Secretary of State Tom Schedler

Ethics revisions seem likely

The members of an advisory committee reviewing Louisiana’s ethics laws sound optimistic, some even confident, that significant policy changes will be recommended to the Legislature—maybe even in time for the regular session that begins March 12.

Election turnout still looks bleak

First the bad news. Secretary of State Tom Schedler said in an interview that he fears turnout could be as low as 10 percent for this month’s runoff elections on Nov. 18. Now for something with more of a positive spin.

Frequency of local tax votes questioned

Some lawmakers are concerned that local governments and political subdivisions are abusing the “in cases of emergency” exception in the Louisiana Constitution for submitting tax propositions more than once within a six-month period.