Ashworth stepping down as head of Louisiana Technology Park

Eddie Ashworth is leaving his job as CEO of the Louisiana Technology Park to become undersecretary of the state Department of Social Services. Ashworth, who has led the Research Park Corporation since 2000, will join DSS on April 7. As undersecretary, he will oversee the agency's Office of Management and Finance, which is responsible for fiscal services, human resources and budge. Stephen Loy, Louisiana Technology Park vice president, will serve as interim president of the business incubator. “Eddie has established a remarkable asset for the state,” says Terrell Brown, who serves as chairman of the Tech Park board. “We are grateful for his dedication and commitment to its success and hope he will remain involved with RPC in a volunteer capacity.”

Business group to roll out health care reform plan

In effort to tamp down soaring health care costs for employers, the Louisiana Business Group on Health is putting together a legislative program for 2009 that will include big changes in how employees can access health care coverage through their employers—even if the employer doesn't offer a group health plan. Butch Passman, head of LGBH, says the reform plan could include a mandate that employers provide a way for employees to set aside money for health care expenses, such as a health savings account or health reimbursement account. "The program also concentrates heavily on health information technology and making as a standard of practice things like e-prescribing and portable personal health records within the next couple years," he says. Such reforms would cut down on medical errors, ideally cutting costs to insurers, employers and employees with insurance. LGBH may also call for an individual mandate for people over a certain income level to show proof of health insurance on state income tax returns. Passman says the plan should be approved by the LGBH board by month's end, though the group won't push for actual legislation until next year, after they've had a chance to build support among business leaders and policy makers. "We hope to come out with our approved legislative program, but it's going to be with the realization that we do not have enough people educated about what these things mean and what they can do," Passman says. "Nor do we have the coalition support we need yet to get these things passed."--Steve Clark

La. Politics by John Maginnis: Special session expires

In contrast to how lawmakers slowed down the last special session to grapple with thorny ethics legislation, in this session they are stepping on the gas in hopes of finishing today or Saturday. Yet questions and frustrations about the administration's spending plans and communications with legislators could spark a fight in the Senate—possibly a revolt—when it takes up the $1.1 billion appropriations bill today.

--The Jindal administration did not include in its executive budget operating funds for the Louisiana Airport Authority, which could put it out of business before a spade of dirt is turned on the intermodal transportation center that was to occupy 25,000 acres of sugar cane fields near Donaldsonville.

--A two-way race for Democratic party chairman has ballooned into a six-man field, including the late entry of Opelousas Mayor Don Cravins Sr. Before Saturday's election is held, opponents of chairman Chris Whittington will challenge his filling 27 of 41 vacancies on the 210-seat Democratic State Central Committee with his appointees.

John Maginnis publishes the Louisiana Political Fax Weekly and Lapolitics.com.

Good Growth Award winners announced

The Baton Rouge Growth Coalition and Business Report handed out 13 Good Growth Awards on Thursday night to projects that have improved the Capital Region over the past year. Thirty-five developments were nominated for the awards, which are presented to the developers, architects and engineers who are responsible for the projects. The following commercial and residential projects received awards: 7550 LaSalle, Anna T. Jordan Community Park improvements, Beau Box Commercial Real Estate, Carruth residence, Crescent at University Lake Condominiums, Dermatology & Aesthetic Institute, Furr residence, Grant Building renovation, Hayes residence, Lexington Estates, Providence Engineering, townhomes in the Settlement at Willow Grove and University Club South.

Professor says funding formulas hurt black colleges

An education professor says formulas used by the Louisiana Legislature to fund colleges and universities leaves gaps that shortchange historically black schools. James T. Minor, a professor at Michigan State University, analyzed the funding formulas for four Southern states, including Louisiana, in a recent report in The Chronicle of Higher Education. Southern University got nearly $56 million in state funding last year, putting it fourth out of Louisiana's 14 public colleges. Grambling State and Southern-New Orleans were ranked near the bottom, ahead of only LSU-Shreveport and LSU-Alexandria. Minor says that investing in historically black colleges makes sense, because of the school's track record of teaching students who may not attend college otherwise. LSU got the biggest share of the $709.4 million the Legislature doled out last year; the state's flagship university received nearly $205 million.

Editor: Baton Rouge is healthy, despite national problems

While the national economy is ailing, things are booming in Baton Rouge, Business Report Excecutive Editor JR Ball says. That's thanks to the continued hurricane rebuilding, the booming oil industry and the solid core of government and education jobs. "Be thankful you live in a state that does everything different than the rest of the country," Ball says. Read his column here. Send comments to editors@businessreport.com.

Poll: More than one third say gas prices aren't affecting them

Even though gas prices have hit new record highs and there are fears that $4 a gallon fuel could reach the pumps by summer, more than one-third of Daily Report readers say they aren't feeling the impact. Thirty-four percent of the people who responded to an online survey say the record prices haven't really affected them or their business. Twenty-seven percent say they've started driving less because of fuel costs, while 23% say they are spending less on non-essentials. Eleven percent say they are considering buying a more fuel-efficient vehicle, and 5% say they have raised prices at their business. Nearly 1,700 people participated in the survey.

Today's question: Should Butch Pierre become LSU’s head basketball coach after leading the Tigers to a 5-5 record as the interim coach?

News roundup: Prairieville boy to serve as epilepsy spokesman; Gold rush going on

Will push for more research: Ronald Lee, an 11-year-old from Prairieville, has been selected as a spokesman by the Epilepsy Foundation and will travel to Washington, D.C., next month to meet with congressional leaders and ask for their support in restoring the Americans with Disabilities Act and for epilepsy research. Lee is one of 50 children with epilepsy participating in the Kids Speak Up! program. Big jewelry selloff reported: Now that gold is selling for around $1,000 an ounce, pawn shops say they've seen a rush in people looking to sell old coins and hand-me-down items, The Associated Press reports. There are even reports of gold parties, where people gather to sell jewelry. Gold isn't the only precious metal in high demand, silver prices have more than tripled in the past two years, from $6 an ounce to $20.