3rd Congressional District update: Monica still in, Wiley never was

U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon of Napoleonville might be the top Louisiana Democrat in the House, but back home in the 3rd Congressional District, he's on shaky ground. After being re-elected unopposed to a third term in 2008 and starting this year off with roughly $1 million in his campaign kitty, Melancon, at least on paper, shouldn’t be sweating much. But as the 2010 election cycle closes in and redistricting threatens to tear apart his political base, Melancon is facing real opposition.

In Ascension Parish recently, business owners were lobbying Sheriff Jeff Wiley, a Democrat, to run against Melancon. Wiley, says a campaign isn’t in the cards, although he admits that anything can happen the next few months. “I’m flattered by the notion, but I enjoy being sheriff and I don’t have intentions to be anything but sheriff,” he says. “I don’t see me running.”

Meanwhile, the National Republican Campaign Committee, which has already been running attack ads against Melancon, has been courting state Rep. Nickie Monica, R-LaPlace. For his part, Monica says the 3rd Congressional District is much more conservative than many people think and U.S. Sen. John McCain carried the region with 61% as last year’s Republican presidential candidate. “What gets me is the congressman comes back in the district and says he’s a (fiscally-conservative) Blue Dog Democrat, but he doesn’t have the record to back it up,” Monica says. “I want to challenge that.”—Jeremy Alford

LaPolitics by John Maginnis: GOP agitation with Tucker grows

Simmering anger over how expanded unemployment benefits slipped through the House has caused growing agitation toward Speaker Jim Tucker among some of his fellow Republicans. One Republican legislator, who wished not to be identified, says more than a dozen members are angry enough to talk about a possible move against Tucker as speaker. "Members are looking at options ... but several Republican members have had enough," the representative says. "We have to draw a line at some point in time." Tucker, however, says, "I'm not worried about it." He says more members are angry at themselves over how the unemployment benefits provision passed the House last week.

-- An revenue-raising attempt to delay the phase-in of personal income tax deductions is dead in the House before it is even debated on the Senate floor. Fifty-five representatives have signed a letter of opposition to SB 335 by Sen. Lydia Jackson, D-Shreveport, which would freeze excess itemized deductions at 65%, when they were scheduled to increase to 100% this year.

-- State casino association director Wade Duty warns making riverboats and the land-based gambling hall go smoke-free would reduce state gaming tax revenues by 20%, or $107 million. He bases that on the 21% drop-off in gambling at Illinois riverboats after they went smoke-free in January 2008. Senators were not impressed with the argument, defeating an amendment to exempt casinos, 10-23. The anti-smoking bill by Sen. Rob Marionneaux, D-Livonia, passed 22-10. A nearly identical House bill by Rep. Gary Smith, D-Garyville, awaits floor action. "We showed them the numbers," Duty says. "They nodded their heads and said, 'But I hate cigarettes.'"

(John Maginnis publishes LaPolitics Weekly, a newsletter on Louisiana politics, at LaPolitics.com.)

Big guns rally to save LSU Press from cuts

The Chronicle of Higher Education reports that national historical and literary groups are lobbying Gov. Bobby Jindal to keep LSU Press from closing due to budget cuts. The American Historical Association and the Modern Language Association have lent their weight to the cause, sending letters to Jindal imploring him to protect what the MLA's president, Catherine Porter, describes as "an indispensable national institution" with a record of distinction achieved by few university presses around the country. The AHA's executive director, Arnita A. Jones, wrote to Jindal that the LSU Press is "one of the most significant publishers in the fields of Southern history." LSU Press publishes about 80 new books a year, has a backlist of roughly 1,000 titles and has had four titles win Pulitzer Prizes. It was the original publisher of John Kennedy Toole's classic novel, A Confederacy of Dunces. LSU's annual subsidy to the press is about $450,000 a year.—Steve Clark

U.S. economy sinks at a 5.7% pace in 1Q

The economy sank at a 5.7% pace as the brute force of the recession carried over into the start of the year. However, many analysts believe activity isn't shrinking nearly as much now as the downturn flashes signs of letting up. The Commerce Department's updated reading on gross domestic product, released today, showed the economy's contraction from January to March was slightly less deep than the 6.1% annualized decline first estimated last month. But the new reading was a tad worse than the 5.5% annualized drop economists were forecasting.

It was a grim first-quarter performance despite the small upgrade. It marked the second straight quarter where the economy took a huge tumble. At the end of last year, the economy shrank at a staggering 6.3% pace, the most in a quarter-century.

Weakness in the first quarter mostly reflected massive cuts in spending by businesses on home building, equipment and software and many other things. U.S. exports plunged, so did spending on commercial construction and inventories. But some of those drops -- while huge -- were a bit less than first estimated, contributing to the tiny upgrade in overall first quarter GDP.

LSU team takes first place at international computer competition

A team of researchers and students from the LSU Center for Computation & Technology won first place at an international conference for cluster and grid computing. The SCALE 2009 competition in Shanghai involved researchers solving real-world problems with adaptable computer systems. The CCT demonstration showed a system that simulated and visualized black holes to study the physics of gravitational waves. Gabrielle Allen, a professor who led the CCT team, noted that LSU finished first despite travel restrictions that allowed only one member of the 13-person team to be in China. LSU submitted a video demonstration and answered questions via Skype and live chat. "The fact LSU’s entry won first prize in spite of these obstacles is a good reflection on the quality of scientific research our group was able to demonstrate, and we are grateful for this recognition from our international peers and collaborators,” Allen says.

B.R. chef makes splash at Wine & Food Fest

Hundreds of chefs, foodies and wine-lovers -- some all the way from Switzerland -- flocked to the New Orleans Wine & Food Experience last week to discover new culinary trends, sample Louisiana dishes and swirl the latest from Napa Valley. Celebrity guests included Dickie Brennan, Chef John Besh and Leah Cohen from Season 5 of Top Chef. Galatoire's Bistro chef Nathan Gresham took second place at the King of Louisiana Seafood competition at last weekend’s New Orleans Wine & Food Experience -- just behind Tory McPhail of Commander’s Palace. 225 Dine takes you on an NOWFE journey from the Royal Street Stroll to the Grand Tasting at the Superdome with a two multimedia slideshows.

Also in this week’s 225 Dine, Sammy's Grill opens its third location in Central, the Shaw Center plans Tuesdays on the Terrace for downtown professionals, and Abita Brewery will soon stock shelves with its latest flavor, Satsuma Harvest Wit. And find out which menu items have BRAC’s Adam Knapp obsessed. Click for this week’s 225 Dine here.

Poll: Most don't plan to participate in sales tax holiday

Sixty-seven percent of people who responded to a Daily Report poll say they don't plan on taking advantage of the sales tax holiday for hurricane preparedness purchases. Twenty-two percent of respondents say they will make purchases this weekend to get a waiver on the 4% state sales tax, and 11% are undecided. Nearly 1,000 people participated in the survey. The sales tax exemption on Saturday and Sunday applies to the first $1,500 worth of items such as portable generators, flashlights, tarps and diesel fuel tanks.

Today's question: Should the Legislature delay the Stelly tax rollbacks?