[StBernard] Special session may end right after it starts

[Westley Annis]

Special session may end right after it starts

By MARSHA SHULER
Advocate Capitol News Bureau 
Published: Dec 6, 2006 
    
Unhappy senators are talking about pulling the plug on Gov. Kathleen
Blanco's special legislative session as soon as it starts Friday.

"Today it is probably just about a 50-50 chance we may go home and about a
50-50 chance we may go on into the session," said Sen. Noble Ellington,
D-Winnsboro, chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee.

"If the vote were taken today, we would be adjourning," said Sen. Rob
Marionneaux, D-Grosse Tete, chairman of the Senate Judiciary B Committee.

The senators are among those criticizing Blanco for calling lawmakers into
session to spend $1.6 billion in newly certified extra revenue without
having a specific plan.

Added to the mix is a political feud between Blanco and Senate President Don
Hines, D-Bunkie.

Blanco is proposing pay raises for government workers and teachers, tax
breaks for residents and businesses, and insurance rate relief, among other
spending.

The Senate could adjourn the session with a majority vote of a quorum of its
members. That means if at least 20 members of the 39-seat Senate are
present, a majority of those present could vote to quit.

Legislative records show the Legislature adjourned as soon as it was called
into session in August 1959, when Earl K. Long was governor.

A lot of what happens depends on what the governor and her staff do between
now and Friday "to try to talk to legislators and make them feel they are
part of the process," Ellington said.

"That's a lot of money, and we want to do what's right for the state. . I
don't know that there's been enough time and effort to look at the
long-range effects of all the things we are doing."

If revenues fall later, "You leave yourself exposed and have to undo what
you did in haste," Ellington said.

"Are we all about hasty spending, or should we be more prudent with the
taxpayer's money?" Marionneax said.

"It feels good to give everybody a pay raise, but . is this long-term
revenues?"

Marionneaux said he would rather wait until February or March and see how
the revenues flow, "and let's get a better five-year plan, not a 10-day
plan."

Sen. Walter Boasso, R-Arabi, raised three scenarios. One is to adjourn for
good, two is go into session and limit spending to $331 million, and three
is an "outright free-for-all," he said.

There's one vacancy in the 39-member Senate, and four senators are expected
to be gone for all or part of the 10-day special session. Some key
administration bills would require a two-thirds vote.

Boasso said he would like to limit spending so "we can't open Pandora's
box." If it doesn't look like that can happen, "I'd just as soon adjourn and
go home."