Environmental expert named senior planner
January 16, 2012
Richard N. Bollinger
January 19, 2012
Following an initial week in Baton Rouge, individuals elected to the Louisiana Senate and House of Representatives received their committee assignments and set a course of promised activity in ultimate preparation for their regular session, which is scheduled to convene March 12 and continue through June 4.
With four of six representatives and both senators from the Tri-parish region placed on their respective Natural Resource committees n plus members on Appropriations, Finance and Ways and Means n the delegation believes it carries enough influence to adjust a state Coastal Master Plan for coastal protection in a way that would better benefit Lafourche, St. Mary and Terrebonne parishes. The master plan could be enhanced with both state senators from the region being on the Select Committee for Coastal Restoration and Flood Control.
The long-talked-about transformation of U.S. Highway 90 to Interstate 49 could receive a significant push this session as representation from St. Mary and Lafourche parishes secure Transportation Committee placement.
Agricultural and industrial interests also carry influence from the Tri-parish delegation which could ultimately benefit the region as a whole with long term developments.
Louisiana’s public education challenges, some of the delegation warned, are overshadowed only by ongoing budget concerns that are necessary to resolve before any promising intentions could become a reality.
Listed are the region’s elected state officials, their committee appointments and comments regarding the term of 2012-2016.
State Sen. Bret Allain, R-Jeanerette
Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture and Rural Development (Vice-Chairman)
Finances
Health and Welfare
Natural Resources
Select Committee on Coastal Restoration and Flood Control (Vice-Chairman)
“I am very excited about the opportunities I have,” said state Sen. Bret Allain as he entered elected office for the first time. “I not only got vice chairman of Agriculture, but also got a seat on Natural Resources, which pretty much covers the basic industry of my district.”
Allain said his seat on Finance and Health and Welfare could help assist facilities such as Teche Regional Hospital and Chabert Medical Center.
As vice chairman with the Select Committee for Coastal Restoration and Flood Control, Allain said he anticipates being able to offer more pull for funding in the Tri-parish region. “Obviously, the chairman sets the agenda, but in his absence I will become chair of the committee,” he said. “Besides that, the vice chairman is usually consulted and worked with before any other members of the committee. I think those set me up to do some good things for my district.”
State Sen. Norby Chabert, R-Houma
Commerce, Consumer Protection and International Affairs
Finance (Vice Chairman)
Judiciary B
Natural Resources
Select Committee on Coastal Restoration and Flood Control
“It is an honor to be named vice chairman of finance,” state Sen. Norby Chabert said. “It is one of the more prestigious positions in the Senate. It comes with a lot of responsibility and I look forward to the challenge.”
Chabert will return to the Commerce Committee, which has jokingly been known in Baton Rouge as the committee of chairmen with a membership made primarily of chairmen from other committees. “We’ve got a lot of energy, banking and international business issues in this area that will come before that committee,” he said.
Chabert said that the region hit a home run with memberships in Natural Resources and both he and Allain being named to the Select Committee on Coastal Restoration and Flood Control. “There is no question,” Chabert said. “There is going to be so much coming before Natural Resources in the next couple of years and during this session in particular. The Coastal Master Plan has to come before Natural Resources. The majority of BP [funds will] go through Natural Resources. The seafood issues we have to deal with be it testing in open waters or marketing the industry. Anything oil and gas related is the heartbeat of this area and goes through Natural Resources. It is a very important committee.”
State Rep. Gordon Dove, R-Houma
Natural Resource and Environment (Chairman)
As senior member of the Tri-parish delegation, state Rep. Gordon Dove, who will complete his eligibility to return to the House at the close of this term, garnished praise from his fellow delegates as he continues to serve as chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee.
“The biggest thing in our region is coastal restoration and hurricane protection,” Dove said. “We’ve got two senators on finance and that is huge and I got my same committee back so that gives us a lot of clout.”
Dove said that as chairman of the 19-member Natural Resources and Environment Committee, he is faced with leading the only committee in either the state Senate or House of Representatives that is divided into three departments. “We look after wildlife and fisheries, are land managers for the state, have oversight of oil and gas, permits, conservation, and naturally coastal restoration,” he said.
“Our biggest fight will be keeping Morganza [to-the-Gulf] money flowing,” Dove said. “We are building on the Houma Navigational Canal. We completed two floodgates on Bayou Grand Caillou and Bush Canal, and we’ve got levees to keep up.”
Dove is also on the Governor’s Advisory Board for Coastal Restoration and said that the BP settlement funds could help finance reconstruction that has begun on the barrier islands. “From East Timbalier all the way to Raccoon Island, Whiskey Island and all those islands the state has taken a lead on that,” he said. “All of that comes through my committee and that is why a lot of people have tried to get on to Natural Resources.”
State Rep. Jerry “Truck” Gisclair, D-Larose
Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture and Rural Development
Natural Resources and Environment
Transportation, Highways and Public Works
Special Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs
State Rep. Jerry “Truck” Gisclair returns to the same committee assignments he held during his first term in office. “I feel good about the assignments,” he said. “Going into another term and knowing the inner workings of those committees and their responsibilities gives an idea what to expect.”
Gisclair said a planned road show beginning in February and traveling throughout the state will highlight wish lists from various parishes. “I look forward to tackling that $12 billion backlog of work that we have, but we have to inch away at it to get the roads going in Louisiana.”
During the spring brown shrimp season, Gisclair said that harvest levels then will direct how the Natural Resources Committee takes on securing revenue from BP allocations, and that sugar cane issues will gain the attention of the Agriculture Committee.
Gisclair said his assignment to the Special Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs means working with a variety of issues including funding for veterans homes and servicing veteran issues. “I look forward to being on it,” he said.
State Rep. Joe Harrison, R-Napoleonville
Judiciary
Appropriations
Natural Resources and Environment
Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget
“Appropriations are going to probably be as rough as it has been over the last four years because of the lack of funds,” State Rep. Joe Harrison said as a starting place regarding committee placement. “Revenues are down everywhere and we have some inherent problems we have to overcome because of some of the inefficiencies we have in government right now, without affecting the necessities.”
A key element for the Natural Resources Committee, Harrison said, will be proper and effective appropriation of BP settlement funds. “That will help with efforts to push forward plans that Natural Resources Committee Chairman Gordy Dove has been trying to get through for the last few years. That would be a better levee system, the locks and floodgates and protection of the coast.”
Harrison had previously served on his assigned committees and said one of his concerns with the Judiciary Committee is passing a plan to expedite court proceedings and get cases moving faster through the court system. “I was put on the Supreme Court Review Committee and I’m the only House member on there,” he said. “We’ve got a system that we should be implementing in the next year or two that should definitely expedite claims so people can get their day in court.”
Stating that he tries to put a positive spin on the tasks assigned him Harrison said his fundamental objective is to reduce the size of government and concentrate on servicing the basic needs of constituents.
As a member of the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget, Harrison said that seat goes hand in hand with his being on the House Appropriations Committee. “That [joint] committee meets very often, but it is one that the major issues come before us,” he said.
Harrison said that following the election, the Tri-parish delegation met together and charted a plan for their committee activity. “This will be the first time that finance has both [state senators] on that committee,” he said. “We haven’t had that since Norby’s [Chabert] dad sat on that committee. That is very important. On the House side we have key positions and the key money is in Natural Resources where we have Gordy Dove as our chairman. We are in an excellent position. We have more strength now in our delegation than we have had in many, many years.”
State Rep. Sam Jones, D-Franklin
Natural Resources and Environment
Retirement
Transportation, Highways and Public Works
“I thought we did well with Natural Resources,” State Rep. Sam Jones said. “I needed to stay on Transportation and I think we are about to bring I-49 south to the forefront. I actually asked to be on Retirement. We’ve got a lot of people [dealing] with systematic problems on [state employee retirement]. I have a problem putting that blame on policemen, firemen and teachers. I think the state needs to step up and somebody needs to advocate for our people.”
State Rep. Jerome “Dee” Richard, NP-Thibodaux
Education
Labor and Industrial Relations
Transportation, Highways and Public Works
“Education will be a key committee,” state Rep. Jerome “Dee” Richard said. “It is going to be an uphill battle, but there are changes that need to be made.”
Labor and Industry is a new committee assignment for Richard, who said he does not expect to see a lot coming directly from it this year. “But transportation will be important,” he said.
State Rep. Lenar Whitney, R-Houma
Health and Welfare
Labor and Industrial Relations
Ways and Means
Joint Legislative Committee on Capital Outlay
State Rep. Lenar continues to stand by her theme of intention, voiced from the time this political newcomer started running for office through being asked about committee appointments.
“I’m interested in reducing the size of government, eliminating wasteful spending and reducing regulations,” Whitney said.
With placement on Ways and Means and Capital Outlay, Whitney confirmed this would be an opportunity to voice her concerns regarding coastal restoration and storm protection. “I’m interested in coastal restoration,” she said. “I hope to find revenue to complete Morganza-to-the-Gulf and continue working on that.”
