Unlike Wednesday’s marathon House Education Committee hearing with hundreds of teachers complaining about their treatment at the Louisiana Capitol, the Senate Education Committee moved with more dispatch today in hearing its companion school choice and tenure bills. Both sides made the same points, though more briefly, on bills by Sen. Conrad Appel, R-Metairie, as were made on Rep. Steve Carter’s bills before the House panel. After three hours of debate on SB 603, restricting tenure, the committee passed it, 6-1, with Vice Chairman Eric LaFleur, D-Opelousas, voting no. The hearing continues on the school choice bill, SB 597.
—On the morning after that 16-hour House Education Committee hearing—which eventually saw the advancement of two controversial bills backed by the governor—House members differed sharply over the fairness of the process and the handling of hundreds of teachers and school employees entering the Capitol and rallying outside. Taking the mike on a point of personal privilege, Rep. Sam Jones, D-Franklin, criticized the rush to push through complex legislation and the crowd control outside the building. “They were left outside and herded inside like cattle to slaughter,” he charged, while pointing out that bill supporters coming to testify were able to enter through the side entrances. Rep. John Schroder, R-Covington, praised House leaders and staff for accommodating those wishing to testify on both sides and to observe in overflow rooms, while defending the State Police’s and the fire marshal’s handling of bill opponents in and out of the building. “There is no time in the last 30 years that so many people participated in the process,” he said.
—The sudden removal of Rep. Harold Ritchie as vice chairman of the Insurance Committee surprised himself, colleagues and lobbyists for what was seen as Speaker Chuck Kleckley’s reaction to his vote against a governor-supported bill that passed by a wide margin. Asked if he thought he was made an example of, Ritchie answered, “I think I was,” adding, “They didn’t need my vote.” HB 969 by Rep. Kirk Talbot, R-River Ridge, grants rebates to contributors to nonprofits that provide private-school scholarships to low-income public school students. It passed, 15-4. Rep. John Bel Edwards of Amite, head of the House Democratic Caucus, was more pointed. “This is an attempt by the speaker to intimidate all Democrats in leadership positions,” he said. Kleckley denied that. “I disagree this is an attempt to intimidate Democrats,” he said, but would not comment on his conversation with Ritchie, whom he called “a good friend.” Democrats question if Kleckley’s decision was his own or if the governor was involved. When asked, the governor’s communications director, Kyle Plotkin, replied, “The speaker informed us of his decision.”
(John Maginnis will publish a daily update throughout the legislative session on Daily Report PM. The report is also available to LaPolitics Weekly subscribers on the Subscribers Only page at LaPolitics.com. Registration is available on the homepage.)
Louisiana Public Broadcasting is providing a daily video update featuring highlights of the session, which you can see beginning at 6 p.m. here.
