An old parable and an old aphorism explain why Louisiana
political offices tend to have fewer women occupying these than elsewhere.
This week, some discussions occurred about women winning
elective office. In both Livingston
Parish and next
parish over at Louisiana State University, groups convened to hash out why
it seemed women were underrepresented relative to other parts of the country
(or world) in office. It seems particularly odd as not only do women who
contest offices win at roughly the same rate as do men, but, in a study of
members of Congress, women
who did win more often, in terms of prior experience, competence,
integrity, and problem-solving abilities, seem to have more of these qualities
than do male candidates.
Additionally, among these congressional
candidates, it appeared that men slightly less qualified on these bases or as
qualified disproportionately defeated females, so (assuming the same applied to
candidacies at all levels) some kind of “penalty” intruded on the process. Some
of the investigation by the two panels mirrored the parable of blindfolded
people stationed at different parts of the elephant, then asked to describe
what they felt. Naturally, they came up with a whole host of speculations, all
true separately but none close to identify the beast.
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).
13.3.19
St. George pretty much forgone conclusion
No May election date, no problem for the organizers
of the city of St. George. Although some might try to make its birth as messy
as possible.
Earlier this week, Democrat Gov. John Bel Edwards refused to certify the May 5 municipal election date for the incipient city that petitioners wish to form in southern East Baton Rouge Parish. While he tried to blame Republican Atty. Gen. Jeff Landry’s office for not offering assistance that previous holders of that office had supplied as causing the slowdown, Landry effectively rebutted that with a written demonstration on how little time and effort it would take to review the petition for completeness, which is all the law asks.
Delaying the vote also saves the parish money, as having a standalone election in only certain parts of the parish costs more than tucking in the item on a ballot already with other items. However, this departed from precedent in 2005, when a special election created Central. This was the only election in the parish despite one just weeks earlier that included most of the parish’s precincts.
Earlier this week, Democrat Gov. John Bel Edwards refused to certify the May 5 municipal election date for the incipient city that petitioners wish to form in southern East Baton Rouge Parish. While he tried to blame Republican Atty. Gen. Jeff Landry’s office for not offering assistance that previous holders of that office had supplied as causing the slowdown, Landry effectively rebutted that with a written demonstration on how little time and effort it would take to review the petition for completeness, which is all the law asks.
Delaying the vote also saves the parish money, as having a standalone election in only certain parts of the parish costs more than tucking in the item on a ballot already with other items. However, this departed from precedent in 2005, when a special election created Central. This was the only election in the parish despite one just weeks earlier that included most of the parish’s precincts.
12.3.19
LA correctly puts protection before privilege
A recent report
shows that Louisiana cares more about protecting constitutional rights than in
promoting privilege for certain groups.
Each year, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and Equality Federation Institute team up to rate states on their friendliness to the groups’ agenda. Both advocate for laws that encourage acceptance of expressing homosexuality, even if that limits activity protected by the First Amendment.
With the majority of states, Louisiana scores low, but that shouldn’t surprise given the groups’ agenda. For example, the report faults states for having Religious Freedom Restoration Acts, which implement federal law that aids states in protecting First Amendment rights of their citizens. As many sincerely hold religious beliefs that see homosexual behavior as sinful, these acts protect exercise of that belief that doesn’t force adherents to endorse, by word or deed, expressions of homosexuality.
Each year, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and Equality Federation Institute team up to rate states on their friendliness to the groups’ agenda. Both advocate for laws that encourage acceptance of expressing homosexuality, even if that limits activity protected by the First Amendment.
With the majority of states, Louisiana scores low, but that shouldn’t surprise given the groups’ agenda. For example, the report faults states for having Religious Freedom Restoration Acts, which implement federal law that aids states in protecting First Amendment rights of their citizens. As many sincerely hold religious beliefs that see homosexual behavior as sinful, these acts protect exercise of that belief that doesn’t force adherents to endorse, by word or deed, expressions of homosexuality.
11.3.19
Shreveport should swap recycling for garbage fee
How about a trade, Shreveport’s recycling fee for a
solid waste collection fee?
Shreveport’s City Council looks poised to set up procedures at tomorrow’s meeting to collect a garbage fee, after hashing out details at today’s work session. The proposed $7 a month will provide enough to provide most funding for the operation, which would go into an enterprise fund similar to that for water provision, and present an opportunity to give sanitation workers a pay raise.
Almost no cities of Shreveport’s size nationally don’t charge some kind of fee. In fact, the largest cities in Louisiana all charge more.
Shreveport’s City Council looks poised to set up procedures at tomorrow’s meeting to collect a garbage fee, after hashing out details at today’s work session. The proposed $7 a month will provide enough to provide most funding for the operation, which would go into an enterprise fund similar to that for water provision, and present an opportunity to give sanitation workers a pay raise.
Almost no cities of Shreveport’s size nationally don’t charge some kind of fee. In fact, the largest cities in Louisiana all charge more.
10.3.19
The Advocate column, Mar. 10, 2019
Medicaid expansion isn't going away, but GOP can reduce the financial bleed
Links:
https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/article_c4fd995e-3a16-11e9-a7ca-0fbb9a0545a9.html
http://ldh.la.gov/assets/HealthyLa/Resources/MdcdExpnAnnlRprt_2017_WEB.pdf
http://ldh.la.gov/assets/medicaid/forecast/May18ForecastReport.pdf
http://www.ldh.la.gov/healthyladashboard/
https://pelicaninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PEL_MedicaidPaper_FINAL_WEB.pdf
https://www.watchdog.org/louisiana/louisiana-governor-faces-harsh-criticism-over-plan-to-target-elderly/article_443c3430-2d09-11e8-870e-2fbee5358480.html
https://www.mackinac.org/18434
https://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Research/ActuarialStudies/Downloads/MedicaidReport2017.pdf
Links:
https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/article_c4fd995e-3a16-11e9-a7ca-0fbb9a0545a9.html
http://ldh.la.gov/assets/HealthyLa/Resources/MdcdExpnAnnlRprt_2017_WEB.pdf
http://ldh.la.gov/assets/medicaid/forecast/May18ForecastReport.pdf
http://www.ldh.la.gov/healthyladashboard/
https://pelicaninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PEL_MedicaidPaper_FINAL_WEB.pdf
https://www.watchdog.org/louisiana/louisiana-governor-faces-harsh-criticism-over-plan-to-target-elderly/article_443c3430-2d09-11e8-870e-2fbee5358480.html
https://www.mackinac.org/18434
https://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Research/ActuarialStudies/Downloads/MedicaidReport2017.pdf