Saturday, May 18th, 2013

Louisiana Legislature 2013: Full bill breakdown
by Lauren McGaughy - Times-Picayune (excerpt)

The 2013 legislative session in Baton Rouge is three weeks from its close on June 6, and lawmakers are steeped in debate on several issues, including the state budget, Medicaid expansion, education and criminal justice. The state budget has arguably become the most hotly contested -- and most in-flux -- issue of the session, with the House asserting its independence by putting forth a bipartisan plan last week and senators questioning that compromise this week. Bills involving K-12 and higher education, gun rights, Medicaid expansion, the environment, transportation and criminal justice also continue to be debated. Many of these bills will hit the House or Senate floor for final consideration next week. Below you can find a breakdown of the bills we're covering by category. If you have questions or comments on any piece of legislation, leave them in the stream below or you can reach me by email at lmcgaughy@nola.com.

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Concerns raised about La. budget proposal
by MICHELLE MILLHOLLON - Advocate (excerpt)

The Legislature’s financial adviser offered lawmakers a litany of concerns about the state budget proposal Friday, including uncertain revenue and inadequate dollars.

Acting Legislative Fiscal Officer John Carpenter told legislators that they need to worry about whether dollars will materialize and whether sufficient funding will exist for incomplete hospital privatizations.

“I don’t sleep very well at night. Maybe in my next tenure I’ll come up with some solutions for you,” Carpenter said. The state Senate Finance Committee worked Friday afternoon on the $25 billion proposed state spending plan for the fiscal year that starts July 1. Any changes the Senate makes must be agreed upon by the House.

Boustany in the spotlight for high-profile IRS probe
by Bruce Alpert - Times-Picayune (excerpt)

WASHINGTON -- In March 2012, when Rep. Charles Boustany R-Lafayette asked then IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman about reports the agency had been targeting Tea Party groups, few paid much attention. But this week, a videotape of the hearing in which Boustany asked his question, and Schulman's offered his assurance that "there is absolutely no targeting," has been played repeatedly on network and cable newscasts. A report this week by a federal inspector general that the IRS had been improperly targeting Tea Party and other conservative groups for extra scrutiny on applications for tax-exempt status has put Boustany, the chair of the House Ways and Means Oversight subcommittee, into the forefront. It's quite a jump for the physician-turned lawmaker, who only last year was fighting for his political life in a race he eventually won against Tea Party favorite Jeff Landry of New Iberia.

Friday, May 17th, 2013

House committee to grill ousted IRS chief Friday
Associated Press (LA)

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House budget compromise meets Senate questions: Do revenue numbers add up?
by Jeff Adelson - Times-Picayune (excerpt)

The state budget compromise that was crafted in the House ran into questions Thursday from senators and legislative fiscal staffers. They wondered whether the numbers might not add up. Key among the issues discussed by the Senate Finance Committee was whether the House was overly optimistic in estimating revenue from two initiatives: a proposed tax amnesty proposal and a tightening of corporate tax exemptions. The committee meeting marked the first time senators have dug into the details of a budget plan that depends on a variety of other bills to remain in balance. After weeks of negotiations, the House passed a bill last week that stripped about $525 million in one-time money from the state's $24.7 billion spending plan. That money was replaced with a variety of changes, including an amnesty program for delinquent taxpayers, tweaks to make tax credit programs less generous and some cuts to new spending.

For 37th time, Republican-majority House votes to repeal 'Obamacare'
by Bruce Alpert - Times-Picayune (excerpt)

WASHINGTON -- The House voted 229-195 Thursday to repeal the Affordable Care Act. It marked the 37th time the GOP-led House voted either to repeal or eliminate funding for the 2010 legislation designed to provide health coverage for millions of uninsured Americans. All 227 Republicans voting cast yes votes. All but two Democrats voted no. Republicans said the vote reflects their continued opposition to a law they call "Obamacare." Democrats said that, like all the previous 36 votes, the latest effort is a huge waste of time, with no chance of making it through the Democratic-led Senate. Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, said it was appropriate for Congress to take a vote as the Affordable Care Act, approved three years ago without a single Republican vote, nears full implementation in 2014.

Bill would create election day
by Marsha Shuler - Advocate (excerpt)

No statewide election is scheduled this year but an effort is underway to slate one so Louisiana voters can decide the fate of proposed constitutional amendments approved in the current legislative session.

House Bill 522, which calls for an Oct. 19 special statewide election, moved out of committee Friday at the request of House Speaker Chuck Kleckley, R-Lake Charles. In an interview after the hearing, Kleckley said he wants to expedite a statewide vote on two propositions aimed at pumping more Medicaid dollars into the state’s health care system and locking up other health funds.

One proposition would set up a constitutional fund and authorize Louisiana community hospitals to contribute dollars that would then be used to attract one-and-a-half times that in federal Medicaid funds. Kleckley said federal approvals are required as well as further legislative action after the constitutional amendment wins voter approval. “It’s a long process and we just don’t want to delay it any longer than we need to,” he said.

Movie credits to be measured
Associated Press (LA)

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