From the Desk of Jeremy Alford August 17, 2021 — Issue 281 [email protected] / www.LouisianaTracker.com ______

______THE BATTLE FOR BESE Anticipations builds for Wednesday meeting ______

Will BESE members stand with the governor or vote to contradict his mask mandate for students by kicking the decision to the locals?

That decision will be decided tomorrow morning when the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education meets at 9 am. (If you’re not able to make it to the Claiborne Building in Baton Rouge, the gathering will be live-streamed here.)

The public meeting promises to be lively. Concerned parents and citizens were removed from a Monday meeting of the House Health and Welfare Committee after they refused to wear masks and heckled speakers.

Politically, there are several personalities at the proverbial table. Attorney General has been meeting with families who are practicing noncompliance almost daily, and he issued an opinion recently that stated BESE and the Legislature — not Gov. — have the power to guide such mandates.

Conservative lawmakers on both sides of Memorial Hall have waded into the battle as well and sent letters to the governor and BESE members asking them not to force children to wear masks. Republican representatives and senators are hopeful that BESE will act on their suggestions, but there are no guarantees. Eight members of the board are elected, while three are appointed by the governor.

Some lawmakers met privately this week to discuss various back-up plans, in case BESE falls in line with the governor, including a legislative petition that would be somewhat similar to last year’s effort.

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Underwritten by Harris, DeVille & Associates

REFORMS ON THE BALLOT

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The 2021 Legislative Regular Session concluded on June 10. After a long and hard-fought effort, the Legislature was able to pass substantial portions of its tax reform package. As a result, Louisiana will be more attractive to corporate investment, provide much-needed tax relief to small businesses, and allow everyday citizens to keep more of their hard-earned money.

Two Constitutional Amendments will appear on the statewide ballot October 9:

• Amendment 1 (HB 199): Streamlines and simplifies state and local sales tax collection, decreasing the administrative burden on taxpayers and businesses. Enhances the state’s ability to collect revenues from ever- increasing internet sales by putting e-commerce on a more level playing field with our small businesses.

• Amendment 2 (SB 159): Decreases the maximum allowable rate of personal income tax from 6% to 4.75% and enables a new rate of 4.25% in statute. In addition, it eliminates the mandatory deduction of federal income tax. This will allow the state’s budget to be more stable and predictable by removing the link that currently exists between our state and the federal government’s tax policy.

This effort could not have been successful without the support of many, but our work is not finished. Leadership in both the House and Senate are coordinating a well-funded, statewide media campaign aimed to educate and encourage Louisiana voters to vote YES on Constitutional Amendments 1 and 2 on October 9.

Your financial support is urgently needed to ensure this message is effectively communicated to voters across the state. Reform Louisiana PAC can accept corporate or personal contributions, and there is not a limit on how much we can accept from an entity. Donations may be submitted securely online at https://secure.anedot.com/reform-louisiana-pac/donate.

______POLITICAL CHATTER ______

• LHA ASKS FOR HELP: In a letter sent to U.S. Sen. today, Louisiana Hospital Association President Paul A. Salles asked for specific assistance in addressing a problem that “impacts hospitals throughout the state as patients wait in hospital emergency room hallways for available beds." Salles wrote, "On behalf of our member hospitals and health systems, the Louisiana Hospital Association requests your assistance in urging the Centers for Medicare & Services to help protect Louisiana hospitals’ capacity during this unprecedented COVID-19 hospitalization surge, specifically by requiring Medicare Advantage plans to waive utilization management practices that delay the transfer of a patient from a hospital to a lower level of care.”

• ELECTED: The members of the National Association of Secretaries of State have chosen Secretary of State to lead the organization as president. He was sworn into office yesterday at the NASS 2021 Summer Conference in Des Moines, Iowa.

• K-2 SYSTEM UPDATE: Education Superintendent Cade Brumley needs to come back to the table with more information about a proposed K-2 accountability system, a majority of BESE decided today. By a 6-4 vote, members delayed implementation and said they wanted the plan further fleshed out. The system is meant to improve literacy levels.

• FUNDRAISER: The state Senate campaign of Dustin Granger has a luncheon fundraiser Thursday at Curbside Burgers in Baton Rouge. There's a lengthy host committee for the event, including several high-ranking Democrats such as Sen. , Rep. Ted James and Public Service Commissioner . Earlier today, Republican Jeremy Stine, who's also running in Senate District 27, had his own luncheon fundraiser at Cornerstone Government Affairs.

• MEETINGS: The Louisiana Tax Commission meets tomorrow for its rules and regulations session... The Gaming Control Board and Bond Commission meet Thursday... Join Transportation and the Joint Medicaid Oversight Committee meet Friday... (MORE INFO)

______Our History (Circa 1969): Hurricane Camille ______

It was on this very day in 1969 that Hurricane Camille made landfall along the Mississippi Gulf Coast and pushed into Louisiana, causing hundreds of deaths here and leaving behind billions of dollars in damages.

Dan Lewis, an archives specialist with the Louisiana State Archives, dipped into the Brooks Read Collection again to compile this footage of people in preparing for the storm that washed ashore 52 years ago. The video also includes clips of the destruction deposited in the wake of the hurricane in both Louisiana and Mississippi.

For more context, here’s an excerpt from the 64 Parishes entry on Hurricane Camille:

In mid-August 1969 Louisianans watched a rapidly intensifying Gulf storm with unease. As the third named storm of the season, Camille billowed into to a monstrous Category 5 hurricane before striking Bay St. Louis and Pass Christian, Mississippi, on August 17 with the worst intensity the Gulf Coast had seen in its sordid tropical weather history. As winds, rain, and storm surge tore through the region, Camille brought catastrophic damage to the Gulf Coast. Despite a considerable impact on the state — 259 deaths, 2,000 injured, and $1.42 billion in damages ($10 billion in 2020 USD) — Louisiana is often brushed aside during conversations about Camille in order to focus on the more heavily damaged Mississippi Gulf Coast. Despite this fact Camille’s impact on Louisiana was significant, leading to death and injury, property damage, mass displacement, infrastructure failure, and economic losses for local industries.

WATCH THE VIDEO

This history section was made possible by the office of Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin and the Louisiana State Archives

______HEADLINES & BYLINES ______

• News-Star: Louisiana's top school board to take up contentious COVID mask debate

• AP: Louisiana lawmakers hold contentious hearing on COVID-19

• Fox 8: Critics of Louisiana coast project point to the firing of a state biologist

• AP: Louisiana Education Board Wants to Skip School Letter Grades

• Minden-Press Herald: Louisiana gas prices remain unchanged in the past week

• : Foster Campbell: Louisiana is an energy state, but not in the old-fashioned way • The Advocate: Louisiana oil, chemical plants shouldn't be monitoring their own emissions, Rep. tells

• KATC: Bill Cassidy: Infrastructure bill to directly benefit Louisiana

• WWNO: Poll Finds Louisiana Voters Concerned About Climate Change

• The Advocate: Sports gambling has been part of Louisiana culture for centuries, so it made sense to legalize it

• AP: Analysis: Bill Cassidy at odds with delegation on infrastructure

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______SOCIALLY YOURS ______

ANNIVERSARIES & WEDDING BELLS

• Sylvia Weatherspoon and Donald Weatherspoon celebrated another year together yesterday... Emily May Kline and Chip Kline toasted to 16 years of marriage last week…

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TRACKERS!

• Tuesday, August 17: Danny Ford, Stan Levy and Catherine Brindley

• Wednesday, August 18: Rep. Mary DuBuisson, Chris Frink and Bubbe Day

• Thursday, August 19: Rep. Stuart Bishop, former Sen. Jack Donahue, former Sen. Yvonne Dorsey, former Rep. Richie Burford, Mary Matalin, Alejandra Juan, Kelly Kane, Nestor Navarro, Trina Edwards, Richard Perque and Gordon McKernan

• Friday, August 20: Former Congressman , Judge Chris Hester, former Rep. Terry Brown, Wilma Heaton and Jeff Crouere

• Saturday, August 21: Rob Landry, Chelsea Bonnecaze, Arlanda Williams, Nicholas Bouterie and Bones Addison

• Sunday, August 22: BESE Member Ashley Ellis, former Sen. Troy Brown, Jason Hebert, Preston Gill, Denny Bass and Ellen Kennon

• Monday, August 23: Rep. Daryl Deshotel, Commissioner Lambert C. Boissiere III, James Baehr, Danielle Nikki Brown and Antoine Pierce

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THE END.