Louisiana Legislature

Limited constitutional convention advances

The House Appropriations Committee on Monday approved a bill that would call a limited constitutional convention in 2020. The proposal, which was sent without objection to the House floor, would limit the convention call to local government, financing and education matters. Rep.

House panel OKs state budget that funds TOPS, slashes health care

After a contentious debate, the House Appropriations Committee voted Monday almost along party lines to approve a state budget that would fully fund TOPS while slashing health services for the state’s most vulnerable citizens.

As time escapes from session, outside politics creep in

Time has officially become a factor for the Louisiana Legislature, especially as lawmakers proceed with four weeks of regular session work under their belts and another eight weeks to go. The pressure ratchets up further when you consider Gov.

House trips on trust issues

In a stunning display of mistrust between Republicans and Democrats, the House failed Sunday to agree on any revenue-raising measures, all but killing the special legislative session that was called to deal with a looming $1 billion budget shortfall.

Legislators down to the wire, in the last ditch on fiscal fix

Rep. Walt Leger, D-New Orleans, spoke to Rep. Denise Marcelle, D-Baton Rouge, on the House floor after Marcelle and three other Legislative Black Caucus members voted against Leger’s tax bill Friday.

Legislators look to ‘fiscal cliff’

By Shaun Hearen Abbeville Meridional LAFAYETTE — Legislators spent the last couple of months in Baton Rouge, working to fix the state’s budget woes. After not doing so during the regular legislative session, state lawmakers did pass a budget during a special session that followed.

As fiscal year begins, 31 new laws enacted

Part of the policy yield from six lawmaking sessions held over the past 18 months came into view this past weekend when several new laws were enacted. That included the official state budget, which weighs in at $28 billion and took effect on July 1, the start of the 2017-2018 fiscal year.

House veteran says session was one of the wildest in his 35 years

Not much about the Louisiana legislature has changed since House Sergeant of Arms Clarence “Smoke” Russ began working at the Capitol in 1982, but the end of the last regular session was one to remember.

House speaker defended

Former House Speaker Chuck Kleckley, now a government affairs advisor at Adams & Reese in Baton Rouge, said last week that he thought his successor in the Legislature’s lower chamber is “doing a good job.

DeVillier bills pass

State Rep. Phillip DeVillier saw six bills pass the Legislature and become law in the recently completed regular session. Most of DeVillier’s work was on legislation requested by local government.