Legislative Roundup: Sports wagering; family politics for civil servants
Lawmakers approved sports wagering and an amendment allowing civil servants to engage in political activities in support of relatives.
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Robert Buckman
Robert Buckman, Ph.D., is a retired journalism professor who taught at UL Lafayette from 1989-2017. He earned his bachelor's in journalism and master's in political science from Texas Christian University and his doctorate in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin. He covered the Texas Legislature for a Fort Worth weekly from 1981-86, which he says was "the most fun I ever got paid for."
Tax reform amendment falls short of needed 70 votes in House
A crucial 14 members were not recorded voting on the constitutional amendment, including Rep. Julie Emerson, R-Carencro, who was absent Wednesday, and Rep. Vincent Pierre, D-Lafayette, who was present and had voted on other bills shortly before.
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Legislative Roundup: Legal marijuana pulled again after tax bill fails
Among Lafayette Parish’s seven members, Republican Jean-Paul Coussan and Democrats Marcus Bryant and Vincent Pierre voted yea and Republicans Beau Beaullieu, Stuart Bishop, Julie Emerson and Jonathan Goudeau voted nay.
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Roundup: Bill to increase penalty on insurers for slow disaster claims fails in House
Other action Monday: House sends sales tax consolidation bill back for changes; rules for when drones rule the skies.
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Roundup: House unanimously passes Bishop’s spending bill
Included in the bill are three capital outlay projects for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette: $18 million for the Madison Hall renovations; $13.8 million for planning and construction of an engineering classroom building; and $13,350,000 for planning and construction of a health care education and training facility.
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Roundup: Legal marijuana delayed again; sales tax collection passes Senate; early voting for president expanded
Already punted twice, floor debate on marijuana legalization was rescheduled for Tuesday. Also postponed was a bill to allow industrial polluters to audit themselves.
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Brief: Orphan wells, voluntary industrial audits and abortion reporting
Lafayette area reps are moving bills waiving taxes on re-opened orphaned wells and creating new reporting requirements for abortions.
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Brief: House unanimously asks Congress to repeal ‘windfall elimination’
The highly unpopular Windfall Elimination Provision strips Louisiana state retirees of the Social Security benefits they may have earned on other jobs
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Brief: House punts several bills, clearing space for Wednesday pot debate
The House deferred action on the police bill of rights, tax exemptions for feminine hygiene products and further tweaks to alcohol delivery.
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Brief: Bill to expand Lafayette’s GOP and Dem executive committees advances in Senate
The measure resets the committees’ sizes from 10 to 14, the total membership allotted before Lafayette’s consolidated council was split.
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Brief: Lafayette House delegation splits on concealed carry bill
Gov. John Bel Edwards has vowed to veto any bill removing the training requirement, but both the House and Senate versions passed by more than a two-thirds vote.
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Brief: ‘Stop Social Media Censorship Act’ stalled in Senate
The bill is up for reconsideration Wednesday.
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