Legislative session under way

The Louisiana Legislature’s 60-day fiscal session convened Monday with Gov. Kathleen Blanco asking lawmakers to approve her $29 billion spending plan.

Looking toward the state’s future, Blanco’s budget addresses many pre-Katrina/Rita problems: decaying roads, inadequate health care and public education, a lack of high-paying jobs, and low pay for teachers.

Going in to Monday’s session, however, many lawmakers were focused on lingering post-storm problems, namely rising insurance costs and the state’s eroding coastline.

Because of the fiscal session designation, this legislative session will deal mainly with money issues. However, legislators are able to file up to five non-fiscal bills for consideration in the legislative process.

This year’s session will play out under some unique circumstances, chief among them the fact that more than half of the current members are term limited and will not be able to seek re-election to their current seats in the fall elections.

Also, legislators will be deciding on how to spend an unprecedented surplus that some officials estimate could be as high as $1.3 billion when all current and projected budget funds are calculated.

In addition, with Blanco’s recent announcement that she will not seek a second term, the influence the governor typically has over the legislative process is expected to be dramatically diminished, setting the stage for a possible free-for-all as various players and interests seek to fill the expected power vacuum.

As of press time, over 1,200 bills have been filed in both chambers: 905 in the House of Representatives and 325 in the Senate as well as 21 proposed constitutional amendments.

Local legislators have filed some important and intriguing bills, among them a proposed constitutional amendment by State Rep. Loulan Pitre, Jr. (R-Cut Off). His proposal, House Bill 304, calls for ending the requirement that the legislature meet annually for 85 days and 60 days respectively, depending on whether or not it is a regular or fiscal session.

Instead, Pitre’s bill calls for the legislature to meet one week a month, Monday through Friday, from January through October. The bill calls for the meetings to be held during the second week of the month.

While acknowledging that the bill is a long shot, Pitre acknowledges that the bill would allow for greater consideration of legislation unlike the current scenario where much business is rushed through, many times without adequate consideration.

State Senator Reggie Dupre (D- Bourg) has introduced Senate Bill 53, which, if passed, would secure future outer continental shelf (OCS) revenues for use in coastal restoration. The legislation would allow the state to bond out a portion of future revenues now so coastal work could begin in the very near future.

Dupre estimates that the state could be on the verge of having some $1.5 billion in funds for restoration work. “The governor’s budget includes some $200 million towards coastal restoration and it appears that the tobacco settlement will be approximately $1.6 billion, 20 percent of which goes to coastal restoration. That’s a little over $500 million between the two.

“An additional $500 million from OCS will be coming over the next decade and the state will get some $540 million from already approved Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) funds. So, we’re looking at some $1.5 billion that we will be able to bond out and use in the next several years,” he said. “The funding picture for coastal restoration as is related to money the state has control over is getting much better.”

State Senator D.A. “Butch” Gautreaux (D-Morgan City) is continuing his fight against trash with Senate Bill 288.

The measure would create parish study groups to evaluate the state’s litter laws, rules and regulations. After a year, the best suggestions would be teamed to create a pilot program to fight litter.

Gautreaux said he began working on the legislation after learning that businesses looking to relocate had turned down Louisiana as an option because of the trash on the state’s roads. “It’s obvious [the laws] we have [are] inadequate,” he said. “By going out to all 64 parishes, hopefully we will be able to attack the problem, which will help from an economic development standpoint. I’m very optimistic about it.”

State Rep. Warren Triche Jr. (D-Thibodaux) has introduced House Bill 467, which allow teachers in the optional retirement plan to make a one-time, irrevocable option to enter into system membership.

The bill is designed to give college professors, coaches and instructors hired within the state’s higher learning institutions the option of joining the retirement plan. “A lot of these people are finding it hard to stay in the educational system because the plan does not afford them any decent retirement,” he said. By allowing them to enter the retirement system for teacher, Louisiana will be better able to retain qualified instructors, Triche said.

The Thibodaux lawmaker said he also intends to seek a suspension of the rules and regulations concerning the state’s new building codes. “I’ve had more and more people calling and complaining,” he said.

The stiff increase in building costs, teamed with ever-increasing homeowner’s insurance rates has made homebuilding cost-prohibitive for many first-time owners, Triche said. “Prices are sky high, and the folks in charge of making inspections can’t get enough inspectors for the job,” he reasoned.

In a somewhat related offering, State Rep. Damon Baldone (D-Houma) is seeking tax credit to homebuilders who use the new building codes in House Bill 338.

State Rep. Gordon Dove (R-Houma) is seeking appropriations for stabilizing and restoring coastal passes (House Bill 812) and barrier islands and shorelines (House Bill 813).

In the meantime, State Rep. Carla Blanchard-Dartez (D-Morgan City) said she intends to support much of Blanco’s spending package. “Her package emphasizes education and that’s what I wanted to look at improving with the surplus,” she said. “I’d also like to see pay raises approved for our police and fire fighters.”

The current legislative session must adjourn no later than 6 p.m. on June 28.

The Associated Press contributed to portions of this article.