http://press-herald.com/what-is-up-with-cotton-valley/
Links:
Jeffrey D. Sadow is an associate professor of political science at Louisiana State University Shreveport. If you're an elected official, political operative or anyone else upset at his views, don't go bothering LSUS or LSU System officials about that because these are his own views solely. This publishes five days weekly with the exception of 7 holidays. Also check out his Louisiana Legislature Log especially during legislative sessions (in "Louisiana Politics Blog Roll" below).
9.5.18
Aftermath of killing bill shows its necessity
Yesterday’s actions by the Louisiana Senate’s Revenue and
Fiscal Affairs Committee demonstrate exactly why HB 122,
which it axed, is needed.
The bill, by state Rep. Phillip DeVillier,
would bar state money going to nongovernment entities; raise local government
contributions for outlay dollars with some exceptions; shuttle more money for highway,
bridge, flood control and flood prevention projects, or to economic development
projects; and would allow the chambers’ money committees to vet the list of
projects that go before the State Bond Commission. Advocates noted that the
current process prompted stuffing the list of projects beyond borrowing
capacity, leaving it up to the SBC to pick and choose, over which the governor’s
office held the most sway.
Thus, the bill had the salutary aspects of encouraging
local governments to budget more responsibly for things they have fobbed off on
taxpayers statewide, preventing the playing of favorites in dispensing taxpayer
money to private interests, discouraging the fomenting of fictitious promises
to build things from oversubscribed project lists, and reducing the politics of
the process that enables outsized influence by a handful of individuals. So, naturally, the Democrat-majority committee killed it.
8.5.18
Democrats unlikely to go Trojan Horse for SOS
The upcoming special election for Louisiana Secretary
of State puts
the state’s Democrats in an awkward position, yet again. Yet this time
doesn’t seem right to try for the half a loaf.
With former officeholder Tom Schedler resigning
over alleged personnel improprieties earlier this month, the post has become
vacant. The Constitution requires an election later this year to fill out a
little more than a year of the term.
My Advocate
colleague Mark Ballard writes
that he knows of around 20 people expressing interest in the job. That it is an
open statewide seat and occurs in an election cycle when almost all state
offices and many local ones do not also have elections to determine their
occupants will stimulate competition. With many not having to risk their current
positions perhaps a dozen potentially viable candidates therefore may declare
for it.
7.5.18
Unemployed Landrieu situated for next campaign
Former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu finally has
no political office to hold for the first time in three decades. Look for him
to want to change that as soon as possible.
It all begins with a run
for president in 2020, now that today he turned over the reins of city
government. Keep in mind that Landrieu has worked outside of government for
just a few years, right out of law school, and knows nothing else but politics,
especially growing up in the household of a former legislator, mayor, U.S.
Cabinet member, and state judge.
Running as a Democrat, he must take this first
step to add to his credentials for successive jobs in politics. He can’t win
any statewide office because of his largely undiluted leftism and, outside of a
judgeship which doesn’t seem to interest him, he can’t win any New
Orleans-based post because he doesn’t identify as black (although the 1900
census lists his grandfather as black, and the 1880 census lists his
great-grandmother, also notated as black on the same 1900 document, as
mulatto.)
6.5.18
The Advocate column, May 6, 2018
Law on voting for ex-cons doesn't benefit anyone involved
http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/jeff_sadow/article_480ae38e-4efd-11e8-bfc9-2bb89a8414fc.html
Links:
http://redriverradio.org/post/bill-may-restore-convicted-felons-voting-rights-louisiana
http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/ViewDocument.aspx?d=1085402
http://knowledgecenter.csg.org/kc/system/files/CR_Felon%20Voter%20Disenfranchisement_0.pdf
http://journalstar.com/legislature/ricketts-vetoes-bill-that-would-give-ex-felons-right-to/article_8b11fcf0-97d4-579b-860f-e099334ef91a.html
http://doc.louisiana.gov/supervision-conditions
http://laleglog.blogspot.com/2018/04/committee-action-apr-11-hb-265-hb-417.html
http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/ViewDocument.aspx?d=1071662
http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/jeff_sadow/article_480ae38e-4efd-11e8-bfc9-2bb89a8414fc.html
Links:
http://redriverradio.org/post/bill-may-restore-convicted-felons-voting-rights-louisiana
http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/ViewDocument.aspx?d=1085402
http://knowledgecenter.csg.org/kc/system/files/CR_Felon%20Voter%20Disenfranchisement_0.pdf
http://journalstar.com/legislature/ricketts-vetoes-bill-that-would-give-ex-felons-right-to/article_8b11fcf0-97d4-579b-860f-e099334ef91a.html
http://doc.louisiana.gov/supervision-conditions
http://laleglog.blogspot.com/2018/04/committee-action-apr-11-hb-265-hb-417.html
http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/ViewDocument.aspx?d=1071662