Senate says Ascension not part of coast

If Rep. Eddie Lambert had his druthers, Baton Rouge would only be minutes away from coastal living. The Senate, however, doesn’t share the same dream, rejecting Lambert’s House Bill 423 on Monday afternoon to include portions of Ascension Parish in Louisiana’s official coastal zone. Lambert, R-Gonzales, says Ascension has enough flooding and conservation problems to be folded in, including saltwater intrusion in the Blind River area, eroding cypress trees and tidal surges from lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas. By becoming part of the coastal zone, alongside parishes like Calcasieu and Plaquemines, Ascension would be eligible for special assistance from the state. But when the Senate took up the bill Monday, Sen. Rob Marionneaux, D-Maringouin, amended the legislation to include Iberville Parish as well. There were already concerns among coastal lawmakers that Ascension’s inclusion would mean a smaller piece of the financial pie for their own parishes, but most were willing to go along to help address Ascension’s flooding problems. Bringing Iberville into the mix, however, was more than they were willing to give and the Senate rejected the legislation by a vote of 27-7. There’s a possibility that the bill could be heard again, as the Senate has it scheduled for reconsideration after it convenes at 2 p.m. today.—Jeremy Alford