The House Appropriations Committee on Monday approved a bill that would call a limited constitutional convention in 2020.
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.
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.
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 shortfa
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.
By Shaun Hearen
Abbeville Meridional
LAFAYETTE — Legislators spent the last couple of months in Baton Rouge, working to fix the state’s budget woes.
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.
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.
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.”
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.