Bills to impose term limits on statewide-elected officials and local school board members are on their way to the House floor after passing through committee today. House Bill 390 is a constitutional amendment to limit the six statewide-elected officials besides the governor to three four-year terms, beginning with the current term. Rep. Simone Champagne, R-Jeanerette, sponsored the bill that will require a two-thirds vote by both chambers. The bill was endorsed by Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne and opposed by the Louisiana Sheriffs Association, whose director Mike Ranatza said, “Now it’s only state officials, but we realize that sentiment could go to local government as well.” It passed, 6-1. Voting on party lines, the committee advanced a bill that would let voters in each school district decide this fall on term limits for those members. HB 292 by Rep. Steve Pugh, R-Hammond, would limit members to three four-year terms, with the clock starting on Jan. 1, 2012. Five Republican members of the House & Governmental Affairs Committee voted yes, and three Democrats voted no. “Once we make our contribution, we need to make room for others to follow behind,” said Board of Elementary and Secondary Education member Holly Boffy of Lafayette, one of two parishes that already has term limits. The other is Jefferson. Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Steve Monaghan opposed the bill, saying, “In simply saying ‘throw the bums out,’ we could be throwing out worthwhile public servants.” It passed, 5-3, with all Republicans voting yes and Democrats no.
(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.
