Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration began its revenue offensive today, asking a skeptical House Appropriations Committee to authorize the sale of three state prisons and the privatization of another. After over two hours of discussion in a meeting room packed with prison employees opposing the bill, the panel recessed before the daily House floor session began. HB 545 by Rep. Henry Burns, R- Haughton, was amended to direct the sales proceeds to a one-time money fund that will be created under a separate bill. The administration has planned to use $86 million, most of the sale proceeds, to help balance the budget bill. Lawmakers questioned if the amendment was necessary since the House already is under a rule requiring a two-thirds vote to spend one-time money. Chairman Jim Fannin, D-Jonesboro, said the committee would take up the measure again after the House adjourns later this afternoon. The governor’s team has been lobbying the committee hard. Should the bill get to the House floor, it will need a two-thirds majority to pass.
— Over the objections of district attorneys, the House easily passed a bill aimed at making nonviolent offenders eligible for Parole Board hearings earlier. HB 416 by Rep. Joe Lopinto, R-Metairie, would reduce the parole-eligibility time for nonviolent offenders from 33% of the sentence to 25%. Second offenders would be eligible after serving 33% of the sentence, down from 50%. To get the support of sheriffs, Lopinto, a former police officer, amended his bill to keep third offenders ineligible for parole. The changes would only apply to parole calculations on those sentenced after the bill takes effect in August, so as not to affect any plea bargains now in effect. The legislation arose from recommendations by the Louisiana Sentencing Commission, which sought ways to reduce the state’s incarceration rate, the nation’s highest.
— Without discussion or objection, the House unanimously passed a bill mandating a monument recognizing the Ten Commandments be placed in the Capitol Garden. To get around the U.S. Constitution that bars the establishment of religion, HB 277 by Rep. Patrick Williams, D-Shreveport, tracks language of a Texas law stating that the display would recognize the Ten Commandments’ historical basis for the rule of law.
(John Maginnis will publish a daily update on the legislative session at 3 p.m., available to LaPolitics Weekly subscribers on the Subscribers Only page at LaPolitics.com. You can register your user name and password on the Lapolitics home page.)
