27 DAYS Money Session Taking Shape ______
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From the Desk of Jeremy Alford March 16, 2021 — Issue 263 [email protected] / www.LouisianaTracker.com _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ 27 DAYS Money Session taking shape _____________________________________________________________ Ready or not, there’s less than a month to go until lawmakers convene their 2021 Money Session. When the big gavel drops, representatives and senators will spend 60 calendar days (April 12-June 10) coming up with ways for the state to spend and collect billions of dollars. Among other tasks and priorities, lawmakers will be charged with: • Slicing up billions in federal stimulus dollars • Developing a framework for a $100 million oil settlement • Debating substantive tax changes that could alter our rates • Passing judgment on requested budget increases from agencies and departments When it comes to Louisiana politics, it’s always about the money. This go around the Capitol, however, it really is all about the money. In particular, there’s a lot of action surrounding the $3.2 billion that Louisiana is in line to receive from the American Rescue Plan Act. As reported in last week’s issue of LaPolitics Weekly, conservatives in the House are pushing hard to confine most of the federal dollars to one-time expenses while awaiting a final proposal from the Administration of Gov. John Bel Edwards. According to Center Square’s David Jacobs, the administration will suggest using portions of the money to “pay for infrastructure improvements, promote tourism and replenish the fund that pays for state unemployment benefits.” Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne told Jacobs the federal government has not yet released guidelines for how the money can be expended. Elsewhere in the Money Session, there were 173 bills available for review this morning on the Legislature’s website. Many, many more are on the way and this is not the time to fall behind on your legislative reading. For example, in the latest wave of new bills you’ll see that the debate over the gas tax is evolving with SB 40 by Sen. Rick Ward. It’s a constitutional amendment for a local option vote that would permit parishes to levy a tax on motor fuels. #LALEGE COVERAGE: • The Advocate: Louisiana's prison system seeks budget bump to offer pay raises, incentives for guards • Center Square: Edwards to propose spending new federal stimulus on infrastructure, tourism, unemployment fund • AP: Analysis: Louisiana lawmakers want greater reckoning at LSU • Manship: Universities cross fingers for federal relief funding • Livingston Parish News: Louisiana state school board requests $82M spending boost • The Advocate: If you want a dynamic Louisiana economy, find a way to repeal income tax • KEEL: Will legislators tackle tax reform for Louisiana businesses? • WAFB: La. lawmaker argues decriminalizing prostitution would make sex work safer • American Press: Parties fighting voting war • WWNO: Lawmakers Sidestep Groundwater Crisis — For Decades • Illuminator: Subcommittee supports reform measure to dismantle ‘qualified immunity’ shield for bad police officers • Franklin Sun: LABI presses for tax reform this legislative session UPCOMING MEETINGS: • Louisiana State Boxing and Wrestling Commission, 3/16, 10:30 am, Room 3 • Juvenile Justice Reform Act Implementation Commission, 3/16, 2 pm, Via Videoconference • Gaming Control Board, 3/18, 10 am, Room 1 • State Bond Commission, 3/18, 10 am, Room A-B • Cash Management Review Board, 3/18, Upon Adjournment of Bond Commission, Room 3 • Litigation Subcommittee of Joint Budget, 3/19, 9 am, Room 1 • Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget, 3/19. 9:30 am, House Chamber _____________________________________________________________ Have a friend who should be receiving The Tracker? Have a news tip? Visit www.LouisianaTracker.com or hit up [email protected]! _____________________________________________________________ Underwritten by Harris, DeVille & Associates JOINING FORCES HDA Client Ochsner Health joins with Delgado to expand nursing and allied health training Ochsner Health System in New Orleans is joining forces with Delgado Community College’s Allied Health Division and its Charity School of Nursing to expand training for nurses and allied health professionals. Ochsner is putting up $10 million for a new building to consolidate the programs, and another $10 million to cover full-time tuition for Ochsner employees in nursing and allied health programs at Delgado, which graduates about 1,200 nursing and allied health professionals each year. The new building is slated to break ground in the spring and open for classes in 2023. The combined department will be called the Ochsner Delgado School of Nursing and Allied Health. “Together, we are creating a talent pipeline that will meet the long-term needs of our community,” said Warner Thomas, president and CEO, Ochsner Health. The announcement comes at a time when the Louisiana State Board of Nursing Center for Nursing forecasts a significant shortage of nurses across the state. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an average of 175,900 openings nationally for registered nurses each year over the next ten years. _____________________________________________________________ POLITICAL CHATTER _____________________________________________________________ • HEADS UP: Attorney General Jeff Landry, Sen. Rick Ward, Rep. Denise Marcelle, Parish President Robby Miller, Judge Don Johnson, Sheriff Brett Stassi, Public Defender Board Chairman Frank Holthaus and other leaders in the criminal justice system have a press conference scheduled for 1:30 pm to "discuss a new bipartisan criminal justice reform plan." The event will be live-streamed on the Louisiana Department of Justice’s Facebook page (www.fb.com/agjefflandry) • LMOGA OP-ED: “A global pandemic is not the time to request a substantial pay hike for services from already highly compensated pilots,” LMOGA’s Lori LeBlanc writes in BIC. “Louisiana's penchant for protecting the few in systems such as these governing pilots should be examined once again. Perhaps it is time to look at modifying this system.” • HIRED: Louisiana Public Broadcasting has hired Linda Midgett, an Emmy-award winning independent filmmaker, as its new executive producer. She replaces Clay Fourrier, who retired recently after 47 years at LPB. • ALSO HIRED: Over at Berni Consulting, Leslie Leavoy is the new director of strategic communications and public relations. She was previously state director for Democrats for Education Reform—Louisiana. • NEW SITE: The Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools has launched www.LACandidates.com, a web-based platform that features candidates’ views regarding education issues in the state. (More info) • VOTER DEADLINE: Via SOS... "The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Tuesday, March 16 at 4:30 pm. Requests can be made online by visiting voterportal.sos.la.gov... or in person at the parish Registrar of Voters Office... The deadline to return a completed ballot is Friday, March 19 at 4:30 pm." (Instructional video) • MARK YOUR CALENDAR: Ellevate Louisiana has a Legislative Leadership Conference slated for March 24 beginning at 10 am with speeches from Gov. John Bel Edwards, Speaker Clay Schexnayder and Senate President Page Cortez. (Register/more info) • APPLY: The Louisiana Legislative Youth Advisory Council is accepting applications for membership from high school students who have an interest in representing the voices of other young people around the state. The deadline to apply is March 26. The application can be accessed at civiced.louisiana.gov and then by clicking on LYAC at the top of the page. All applicants are required to submit two recommendation letters in addition to the eight short essay questions and application form. The forms and short answer questions should be completed and submitted online. The letters of recommendation should be emailed to [email protected] or mailed to Louisiana Commission on Civic Education c/o Megan Bella Louisiana Senate P.O. Box 94183 Baton Rouge, LA 70804. Letters may be sent by the student applicant or the recommender. _____________________________________________________________ THE CIRCUIT _____________________________________________________________ • TODAY (3/16): Reps. Alan Seabaugh, Dodie Horton, Chuck Owen and Danny McCormick have a noon event at the Standard Oil House. • TODAY (3/16): Sen. Robert Mills has an event at the Jimmie Davis House at noon. • TOMORROW (3/17): Sen. Bob Hensgens and Rep. Jean-Paul Coussan have a noon leadership lunch fundraiser at the LABI Center for Free Enterprise. • TOMORROW (3/17): Reps. Tanner Magee and Jerome Zeringue have a noon luncheon fundraiser at the Standard Oil House. • TOMORROW (3/17): Rep. Malinda White has a noon luncheon fundraiser at the Lobdell House (711 N. 6th). • TOMORROW (3/17): Putting the fun in fundraising, Rep. Jean-Paul Coussan has his "St. Patrick's Day Fundraising Reception" in Lafayette at 5:30 pm. (More: [email protected]) • THURSDAY (3/18): Rep. Mike Huval has a noon lunch event at Long- View. • THURSDAY (3/18): Reps. Larry Bagley, Mike Johnson, Wayne McMahen and Chris Turner have a noon lunch at the Standard Oil House. • THURSDAY (3/18): Sen. Beth Mizell has a noon lunch event at the Jimmie Davis House. • THURSDAY (3/18): BESE candidate Michael Melerine has a noon lunch event at the LRA House. • THURSDAY (3/18): Sens. Bodi White and Heather Cloud have a 4 pm fundraiser at the