Under review: Louisiana election officials will not have a decision on whether to comply with the Trump administration’s request for detailed voter information until after the Independence Day holiday, a spokesperson for Secretary of State Tom Schedler says. Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who serves on a voter fraud panel for President Donald Trump, is seeking from all states information including addresses, party affiliations, felony convictions and the last four digits of Social Security numbers for all registered voters. Secretaries of state—both Republicans and Democrats—of roughly half of all states have said they would not or could not provide all or some of the information. Schedler’s team is reviewing the request with lawyers and staff, a spokesperson said Friday.
By the numbers: Entergy Corp. estimates customers in Louisiana saved nearly $280 million during the first three years of Entergy’s membership in a regional grid manager. The Associated Press reports customers in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas collectively saved nearly $500 million since Entergy first joined Indiana-based Midcontinent Independent Transmission System Operator in 2013. MISO directs electricity flows across parts of 15 states and the Canadian province of Manitoba. It seeks to make sure power is generated at the cheapest possible plant, even if that’s far away. Entergy, which has 2.9 million customers in four states, had estimated $1.4 billion in customer savings over a decade when it joined MISO. Read more.
Out in front: Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain and Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon will campaign for their elected offices again in 2019. The USA Today Network of Louisiana reports Strain and Donelon announced their intentions to seek another term during the 95th Louisiana Farm Bureau Annual Convention held in New Orleans, an event where politicians flock to court votes. Both are veteran politicians with three four-year statewide terms under their belts. Strain also served two terms in the state House, and Donelon spent 19 years in the House. “2019 is coming very soon,” Strain says. “It’ll be here before you know it.” Read more.
Editor’s note: The offices of Business Report will be closed on Tuesday in observance of the Independence Day holiday, and Daily Report will not be published. Daily Report will resume publication on Wednesday. Have a safe and happy holiday.
