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Taming TOPS

It happens every session: lawmakers, seeing the quarter of a billion dollar price tag on TOPS, look for ways to tweak the college scholarship program. This time, they might succeed. “By establishing a...

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Legislative Mood Day 1: “Worried”

The 2015 legislative session convenes today, with just 60 days to solve a one-point-six billion dollar budget deficit. Has it ever been this bad? “We’ve gone through this a couple of other times; the...

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More Money for Roads, Less for State Police

The House Appropriations Committee has advanced a bill that would keep highway dollars committed to road work by limiting how much can be shifted to State Police. “Throughout this state, the common...

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'Run in Circles, Scream and Shout'

“When in danger or in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout.” The naval adage, quoted in Wouk’s 1951 “The Caine Mutiny” and again in Heinlein’s 1973 “Time Enough for Love”, pretty well describes the...

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Cigarette Tax Hike Modified, But Advances

The House Ways and Means Committee started working through several revenue-raising bills Monday, including one that would increase the cigarette tax. There was the expected health related testimony....

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Struck by Film Workers, Not Stars

Tuesday’s House Ways and Means hearing on bills to cap the film tax credit program brought out some of the big names in Louisiana movie-making, like Lampton Enochs of the Oscar-winning Moonbot Studios,...

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Compassion and Cannabis

A bill that would set up rules and the system for dispensing medical marijuana advanced out of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee Wednesday. Although law enforcement opposition has derailed...

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"Protecting" Paychecks from Union Dues

A bill to prohibit payroll deductions for union dues prompted hours of impassioned testimony Thursday. “Teachers, firemen, police — these are the people you trust every day to take care of everything...

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For Medicaid Expansion, It’s SSDD (Same Subject, Different Decision)

“This is not, and should not be a partisan issue, Rep. John Bel Edwards said last Thursday. When it comes to Medicaid expansion, want to bet? The same concept with the same arguments supporting it was...

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Political Potholes: Raising Taxes for Roads

Louisiana’s $1.6-billion budget hole is doing nothing to help with the state’s $14-billion backlog of road and bridge projects. “We kicked the can down the road, but we lost it in a pothole. And we...

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Halftime: 'Unfortunately, It’s Not a Game'

For the first time in months, LSU System President F. King Alexander was able to relax a bit over the weekend. “I spent it with our daughter, at her soccer tournament Saturday and Sunday.” Last...

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Chasing Change Under Couch Cushions

The House Appropriations Committee approved the budget bill – HB 1 – Monday. But first, members exhibited their expertise in using the news for clues which couch cushions to look under for loose...

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Equal Pay Bill Passes Full Senate

Louisiana’s Senate approved a bill requiring private businesses to provide equal pay for equal work, and setting up a mechanism for enforcement. “This bill is important to our wives, our mothers, and...

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Fiscal Notes Can Be Fatal

Did you know a piece of paper could kill? Natchitoches Rep. Kenny Cox found that out Wednesday, when the fiscal note for his HB 590 was delivered just a few minutes before its hearing in the House...

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House Votes to Ban Sex-Selective Abortion

A bill prohibiting abortions based on the baby's sex was approved by Louisiana's full House Thursday. The bill's author, Houma Rep. Lenar Whitney explained why she brought the bill. "The practice of...

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State Legislature Passes Half-Way Mark In Session

It’s past the half-way mark in this year’s session of the state Legislature. One political expert sees a change in tone on the way. So far the legislative action has been in House committees. Jeremy...

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Louisiana State Senate Working To Rectify Budget Before Session Ends

The regular session ends in just two weeks, and the Senate Finance Committee is now grappling with the budget sent over from the House. Governor John Bel Edwards expects a difficult two weeks.

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La. Legislature Ends Special Session

WWNO Morning Edition host Diane Mack speaks with New Orleans Advocate columnist Stephanie Grace about the latest special session that just ended in the Louisiana Legislature.

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Capitol Access Legislative Update

The Louisiana legislature has finished its first week of the regular session. Gov. John Bel Edwards laid out his legislative priorities in an address to the chamber on Monday. Edwards also appeared...

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Capitol Access Legislative Update

As part of a collaboration between WWNO and WRKF in Baton Rouge, we bring you the Capitol Access Recap - a weekly review of what happened in the state Legislature.

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