New Legislature Seen As More Conservative, Religious
by Mike Hasten - Shreveport Times (excerpt)

BATON ROUGE — With almost 48 percent of the House of Representatives and 41 percent of the Senate Republicans, the new Legislature is probably the most conservative since Reconstruction, observers say, and it's possibly the most religious.

Lawmakers say there might be no correlation between the two, but there's definitely an increase in interest in keeping their religious beliefs active while dealing with secular duties.

For years, lawmakers have had Bible study groups that meet regularly, but Sen. Robert Adley, R-Benton, a lay minister who leads a group that meets on Tuesday mornings, says there's much more interest among the new crop of legislators.

"It appears to me to be more conservative," Adley says of the new Legislature seated after term limits went into effect.

Rep. Jonathan Perry, R-Abbeville, one of the freshmen lawmakers, has formed a second Bible study group with Rep. Brett Geymann, R-Lake Charles, which meets on Thursday mornings.

"Those of us who go to church on a regular basis found that being in the Legislature, we need more than once a week because of the pressures of the position," he said. "This is something we felt we needed. Additional time with other Christians definitely helps."

While not touching on the religious aspects, the heads of two political watchdog groups say the new Legislature appears to be at least more fiscally conservative.

"There do seem to be more conservative issues," said Jim Brandt, president of the Public Affairs Research Council.

"They're touching all of the conservative hot button issues. Creationism, stem cell research, tax rebates, credits and refunds are all front and center. We haven't seen yet what they're doing with vouchers.