Pay issue should start project funding debate

Except for in the world of sports road cycling commentators proclaiming a stage or race “epic,” the most overused aphorism in the English language in the worlds of politics and business is asserting that the Chinese symbol for “crisis” and “opportunity” is one and the same (which is just as false as the multitude of epic showdowns). Has Louisiana reached that juncture over its historical emphasis of state control of local governments?

In the wake of the defeat of a constitutional amendment that would have constructed education pay raises to replace the piecemeal stipend system of the past three years, policy-makers have gone into full panic mode. This has mutated into talks of a permanent solution through a task force for fiscal year 2028, with pledges somehow to usher that in with another year of stipends.

Republican Gov. Jeff Landry has proposed that, indicating he favored a temporary rejiggering of the Minimum Foundation Program to shift $150 million from operating expenses (three-quarters of the money to compensate for the current stipends) to salaries to cover FY 2027. He also correctly noted that one alternative floated, taking the amount needed out of the Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund, was (quite clearly) unconstitutional.

Settlement can't repair Edwards coverup damage

Some measure of justice looks to be on the way to the family of black motorist Ronald Greene, but none yet for what Louisianans suffered under Democrat former Gov. John Bel Edwards’ in his quest for political power ahead of justice.

Only cursory media coverage accompanied an initial settlement agreement between the state and Greene’s estate of $4.85 million for civil rights violations. Greene, who was in an impaired state that could have contributed to his death, was pulled over by state and local law enforcement, beaten, and neglected, dying later likely in part due to his treatment by law enforcement.

Because of the uncertainty behind the contributions of various factors that caused his death, criminal cases couldn’t be made against any officers of the law, which in turn also hampered pursuit of charges against Louisiana State Police officials who slow-walked the investigation. The suit looks to provide the only accountability.

Divisive remarks urge invalid Monroe Council maps

If unconstitutional racial politics need deploying, go for it, said recently the head of Monroe’s City Council.

At its May 12 meeting, the Council voted on a measure held over previously that would reapportion its districts mid-cycle. The move stemmed from a vote last year to spend considerable taxpayer dollars on such a task, passed by the Council’s black Democrat majority. One motivation for this would be to come up with a map with four majority-minority districts out of the five in order to add another black Democrat via 2028 elections and create a veto-proof bloc.

Yet the ordinance that came forth months later merely shifted a handful of districts between the only majority-white district with its neighboring majority-black district. And by the time the Council brought the measure to a vote, the U.S. Supreme Court had ruled in Louisiana v. Callais that, absent demonstrated intentional racial discrimination in mapmaking, use of race in drawing maps was invalid.

Memorial Day, 2026

This column publishes every Sunday through Thursday around noon U.S. Central Time (maybe even after sundown on busy days, or maybe before noon if things work out, or even sometimes on the weekend if there's big news) except whenever a significant national holiday falls on the Monday through Friday associated with the otherwise-usual publication on the previous day (unless it is Thanksgiving Day, Independence Day, Christmas, or New Year's Day when it is the day on which the holiday is observed by the U.S. government). In my opinion, in addition to these are also Easter Sunday, Memorial Day and Veterans' Day.

With Monday, May 25 being Memorial Day, I invite you to explore this link.