FRESHMAN LEGISLATORS READY TO START WORK
by Claire Taylor - The Daily Advertiser (excerpt)

BATON ROUGE - Freshman members of the 2008 Louisiana Legislature were all smiles Monday as they escorted family members through the Capitol and onto the House floor where they were sworn into office at 10:10 a.m.

State Rep. Rickey Hardy, D-Lafayette, brought an entourage of supporters by bus to watch him make the move from school board member to state legislator. His wife, Marie Hardy, sat beside him on the House floor and pinned his official legislative lapel pin onto his suit coat.

The large number of new representatives marks a new beginning "and it shall be a wonderful change for everyone in Louisiana," he said.

Veteran state Rep. Don Trahan, R-Lafayette, said he hopes the new legislators "get their feet wet quickly" so the House can move forward with a far-reaching ethics reform package that will put Louisiana at the top of list in the nation.

Trahan was the only member of the Acadiana delegation to address the House floor Monday, seconding the nomination of state Rep. Karen Carter Peterson as House Speaker pro tem.