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Home , Dodie Horton, Heather Cloud, Jimmie Davis, John Bel Edwards, Larry Bagley, The Advocate (Louisiana)

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 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. . 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 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:

• : 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

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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 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 , 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 and Senate President . (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. , , 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 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. and 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. , Mike Johnson, Wayne McMahen and Chris Turner have a noon lunch at the Standard Oil House.

• THURSDAY (3/18): Sen. 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. and Heather Cloud have a 4 pm fundraiser at the Watermark. (More: [email protected])

• FRIDAY (3/19): Sens. Patrick McMath, Stewart Cathey and Mike Reese have a joint fundraiser at noon at the Standard Oil House.

______HEADLINES & BYLINES ______

• The Advocate: Jeff Landry defends handling of case involving top aide's sexual harassment complaints • WWL: Congressman part of a Republican House delegation visiting the U.S.-Mexico border

• Kansas City Star: ‘You better know who’s behind the curtain’: The man who guided Josh Hawley’s rise

• WWL: : Conventions not willing to book just yet

• KTVE: Senator John Kennedy weighs in on Drew Brees’ legacy

• Business Report: Pandemic stresses already-challenged Louisiana seafood industry

• KALB: Four Louisiana artists, two motion pictures made in state earn Oscar nominations

• KLFY: 20 Louisiana towns and cities on the brink of bankruptcy. Can they recover?

• ABR: 2021 Louisiana Derby Cheat Sheet

• The Advocate: Lawsuit challenging Louisiana public defense system not a class action, appeals court says

• KATC: Carencro City Council approves agreement for surveillance cameras

• Louisiana Weekly: GOP candidate has a chance in 2nd Cong. race

• KLFY: State officials ease restrictions for indoor visitation at nursing homes as more people get vaccinated

• The Advocate: Nominating committee to fill interim slot on New Orleans area east bank levee authority

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______Underwritten by Harris, DeVille & Associates A COMMITMENT TO SERVICE

HDA Client Ochsner to Invest $100 million in 15 Health Centers in Underserved Communities

Ochsner Health, along with state and local leaders, announced a long-term vision to enhance healthcare access and improve health equity and health outcomes. This 10-year commitment includes an initial investment of $100 million during the next five years to support projects that eliminate barriers to healthcare; bring resources into underserved, urban and rural communities; collaborate with partners to research and better understand health disparities; utilize technology and innovation to improve outcomes and invest in Louisiana’s healthcare providers and frontline staff.

“Today’s announcement has been years in the making and our continued fight against COVID-19 underscores the pressing need for collaboration and continued investment in the health of our communities,” said Warner L. Thomas, President and CEO, Ochsner Health. “Louisiana’s unfortunate distinction of being ranked one of the least healthy states is not just a number – it reflects the lives and livelihood of our friends, neighbors, colleagues and family. We won’t accept the challenges we face today as our future state and are committed to improving our health and implementing our vision over the next decade. We understand that accomplishing this aspirational goal will happen by coming together and we implore other organizations, local leaders and community members to join us in this journey to create a healthier state.”

Visit the link to learn more about Ochsner’s Healthy State By 2030 Initiative.

______SOCIALLY YOURS ______

WEDDING BELLS

• Katherine Mosely Smith and Sen. Gary Smith toasted to 12 years together this past weekend… Mitzi Faucheux and Tommy Faucheux are celebrating as well, after 18 years of marriage... HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TRACKERS!

• Tuesday, March 16: Julia Letlow and Derrick Edwards

• Wednesday, March 17: Fran Gladden

• Thursday, March 18: Ravis Martinez, Greta Jones, Rich Lamb, Amelia Addison and Erin Moore Cowser

• Friday, March 19: Zoe Alford, Sen. , Alice Knight Reed and Jim Kitchen

• Saturday, March 20: Late Gov. Oramel Simpson (1870), Rep. Sherman Mack, John Williams, former Rep. Tony Perkins and Blake Corley

• Sunday, March 21: Rep. and Leslie Leavoy

• Monday, March 22: Former Rep. , Lauren Chauvin, Jennifer Marusak and Claston Bernard

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THE END.