Louisiana House narrowly backs bill to limit police officers immunity from civil lawsuits
Melinda Deslatte
BATON ROUGE With no votes to spare, the Louisiana House agreed to place new limits on police officers wide immunity from civil lawsuits after Black lawmakers made emotional pleas for passage of the bill aimed at addressing police misconduct. We live in two different Americas. We live in two different Louisianas. And some of the issues we have to face, I hope you never have to face, Democratic Rep. Edmond Jordan, who is Black, said to his white colleagues.
The debate Tuesday over House Bill 609 silenced the usually raucous House as Democratic Rep. Ted James, chairman of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus, told the chamber: Some of you think that the issue we re trying to solve is frivolous. Some of you think that dead Black and brown bodies at the hands of police officers is frivolous.
Alford: Tax reform easier said than done
This week marks the midpoint of the Louisiana Legislature’s regular session, so lawmakers are halfway to somewhere. I wish I could offer a more precise big-picture snapshot of the session, but a review of the leadership’s top priorities offers a mixed bag of progress.
While the budget package has exited the House and is on the move, there are a few lingering issues that still need to be addressed. Conservatives in the lower chamber are still fighting to limit the amount of one-dollars spent on recurring expenses and political players of all stripes are working hard to carve up the federal stimulus pie for various purposes.
House Appropriations approves a 36 billion dollar budget plan that includes an 800 dollar pay raise for K-12 teachers and a 400 dollar pay raise for support staff.
Baton Rouge / louisianaradionetwork.com
May 4, 2021 8:34 PM
House Appropriations approves a 36 billion dollar budget plan that includes an 800 dollar pay raise for K-12 teachers and a 400 dollar pay raise for support staff.
The Governor’s initial budget only called for a 400 dollar teacher pay raise and 200 dollar support staff pay raise. Louisiana Federation of Teachers Legislative Director Cynthia Posey says teachers needed more than that.
“Unfortunately we felt that to make it to the southern regional average that the 400 and 200 just wouldn’t get us there quickly enough,” said Posey.
An initial proposal by House Speaker Clay Schexnayder called for a 1,000 dollar raise. That’s still a possibility, pending a revenue projection by the Revenue Estimating Conference.
Louisiana House GOP leaders unveil $36B budget proposal
Monday, May 3, 2021
Louisiana House lawmakers today released their multibillion-dollar spending plans for next year, advancing budget bills that would start earmarking the latest federal coronavirus aid, give teachers a pay raise and spend millions on local pet projects.
The House Appropriations Committee backed a more than $36 billion budget for the financial year that begins July 1 that would follow many recommendations submitted by Gov. John Bel Edwards and largely keep state agencies at standstill or slightly increased spending levels.
Among the increases, foster parents would receive larger payments for the care they provide, salaries for K-12 public school teachers and college faculty would increase and full tuition would be covered for all eligible students in the TOPS program.