attempt in 2008 to obtain a protective order against her estranged husband from whom she was seeking a divorce.

The court notes that while Burgess was in Monroe visiting his sister in January 2008 he observed his niece in distress after a physical confrontation with her estranged husband. Burgess advised her to contact her attorney. Sometime the next month, Burgess contacted a friend in the Ouachita Parish district attorney’s office for information on how protective orders were obtained there. Burgess also made contact with a district judge, who signed the order.

The niece’s estranged husband filed a complaint against Burgess in April 2008. He claimed Burgess “personally assisted” his niece in obtaining the protective order and as a result he “incurred significant attorney’s fees, costs and embarrassment.” The Judiciary Commission investigated and formal charges were filed against Burgess in December 2010. Burgess stipulated to the facts of the case when appearing before the commission in August.

Former Senator loses appeal of tax fraud convictions
by Sarah Eddington - News Star (excerpt)

A federal appeals court has upheld the convictions and sentencing of former state Sen. Charles D. Jones. Jones was convicted in 2010 for one count of tax evasion and two counts of filing a false tax return. He was sentenced to 27 months in prison.

In his appeal, Jones challenged his convictions based on insufficient evidence, specifically failure to prove intent.

In an opinion filed Wednesday by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Jones' convictions and sentencing were affirmed.

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Obama's call for domestic energy strategy encounters doubt in Louisiana
by Bruce Alpert - Times-Picayune (excerpt)

WASHINGTON -- Louisiana Republicans reacted skeptically to President Barack Obama's State of the Union call for the same kind of "all-of-the above" energy strategy that they've been advocating, predicting that continued over-regulation by his administration would block efforts to develop more domestic supplies. In his speech, Obama said his policy would rely heavily on increased production of natural gas. "We have a supply of natural gas that can last America nearly 100 years, and my administration will take every possible action to safely develop this energy," Obama said. "Experts believe this will support more than 600,000 jobs by the end of the decade." But he said it would include environmental safeguards. "I'm requiring all companies that drill for gas on public lands to disclose the chemicals they use," Obama said. "America will develop this resource without putting the health and safety of our citizens at risk." Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, said "if the president was sincere about increasing American energy production," he wouldn't have ruled against building the Keystone XL Pipeline between Canada and Gulf Coast refineries, and would have rolled back "radical" EPA regulations.

Industry rep decries oil, gas regulations
by jason brown - Advocate (excerpt)

LAFAYETTE — If the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is allowed to regulate hydraulic fracturing, a single incident anywhere in the country could “shut down the domestic industry,” an oil and gas industry representative said Tuesday. “The industry that you’re in today is being revolutionized like you’ve never seen before,” said Don Briggs, president of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association.

Speaking during LOGA’s annual State of the Industry meeting, Briggs credited the industry’s revolution to hydraulic fracturing, commonly referred to as “fracking,” which he said could help make the country less dependent on foreign resources.

More than 1 million wells have been hydraulically fractured, Briggs said, and about 85 percent of all the wells in use were completed using the technology. It involves injecting chemicals, water and sand into the ground under enormous pressure to crack open and prop up the rocks, thereby releasing the oil or natural gas.

Jindal calls teacher union official's comments 'incredibly offensive'
by Jeff Adelson - Times-Picayune (excerpt)

A day after teachers unions blasted the rhetoric Gov. Bobby Jindal used in rolling out his plan to overhaul the state education system, the governor fired back and said he was offended by a comment a union official made about school vouchers. The comment, by Louisiana Association of Educators Executive Director Michael Walker-Jones, suggested that parents may not have the resources to make informed decisions about their children's schools. "To me that is incredibly offensive and exactly what is wrong with the top-down approach," Jindal said Tuesday, after meeting with members of the Black Alliance for Educational Options. The organization is a nationwide group that promotes charter schools and vouchers as a way of improving educational systems. In a Times-Picayune article Tuesday, Jones cast doubt on whether parents had the information, time and training to bear the burden of educational decisions.

Educators meet school chief
by Marsha Sills - Advocate (excerpt)

BREAUX BRIDGE — St. Martin Parish school system officials took advantage of face time Tuesday with Louisiana’s new superintendent of education, John White, to share initiatives that they hope will boost scores at the district’s lowest-performing school, Breaux Bridge Junior High.

White said he selected the district because of the innovative programs it has implemented, such as its new virtual school, which will launch in the summer, and its participation as a test site for the state’s new teacher evaluation system.

“There are also real challenges,” White said. “This school is at a 71 on a scale of 200 (in school performance) and it doesn’t rate very highly on our letter grade system, so seeing how we can be innovative to solve urgent challenges and other challenges this school is why we thought this would be a good place (to visit).”

Governor Jindal says parents deserve choice for children
by Mike Hasten - The Daily Advertiser (excerpt)

BATON ROUGE -- A group of moms invited to have lunch at the Governor's Mansion on Tuesday supplied more ammunition for Gov. Bobby Jindal's fight to expand the New Orleans voucher program statewide.

The mothers, most of whom had to reschedule work shifts to meet with the governor, told of problems they had with Baton Rouge schools and how much they want the chance to send their children to private schools, as the governor's plan would allow.

They said the public school system is not meeting their children's needs because of large classes and lack of training. "I make choices for my children every day," said Shantell Reed. "I'm their mother. No one knows better than me" what her children need to succeed.

Strain eyes mansion
by Greg Hilburn - News Star (excerpt)

RAYVILLE — Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain said Tuesday he will likely run for governor in 2015, getting an early jump on what's sure to be a crowded field to replace two-term Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal.

"We're definitely exploring the option of running for governor now," said Strain, who was here Tuesday to speak during an agriculture forum. "We're meeting with friends and supporters across the state."

Though the Republican isn't ready to make a firm commitment to the race, when asked if he wants to be governor, Strain said, "Yes." "But I love being agriculture commissioner and will continue to work as hard as I can in this job while I have it," Strain said.

Committee to hit the road to get Louisiana highway input
by Mike Hasten - The Town Talk (excerpt)

BATON ROUGE -- If there's a state highway that needs repair in your area or a roadway that needs to be expanded, state lawmakers want to hear about it.

Sen. Robert Adley, R-Benton, and Rep. Karen St. Germaine, D-Plaquemine, new chairs of the Senate and House transportation committees, are taking the "transportation road show" to each region of the state to get public input on the state's highway needs. "These meetings are for us to listen," Adley said. "We're looking for feedback from individuals, groups and local governments -- city and parish -- to learn their needs for highways and roads."

Adley said members of the Joint Highway Priority Construction Committee will submit the suggestions to the Department of Transportation and Development for inclusion in the state's Highway Priority Program for 2012.

LA's own Moonbot Studios up for Oscar
by Devin White - Shreveport Times (excerpt)

The champagne corks were flying at Moonbot Studios in Shreveport early Tuesday after it was announced that "The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore," directed by William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg, received an Academy Award nomination for best animated short film. "We put everything into this film," said Joyce, Shreveport author, illustrator and co-founder of Moonbot Studios. "We believed in it and the kind of story we wanted to tell. It took a lot of risks, and we're just super happy that people responded to the story, to us and to everything that we were trying to achieve."

"Morris Lessmore," which has scored more than a dozen awards, is one of five animated short films up for the Academy Award. Drawing on inspiration from Hurricane Katrina, "The Wizard of Oz" and Buster Keaton, the film combines a variety of animation techniques to tell the story of people who have a passion for books. Moonbot Studios also created a best-selling, interactive "Morris Lessmore" iPad app available on iTunes in the App Store.

Arlena Acree, director of film, media and entertainment for the city of Shreveport, said an Oscar-nominated film from Shreveport can only further put the area on the map as a mecca for filmmaking.