Louisiana
Political Chatter (06.04.24)
—BIG NEWS: FIRM SELECTED FOR DOTD OVERHAUL: As first reported in LaPolitics Weekly last month, the Louisiana Coalition to Fix Our Roads is leading a privately-funded assessment of DOTD, and the outfit of contractors will announce this morning it has hired the Boston Consulting Group to steer the ship. Gov. Jeff Landry asked for the assessment of the Department of Transportation and Development, and recommendations are expected before the end of the year . “For as long as anyone can remember, we have been talking about the issues that stop us from having a good transportation system in Louisiana,” said LCFOR President Erich Ponti. “Governor Landry is determined to stop the talking and start fixing Louisiana’s transportation infrastructure. LCFOR is answering his call and is excited to be working with BCG to get this done.” BCG is an international strategic management consulting firm with “specific expertise in reforming state departments of transportation.”
—IT’S OVER: Lawmakers gave final passage to most of the major spending bills on Sunday, a day early. Legislators voted for stipends for teachers and a cut to early childhood education, while diverting more than $700 million that would have been deposited in the Revenue Stabilization Fund for one-time expenses such as road improvements, water infrastructure and criminal justice needs spurred by legislation approved in the crime special session.
—NOT SO FAST: Despite high hopes during the session’s final weeks for an early finish, lawmakers didn’t sine die until minutes before the 6 p.m. deadline. HB 781, the judiciary funding bill, was approved in the final hour after amendments clarified that judges would get a pay stipend, rather than a permanent raise, and only after a judicial workload study has been completed.
—FINISHING TOUCHES: Lawmakers on Monday approved last-minute changes to HB 767 to ban out-of-state residents from seeking public records from the governor’s office. They also passed HB 952, which creates for one year a regulatory framework for hemp THC products; expect to hear more about that subject next year. HB 906, which raises the contribution limits for candidates and PACs, also was sent to the governor’s desk.
—CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS: Legislators on Monday again took up SB 181, which would have given the governor more control over the Civil Service Commission, but the result was the same and the measure failed to get the needed two-thirds vote in the House. HB 300, SB 119 and SB 177 all passed and will go to the voters. Those instruments will join HBs 48 and 49 on ballots this fall; you can read more about those measures in LaPolitics Weekly.
—NEXT STEPS: Gov. Jeff Landry’s efforts to reshape state government administration has emerged as an offseason topic to watch. Changes at the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, the Department of Transportation and Development and Louisiana Economic Development all are underway or at least being discussed, as LaPolitics has reported.
—MFP DIES IN SENATE: The instrument to create a new state funding formula for K-12 education never got a hearing in the Senate, which means the previous formula stays in effect.
—REGISTRATION NUMBERS: Democrats lost 1,783 registered voters during May, while Republicans gained 903 and 1,253 people registered without joining one of the two major parties, leaving the Democrats with a 110,892-voter plurality, pollster and consultant John Couvillon reports. The latest numbers were released Saturday. A recent LaPolitics analysis found that Republicans are likely to have a registration plurality in two to four years, based on current trends.
—LATEST PODCAST: Alfred “Butch” Speer, a member of the state Ethics Board and the former clerk of the House of Representatives, has survived constitutional conventions and more than one round of redistricting. He’s also forgotten more about regular sessions than most of us will ever learn, which made him a perfect guest for the LaPolitics Report podcast. (Spotify/Apple) Recorded in February 2015, this episode features a terrific overview of how Speer landed one of the Legislature’s most high-profile gigs. Also in this episode are a set of practical tips for mastering the House process. Plus, this episode kicks off with a job description for “Being Louisiana Governor,” delivered by late Gov. Edwin Edwards.
Know the most important news affecting Louisiana
Get our free weekly newsletter that covers government, policy and politics that impact your everyday life—in 5 minutes or less.
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — On Friday, Jan. 10, Louisiana is remembering Billy DiMaio, a victim of the Jan. 1 Bourbon Street attack.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry declared a period of mourning, ordering that all flags over state buildings be flown at half-staff.
On Friday, the state is remembering DiMaio, who was from New Jersey and a New York-based account executive for a radio station company.
At a Sunday news conference, Landry said he is remembered as a star student and a lacrosse player who had “an unwavering work ethic and positive attitude and kindness.”
Louisiana State Superintendent Cade Brumley also asked school systems to consider a moment of silence at 9 a.m. during the period of mourning.
The New Orleans Police Department and the Archdiocese of New Orleans will ring the bells of St. Louis Cathedral every day through Jan. 23, between 12:30 p.m. and 1 p.m. to honor and remember the lives lost and those affected by the terror attack.
Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter.
Latest Posts
Louisiana
Lower fees coming to homeowner insurance in Louisiana but premiums still high • Louisiana Illuminator
Homeowners in Louisiana will see a small discount on the fees they pay on top of their property insurance premiums this year.
The Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. Board of Directors voted Thursday to bring an early end to a 1.36% assessment added to all residential and commercial property insurance policies in the state. Louisiana Citizens is the state-run insurer of last resort for homeowners in environmentally risky areas who cannot find coverage on the private market.
The assessment, which goes toward paying off bonds for debt that Louisiana Citizens incurred from paying claims from hurricanes Katrina and Rita, was originally set to expire in June 2026 but will now end this April.
Gov. Landry signs Temple-backed insurance package
Additionally, those insured through Louisiana Citizens will no longer have to pay a 10% surcharge when they begin a new policy or renew their existing policy this year. The waiver, part of newly enacted legislation, took effect on Jan. 1 and will last for the next three years.
Both changes are part of Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple’s efforts to tame skyrocketing insurance rates in Louisiana.
“When Commissioner Temple took office and became chair of the Citizens Board of Directors, he encouraged our staff to find innovative ways for Louisiana Citizens to operate more efficiently and find savings for policyholders,” Louisiana Citizens CEO Richard Newberry said in a press release. “Our team identified this opportunity and brought it to the board for approval at today’s meeting.”
Although most policyholders will see relatively small savings from the changes, Temple said every little bit helps.
YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE.
Louisiana
Centenary College of Louisiana kicked off its year-long bicentennial celebration Wednesday
On a bright and chilly winter day, Centenary College of Louisiana kicked off its bicentennial year with a birthday celebration including a proclamation from the City of Shreveport and music by Centenary choir.
It was a grand start to the bicentennial year. Centenary College of Louisiana president, Dr. Christopher L. Holoman said, “we are really excited to be looking back at 200 years, an amazing history. We are so proud of that, but we are even prouder of what we are going to be in the future.”
Centenary College of Louisiana is a national liberal arts college in the heart of Shreveport. This college is deemed the oldest chartered liberal arts college west of the Mississippi River, founded in 1825.
Holoman said, “200 years is an amazing length of time…Centenary is older than time zones. Centenary is older than golden doodles.”
City of Shreveport mayor, Tom Arceneaux read the citywide proclamation and said, “I am thrilled to be here for more than one reason. One, I’m really glad that Centenary is 200 years old. And two I’m glad to be here 12 days after hip replacement surgery.”
Wednesday’s birthday party is just the start of year-long celebration of special events and gatherings. These events include:
- special exhibit at the College’s Meadows Museum of Art
- festive neighborhood party during the Krewe of Highland Mardi Gras parade
- alumni trip to Centenary’s original campus in Jackson, Louisiana
- campus art stroll showcasing the talents of the Centenary community
The bicentennial commemoration will conclude with a gala event, Spotlight Centenary, in December 2025.
To keep up with all the bicentennial year events visit centenary200.com.
Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com.
A culture that's ready for a different kind of closeup
Messika: Inside French Jewellery’s Most Disruptive Success
Column: Trump shoots his mouth off as L.A. burns. His claims about fire hydrants don’t hold water
Shaikin: Polymarket shouldn't allow people to profit by betting on the L.A. firestorm
Vladimir Putin is ready for summit with Donald Trump, says Kremlin
Colorado Rockies game no. 116 thread: Zac Gallen vs José Ureña
Why Marjorie Taylor Greene was ‘kicked out’ of the Freedom Caucus according to Rep. Buck
See it: Tesla crashes into Columbus convention center at 70 mph
Fox News Politics: Georgia the whole day through
Death of missing Oregon girl found in stream ruled homicide
Poland says Netanyahu won't be arrested if he attends Auschwitz event
Trump set for sentencing in his New York felony conviction
Mapping the Damage From the Palisades Fire
Appeals court will not block partial release of special counsel Jack Smith's Trump report
‘Much more persecution’: Venezuela braces for Nicolas Maduro’s inauguration
-
Business1 week agoThese are the top 7 issues facing the struggling restaurant industry in 2025
-
Culture1 week agoThe 25 worst losses in college football history, including Baylor’s 2024 entry at Colorado
-
Sports1 week agoThe top out-of-contract players available as free transfers: Kimmich, De Bruyne, Van Dijk…
-
Politics1 week agoNew Orleans attacker had 'remote detonator' for explosives in French Quarter, Biden says
-
Politics1 week agoCarter's judicial picks reshaped the federal bench across the country
-
Politics6 days agoWho Are the Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom?
-
Health5 days agoOzempic ‘microdosing’ is the new weight-loss trend: Should you try it?
-
World1 week agoIvory Coast says French troops to leave country after decades