The head of an anti-tax hike group thinks Gov. Bobby Jindal belongs on the GOP presidential ticket.

Grover G. Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, touted Jindal Wednesday in a Politico column.

In addition to leading an organization that is opposed to higher taxes, Norquist serves on the National Rifle Association’s board of directors.

Norquist said Mitt Romney, who is on track to clinch the GOP presidential nomination, needs a wing man who can criticize President Barack Obama’s policies and promote the Republican alternatives.

“There are many attractive prospects out there, but Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal can do not just all that, he has already implemented the sort of bold reforms at the state level that are now desperately needed at the federal level,” Norquist wrote.

Norquist points to the recent passage of the governor’s education package as an example of Jindal’s attributes.

Jindal recently signed into law an expansion of a program that uses taxpayer dollars to send public schoolchildren to private or parochial schools.

The governor, who flew to North Carolina Wednesday for the Republican Governors’ Association, usually responds that he has the job he wants when asked if he has any interest in becoming vice president.

Jindal is actively promoting Romney to national audiences.

Earlier this week, the governor told Fox News that Obama was too inexperienced to land the job of running the country.

“President Obama hasn’t run anything before he was elected president of the United States; never ran a state, never ran a business, never ran a lemonade stand,” Jindal said.

 

A state Senate panel Wednesday morning advanced legislation that would generally outlaw abortions after 20 weeks post fertilization.

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee without objection approved a substitute version of Senate Bill 593 and shipped it to the Senate floor for debate. The legislation will get a new bill number because it was so substantially rewritten.

The legislation, sponsored by Senate President John Alario, is called the “Viable and Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.”

“This bill is trying its best to protect the unborn. Pain can be inflicted on those of 20 weeks. This bill seeks to give them that extra protection,” said Alario, R-Westwego.

As explained, the Senate committee version would ban abortions 20 weeks post fertilization which is 22 weeks gestational age. There would be exceptions in instances where it would be “medically futile” because the life is unsustainable outside the womb and when the life and health of the mother would be jeopardy.

The rewrite also includes a “legislative intent” section that sets out legal principles behind the proposal.

“I believe this is constitutional,” said law school professor Teresa Collett, with St. Thomas School of Law in Minneapolis, Minn., and a national expert in the area of abortion litigation. Collett said six states have adopted similar laws and there has yet to be a constitutional challenge brought.

Collett said Louisiana has a larger number of abortions at or after 21 weeks than the national average. Nationally, the percentage is 1.3 percent of all abortions while Louisiana in recent years has been 3.8 percent to 1.8 percent.

Dr. Anita Showalter, an assistant dean with Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences in Yakima, Wash., said the legislation would not take away a woman’s right to an abortion just require decisions to be made earlier. She said the legislation puts the state on record “in favor of life and against inflicting pain.”

Opposition came from Dr. Deborah Taylor, an obstetrician-gynecologist, who argued that the legislation could pose problems for physicians and their patients.

“My concern is the way this bill is written if we find an anamaly not compatible with life – a kidney problem, a brain problem – it obligates this woman … You are tying the hands of the patient and physician to make those very difficult decisions,” Taylor said.

The Legislature’s House Education Committee advanced Senate-passed legislation Wednesday that would cap at 120 the credit hours most of the state’s degree programs require for graduation.

Senate Bill 103 sponsored by state Sen. Ben Nevers, D-Bogalusa, would “do everything possible to remove the barriers of completion” imposed on degree-seeking students.

Nevers said the bill would require colleges and universities to look at degree programs, including architecture and engineering, which in some cases, require students to complete more than 120 credit hours.

Louisiana Board of Regents Chief of Staff Kim Hunter Reed, said SB103 “ensures students have improved opportunities in the state.”

The bill would “get students to and through (college) as quickly as possible,” she said.

Senate Bill 104, also sponsored by Nevers, was another bill advanced by the committee Wednesday morning.

The legislation spells out timelines for the state to implement a common course numbering system in postsecondary education.

Nevers said the system, expected to be phased in over the next several years, will make it easier for students to transfer between institutions.

Reed said SB104 will ensure that Louisiana has a system in place where students will know the time and money students spent to complete courses at one higher education institution, wasn’t done in vain if they transfer schools.

 

 

ISSUES TO WATCH WEDNESDAY

The House is scheduled to consider anti-bullying legislation.

SB443 on legacy lawsuits in Senate Judiciary A committee.

SB708 Requires that audible heartbeat be made and ultrasound images be displayed for review by pregnant woman prior to abortion in House Health and Welfare committee.

 

 

House convenes at 2:00 p.m.

Senate convenes at 3:00 p.m.

 

HOUSE COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Criminal Justice. 9:30 a.m. in Committee Room 6. Agenda includes:

SB168 Provide other penalties for various traffic violations.

SB243 Creates the crime of failure to report certain felonies.

SB256 Provides relative to the treatment of pregnant offenders in custody.

SB319 Provides relative to the right to notice of time and place of defendant’s required appearance.

SB321 Provides for eligibility for parole consideration.

SB481 Provides relative to discovery procedures for certain evidence in certain criminal proceedings.

SB519 Provides relative to juvenile delinquency proceedings.

SB553 Provides for procedures relative to sobriety court programs.

SB565 Prohibit death row inmate from selling items produced by him.

SB659 Makes revisions to Code of Criminal Procedure relative to discovery.

SB689 Creates the crime of battery of a security officer.

SB710 Provides relative to the interception of communications.

SB738 Provides relative to a claim of self-defense.

SCR93 Requests the Integrated Criminal Justice Information System Policy Board to meet and facilitate in the development of an integrated criminal justice information system.

 

Education. 9:00 a.m. in Committee Room 1. Agenda includes:

SB103 Limits the number of hours required to earn a baccalaureate degree.

SB104 Provides relative to postsecondary education articulation and transfer requirements.

SB247 Creates the Central La. Technical Community College.

SB284 Merges certain La.Technical College campuses with South Louisiana Community College.

SB305 Removes geographic limitations on the legislature’s authority to create new school boards and provide relative to the financing of public education.

SB507 Permits participation of student athletes at certain camps and showcase opportunities provided that such participation complies with law, policies, guidelines, rules, and regulations regarding recruitment.

SB685 Requires the parents or guardians of public school children to attend at least one parent-teacher conference per year.

SB745 Provides for consolidation of school districts.

SB759 Provides relative to the care of students with diabetes.

SB764 Prohibits bullying at schools or school sponsored events.

SCR17 Requests the Board of Regents and LCTCS to study the feasibility of merging Capital Area Technical College and Baton Rouge Community College..

SCR60 Requests BESE/DOE to develop a comprehensive curriculum for a high school communications/speech course to prepare students to communicate effectively.

 

Health & Welfare. 9:00 a.m. in Committee Room 5. Agenda includes:

SB320 Provides for the use of the title of “Doctor” or the abbreviation “Dr.” by certain healthcare providers.

SB628 Provides relative to adult residential care providers and the modules of adult residential care providers.

SB637 Amends the Polysomnographic Practice Act.

SB708 Requires that audible heartbeat be made and ultrasound images be displayed for review by pregnant woman prior to abortion.

SB756 Provides relative to pharmacy records audits.

SB758 Provides for a health care service district within Department of Health and Hospitals’ Region IV.

SCR49 Recognizes the need to devise strategies to decrease the high incidence of women dying of heart disease and stroke..

House & Governmental Affairs. No meeting scheduled in . Agenda includes:

 

Natural Resources & Environment. 9:30 a.m. in Committee Room 4. Agenda includes: Consideration of sale of state lands: DWF property in Concordia Parish; Wooddale Towers Building, Baton Rouge

SB200 Requires DEQ to conduct an inspection of certain school buildings for the presence of lead hazards..

SB201 Requires state and local agencies to publish on-line minimum lead standards..

SB211 Requires all public and non-public elementary and secondary schools to disclose lead issues and any lead testing that has been performed on school grounds.

SB228 Provides an exception for certain agricultural materials from the prohibition of outdoor burning.

SB479 Provides for sales of certain public lands for economic development purposes.

SB502 Requires annual reports from certain special districts regarding its groundwater resources.

SB505 Provides for the payment to certain royalty owners.

SB702 Provides for the transfer of certain state property in Orleans Parish.

SB733 Provides for the membership of the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board.

SB748 Provides for the reportable release from natural gas distribution lines.

SCR41 Approves the annual integrated coastal protection plan for Fiscal Year 2012-2013..

SCR46 Approves the comprehensive master plan for integrated coastal protection..

SCR53 Requests the Louisiana State Law Institute to study legal issues surrounding groundwater and surface water law..

 

SENATE COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Commerce. 9:30 a.m. in Committee Room E. Agenda includes:

HB541 Provides for fire marshal review of plans and specifications for health care facilities and residential living options.

HB721 Provides for a fee paid to the attorney general from tobacco product manufacturers for certification.

HB782 Provides with respect to certain contracts for the collection and settlement of debts as the practice of law.

HB823 Provides with respect to licensure requirements for appraisal management companies.

HB936 Creates the Louisiana Military Advisory Council.

HB1014 Provides relative to appraisal management companies.

HB1015 Specifies with regard to membership on the La. Motor Vehicle Commission.

HB1063 Provides relative to the practice of architecture through firms.

HB1065 Provides with respect to certain mergers in regard to the updating of professional licenses.

HB1111 Describes hospital and medical benefits for permittees licensed to race horses.

HB1178 Provides relative to benefit corporations.

HB1188 Provides for the Scrap Metal Recycler Law.

HB1207 Creates an unfair and deceptive trade practice for misrepresentation regarding local television services.

SB423 Exempts officers and employees of an entity acting on behalf of the same entity from conspiracy in restraint of trade or commerce.

SB724 Provides relative to the Louisiana Quality Jobs Programs Act.

 

Health & Welfare. 9:00 a.m. in John J. Hainkel, Jr. Room. Agenda includes:

HB73 Provides relative to the disclosure of records in the vital records registry.

HB80 Prohibits smoking in psychiatric facilities of DHH.

HB95 Prohibits the conversion to cash of Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP) benefits issued electronically and prohibits the use of such benefits in liquor stores, gaming establishments, and sexually oriented businesses.

HB172 Amends provisions of the Dental Practice Act relative to sedation of dental patients.

HB349 Amends the Dental Practice Act.

HB362 Requires automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in high schools that participate in interscholastic athletics.

HB639 Provides relative to the identification, monitoring, assistance, and treatment of dentists and dental hygienists suffering from mental illness, physical deficiencies, or substance abuse.

HB687 Provides with respect to heath care records.

HB846 Establishes principles for the state mental health system.

HB867 Authorizes a cooperative endeavor between University Medical Center in Lafayette and the Lafayette Parish School System to develop a pilot program for school-based health and wellness centers.

HB952 Establishes the Mental Health Services Preservation Act.

HB1016 Provides for duties of the Dept. of Children and Family Services relative to licensure of day care centers and to facilitation of the La. Advisory Council on Child Care and Early Education.

HB1025 Provides for assessments, a self-reporting waiver, and the extension of protected actions and communications applicable to the allied practitioner health program.

HB1086 Provides for general application of laws relative to medical consent and declarations concerning life-sustaining procedures.

HCR5 Continues the Task Force on Legal Representation in Child Protection Cases.

HCR11 Memorializes congress to defund and appropriate no future funding to Planned Parenthood.

HCR52 Requests the study of the feasibility of establishing a breast milk bank in Northeast La..

HCR69 Amends administrative rules relative to examination requirements for athletic trainer certification.

HCR84 Urges and requests the Dept. of Health and Hospitals and the La. Hospital Association to promote and encourage all hospitals and medical clinics that receive state dollars to promote the “Text4baby” initiative.

HCR105 Requests the La. Dept. of Veterans Affairs to study the feasibility of Veterans Treatment Courts.

HCR108 Establishes a study committee to study inpatient transfers between hospitals, public or private, and make recommendations on the establishment of transfer agreements.

SB371 Provides the Department of Health and Hospitals the authority to create an upper payment limit mechanism for Medicaid capitated services.

SB593 Provides for the Viable and Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.

SCR79 To study the effects of the reduction of state funds as related to inpatient behavioral health facilities, including those treating both mental illness and substance abuse, in Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquemines, and St. Bernard parishes and have a preliminary and comprehensive report presented to certain entities..

 

Judiciary A. At adjournment in John J. Hainkel, Jr. Room. Agenda includes:

SB443 Provides relative to limited admission of liability in lawsuits for environmental damages.

 

Revenue & Fiscal Affairs. At adjournment in Committee Room E. Agenda includes:

HB319 Provides relative to the salary of the assessor in Lafayette Parish.

HB674 Authorizes the granting of ad varlorem tax exemption contracts by the Board of Commerce and Industry for certain businesses.

HB694 Establishes a program to authorize the granting of ad valorem tax exemption contracts by the Board of Commerce and Industry for certain businesses.

HB1096 Re-creates the Louisiana Tax Free Shopping Program.

HB1102 Authorizes the disclosure of certain taxpayer information to the La. Clerks’ of Court Association.

HB1120 Exempts resale of services from local sales tax.

 

Senate & Governmental Affairs. 9:30 a.m. in Committee Room F. Agenda includes: Confirmation hearings: Division of Administration, Board of Ethics, Office of the Governor, Dept. of Health and Hospitals, Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections, Dept. of State, Dept. of Transportation and Development, Dept. of Treasury

HB292 Requires local option elections in local school districts on term limits for school board members.

HB357 Provides for the territorial jurisdiction and election districts of the justice of the peace courts and constables in LaSalle Parish.

HB365 Requires candidates for certain offices to receive ethics education prior to qualifying.

HB385 Provides relative to registration and voting by certain displaced registrants.

HB510 Provides for the territorial jurisdiction and election districts of the justice of the peace courts and constables in DeSoto Parish.

HB710 Changes the threshold to require certain candidates to file campaign finance reports.

HB711 Provides for the requirements of the notice of candidacy by additionally requiring a candidate to certify that he has filed any campaign finance reports previously due.

HB715 Authorizes the secretary of state to charge a fee for filing franchise applications and issuing certificates to those offering cable or video service.

HB767 Provides for the composition of the 24th Judicial District Court.

HB1034 Excludes persons whose public service is limited to certain professional services from the provisions of the Code of Governmental Ethics.

HB1113 Exempts the La. Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners from certain provisions of Public Records Law.

HB1143 Provides relative to meeting agendas.

HCR132 Expresses support for the people of Israel and for their right to live in freedom and to defend themselves and extends best wishes to the people of Israel for peace, security, and prosperity.

SB226 Provides for an exception to the prohibition of a public servant from doing business with a person who has a business relationship with the agency of the public servant under certain circumstances.

SR110 Establishes a commission to study the licensure and regulation of behavior analysts..

 

Legislative news at it happens, including supporting documents, available on the Internet at  http://blogs.theadvocate.com/politicsblog/

Hearings and debate streamed live on the Internet at www.legis.la.gov

 

After a fiery debate, the state Senate on Tuesday approved a Jindal administration bill that would help offset some of the costs firms pay for relocating to Louisiana.
The proposal, House Bill 937, passed the Senate 33-6.
It now returns to the House for consideration of Senate changes. The House approved the bill last month 81-13.
HB937 was one of three business incentive proposals backed by Gov. Bobby Jindal’s office that cleared the Senate.
However, the issue sparked heated debate in the Senate over offering tax rebates to companies, especially at a time of state budget problems.
State Sen. Mike Walsworth, R-West Monroe and a sponsor of the legislation, said the proposal is part of the hard work required to create jobs that keep young people in the state.
“That is how you bring people out of poverty,” Walsworth said.
But state Sen. Karen Peterson, D-New Orleans, said senators “will be lying” to constituents if they try to justify the bill as a job creator.
Peterson cited a study that shows corporate income in Louisiana has dropped 73.5 percent in recent years despite using state surplus dollars largely for “the wealthiest entities and individuals in this state.”
“Memo to Senate, memo to Senate,” she said.
“Louisiana citizens  are impoverished. We keep passing bills and flawed policies that don’t reflect what Louisiana citizens need,” Peterson said.
“It makes no sense,” she added.
Peterson’s comments sparked a pointed rebuttal from state Sen. Gerald Long, R-Winnfield.
Long disputed Peterson’s comments that the state generally wasted a surplus spawned mostly by federal aid after Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005.
“It is easy to put the governor on the bus and drop it off the cliff,” he said.
“But I want to tell you we had a $3 billion surplus and we spent the money wisely,” Long said.
“We put more money into roads and bridges than we ever put before,” he said. “Now it is easy to take shots today but I want to tell you none of you walked away from the money tree years ago.”
The bill would provide rebates of up to 25 percent of a qualified company’s cost to relocate its headquarters to Louisiana.
Costs covered could include facilities, equipment, leasing costs and personnel relocation expenses.
The Senate also voted 28-7 for a bill that would allow some firms to lower their corporate income and franchise taxes.
Peterson leveled similar criticism at that proposal, which is House Bill 729.
In addition, the Senate voted 34-4 for a bill to give a payroll subsidy of up to 15 percent for certain businesses. It is House Bill 958.
Both bills now return to the House, which passed similar versions earlier.

The state Senate at first rejected, then approved legislation late Tuesday that would change how members on the CATS Board of Commissioners are chosen.
The Senate first voted 18-18 on House Bill 865 on Capital Area Transit System, called CATS, short of the majority needed for passage.
State Sen. Sharon Weston Broome, D-Baton Rouge, who was handling the House-passed legislation, asked for reconsideration and her colleagues agreed.
When the Senate voted again, HB865 won on a vote of 20 for and 15 against. The measure must return to the House for consideration of Senate changes.
State Sens. Page Cortez, R-Lafayette; Ronnie Jones, R-Lake Charles; and Jonathan Perry, R-Kaplan; changed their votes. Sen. J.P. Morrell, D-New Orleans, was absent for the first ballot and voted for the legislation on the second go around.
HB865 would condition some commission memberships to passage of the transit tax in local jurisdictions. Mayors of Baton Rouge, Zachary and Baker would only be able to appoint members if the tax passed in their areas. In April, voters in Baton Rouge and Baker approved the transit tax while Zachary voters rejected it.
Under the legislation, other members would be appointed from nominees submitted by the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, Together Baton Rouge, the Center for Planning Excellence, the Louisiana state office of the AARP, The Louisiana Hospital Association, the chancellors of LSU, Southern University and Baton Rouge Community College, the Arc of Baton Rouge, the Louisiana Bankers Association and Visit Baton Rouge.
State Sen. Dan Claitor, R-Baton Rouge, said a study found that the bus system in Baton Rouge was not good because it did not have enough money and its system of routing buses was problematic. A third reason was the way the commission, which oversees the administration of CATS, was put together.
The money and structure issue were dealt with by a vote in April to raises taxes to pay for a better bus system, Claitor said. Revamping the commission is not addressed properly in HB865, he said.
“The commission has no accountability. There is a disagreement among the locals of the appropriate way to address this issue,” Claitor said.
Broome said the plan had been properly vetted.
Voting FOR changing the CATS board (20): President Alario and state Sens. Broome, Brown, Chabert, Cortez, Dorsey-Colomb, Gallot, Heitmeier, Johns, Martiny, Mills, Morrell, Murray, Nevers, Perry, Peterson, G. Smith, Tarver, Thompson and Ward.
Voting AGAINST HB865 (15): State Sen. Adley, Allain, Appel, Buffington, Claitor, Crowe, Donahue, Erdey, Kostelka, Long, Morrish, Riser, J. Smith, Walsworth and White.
Not Voting (4): Sens. Amedee, Guillory, LaFleur and Peacock.

EARLIER POST

The state Senate rejected late Tuesday legislation that that would change how members on the CATS Board of Commissioners are chosen.

The Senate voted 18-18 on House Bill 865 on Capital Area Transit System, called CATS.

Because of the vote, supporters can ask for another vote of the measure. State Sen. Sharon Weston Broome, D-Baton Rouge, who was handling the House-passed legislation, gave notice that she would ask for another vote.

House Bill 865 would condition some commission memberships to passage of the transit tax in local jurisdictions. Mayors of Baton Rouge, Zachary and Baker would only be able to appoint members if the tax passed in their areas.

Under the legislation, other members would be appointed from nominees submitted by the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, Together Baton Rouge, the Center for Planning Excellence, the Louisiana state office of the AARP, The Louisiana Hospital Association, the chancellors of LSU, Southern University and Baton Rouge Community College, the Arc of Baton Rouge, the Louisiana Bankers Association and Visit Baton Rouge.

State Sen. Dan Claitor, D-Baton Rouge, said the legislation sets up a commission that lacks accountability.

Voting FOR changing the CATS board (18): President Alario and Sens Amedee, Broome, Brown, Chabert, Dorsey-Colomb, Gallot, Heitmeier, LaFleur, Martiny, Mills, Murray, Nevers, Peterson, G. Smith, Tarver, Thompson and Ward.

Voting AGAINST HB865 (18): Sens Adley, Allain, Appel, Buffington, Claitor, Cortez, Crowe, Erdey, Johns, Kostelka, Long, Morrish, Peacock, Perry, Riser, J. Smith, Walsworth and White.

Not Voting (3): Sens. Donahue, Guillory and Morrell.

The pool of potential nominees for the Louisiana Board of Ethics would be expanded under legislation that cleared a state House committee Tuesday.

Senate Bill 248 would remove the bar to service for people who may be serving on state and local boards or commissions. Under current law, people cannot have served on a board or commission in the last six months.

SB248 would allow the people to be nominated and appointed but they would have to resign before joining the Ethics Board.

The private independent college presidents who must submit names of potential nominees sought the change to increase the pool of those who could serve.

Legislation is headed to the state House floor that would exempt Baton Rouge Port Commission members who are grain farmers from state conflict of interest laws.

The House and Governmental Affairs Committee approved Tuesday Senate Bill 754, which would provide a new exception in the ethics law for otherwise prohibited conduct.

SB754 would allow a port commission member, a member of his immediate family or an entity in which he has a substantial economic interest to sell grain to the elevator operator Louis Dreyfus Commodities.

The public grain elevator is owned by the port.

The member would have to recuse themselves when issues come up related to management and operation of the grain elevator. In addition, the terms and conditions of the grain sale would have to  be the same or substantially the same as a sale to a non-member.

Jim Monroe, with the Louisiana Farm Bureau, said the port is the only place to sell grain in a three parish area. The Farm Bureau nominates some port members and he said grain farmers would add their expertise.

The Louisiana Board of Ethics advised earlier that the arrangement would create a confict.

The committee amended SB754 to only apply to the Baton Rouge Port situation.

A Louisiana House committee decided Tuesday that Secretary of State Tom Schedler should have the power to close museums under his control because of budget cuts.

The House and Governmental Affairs Committee approved Senate Bill 268, which also would require Schedler to work with communities where the museums are located to see if there are local options for keeping facilities open.

Schedler’s office manages 17 museums, ranging from the Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge and the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum in Shreveport to smaller museums such as the Garyville Timbermill Museum and the Delta Music Museum in Ferriday.

“Currently the law does not offer the secretary of state any latitude at all to literally close museums,” said Schedler. He said that ability is especially important since the museums have been targets for budget cuts.

Schedler said his office has acquired museums from primarily local areas to run. “With budget constraints it’s becoming more and more difficult,” he said.

The legislation would allow Schedler’s office to accept private contributions, funding from local government and other public entities to help keep museums open.

The panel amended the bill to make it clear that the closure authority would remain until such time as “sufficient funds” are appropriated for museum operations.

A bid to make habitual offenders eligible for parole is nearing final passage after zipping through a state Senate committee Tuesday.

The Senate Committee on Judiciary B voted without objection to advance House Bill 543 by state Rep. Patricia Smith, D-Baton Rouge. The proposal now moves to the state Senate floor.

Under HB543, certain offenders would become eligible parole after serving part of a life sentence. The bill would not apply to violent offenders or those convicted of sex crimes.

The bill would apply to:

• Inmates who have served at least 25 years after being sentenced between the ages of 18 and under 25.

• Inmates who have served at least 20 years after being sentenced between the ages of at least 25 and under 35.

• Inmates who have served at least 15 years after being sentenced between the ages of at least 35 and under 50.

• Inmates who have served at least 10 years after being sentenced when they were 50 years or older.