[StBernard] Ready Or Not

[Westley Annis]

Ready Or Not    

 
Written by Jeremy Alford
Wednesday, 24 March 2010

The annual legislative session is right around the corner and brimming with
hundreds of bills promising 85 days of . something.

In about a week's time, lawmakers will gather in Baton Rouge to kick off
their 2010 regular session. While there are new fiscal challenges, there
will still be the same old cornucopia of policy ideas that will grab our
interests, maybe make us laugh and definitely have us scratching our heads.

House Bill 119 by Rep. Scott Simon, R-Abita Springs, would classify as
litter any printed materials left on a windshield. House Bill 271 by Rep.
Fred Mills, D-Parks, creates the crime of illegally selling urine or
adulterants to circumvent screening tests.

You want ethics? Rep. Nita Hutter, R-Chalmette, has House Bill 296 to allow
a public servant to accept certain gifts for "customary social occasions."
Meals from lobbyists don't count.

The session's centerpiece - the budget - weighs in at 259 pages, leaner and
meaner than ever at $5 billion less than the current budget. Lawmakers add
amendments and try to squeeze every penny for roads and bridges, local
infrastructure and, yes, pet projects. But this isn't the same kind of
pliable budget lawmakers are used to seeing; further reductions are
expected, and there are more moving pieces than usual.

By the time leges adjourn on June 21, the 2011 horizon will have another
$1.7 billion budget shortfall looming. Truly, one could ask whether
lawmakers are controlling the budget or the budget is controlling them.

The rub, this year in particular, is that lawmakers cannot file tax bills in
regular sessions in even-numbered years. The only revenue-generating
measures will be new "fees," which have already reared their ugly heads in
the form of a $15 driver's license hike, LSU System tuition increase and
higher rentals for state park cabins.

Gov. Bobby Jindal promises not to approve any new taxes this year and next,
but he doesn't place fees in the same category. While there's a handful of
opposing voices in both chambers, legislative leaders tend the make the same
distinction.

"I'd rather a user fee because it supports a specific portion of state
government," says Sen. Mike Michot, R-Lafayette, chairman of the Senate
Finance Committee. "It's a better idea than a tax that goes to a centralized
government in a lump sum."

Some will try to stand up to Jindal. Rep. Wayne Waddell, R-Shreveport, is
retuning with bills to open more records in Jindal's office to the public.
Jindal's executive counsel, Stephen Waguespack, told The Advocate of Baton
Rouge that his boss is opposed to the concept behind House bills 307 and 499
- again.

Also, as reported here last week, Sen. Butch Gautreaux, D-Morgan City, has
filed Senate Bill 102, a constitutional amendment to take the governor's
influence out of the legislative leadership election by allowing for
confidential ballots. But that dog may not hunt. House Speaker Jim Tucker,
R-Algiers, opposes the measure. "I think our constituents want to know how
we vote on everything," Tucker says. "Secondly, if the purpose is to draw
independence, I don't think it will accomplish that. Ultimately, it's not
the leader who does that, but how the body acts."

And there's more: House Bill 470 by Rep. Rickey Hardy, D-Lafayette, is a
constitutional amendment that would prohibit a person 70 years old or older
from qualifying for elective office. That should put to rest any thoughts
about former Gov. Edwin Edwards' post-prison political career.

House Bill 503 by Rep. Michael Danahay, D-Sulphur, establishes the
"Louisiana Homemade Beer Law" to determine the "amount of homemade beer that
may be made" and how it can be transported to "exhibitions, contests,
competitions, fairs, or festivals."

Speaking of festivals, at least one citizen rally is slated for opening day
(Monday, March 29). The Louisiana faction of the Tea Party has secured the
steps of the Capitol for a noon gathering, according to Pat Bergeron,
publisher of Louisiana Political News Service.

While there is no shortage of topics, voters may need a taste of homemade
brew by the time the session closes. Who knows - the Tea Party may morph
into a beer blast. Stranger things have happened.