The fight over Gov. Bobby Jindal’s education agenda continues to play out beyond the legislative debates. On Monday, some of the governor’s top aides watched a press conference by Democratic leaders, and then took the mike to counter the arguments of reporters. In the Senate today, Sen. Karen Carter Peterson, D-New Orleans, complained about a flyer from a pro-voucher group attacking Rep. John Bel Edwards, D-Amite, the leading opponent of the governor’s education agenda. The flyer shows the image of a young black girl and charges Edwards with limiting her educational opportunities. Edwards, who is white, represents a majority black district in the Florida Parishes. “This is really reprehensible,” said Peterson of the mailer from the American Federation for Children, which has pushed for pro-voucher legislation nationwide. Similar comments are expected when the House convenes at 4 p.m. The House is expected to take up the two major education bills by Rep. Steve Carter, R-Baton Rouge, on Thursday.
—An uptick in sales of hunting and fishing licenses, which have been on the decline for years, and greater use of wildlife refuges are sources of optimism in Wildlife Secretary Robert Barham’s report to the Appropriations Committee today. But they don’t counterbalance Barham’s greatest concern: the relentless spread of giant salvinia, one of the world’s worst aquatic weeds, through Louisiana lakes. “We spent $8 million spraying and are barely holding our own,” said Barham, who fears that this year’s mild winter will spur more growth of the fast-growing plant that chokes off oxygen and kills fish, ruins conditions for boating, and clogs irrigation systems. It also bothers Barham that Texas has made matters worse with its less-aggressive spraying program. Salvinia is catching rides to Louisiana on boats coming from the Texas side of Toledo Bend. He said he will meet with his Texas counterpart soon to urge more spraying in that state.
(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.
