On a 3 to 1 vote, the Senate Labor Committee advances a bill that would protect the LGBT community from workplace discrimination. Don Molino has more…

Cut 1 (27) “I’m Don Molino”

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U.S. Senator John Kennedy spoke on the Senate floor about his Medicaid reform bill. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Governor John Bel Edwards says every day it looks more and more likely we’ll have to have a special session after this fiscal session ends. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Louisiana’s LGBT community would be protected from workplace discrimination under a proposal heading to the Senate floor. New Orleans Senator Troy Carter’s bill would add sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes in state laws. He says as an African American man, he hasn’t always been protected from discrimination under the law.

Cut 4  (11) “allow it”

Dylan Waguespack with Louisiana Trans Advocates testified in support of the measure and telling committee members that he’s transgender. He says it’s something that, until now, he’s chosen not to share with his colleagues at the Capitol for fear of facing discrimination. He says something has to be done to protect people like him in the workplace.

Cut 5  (12)  “and disgust”

Dr. Will Hall with the Louisiana Baptist Office of Public Policy opposes the bill. He says Attorney General Jeff Landry has already ruled it illegal to add a new protective class that’s not defined under the law. He notes this bill would also go against a U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling.

Cut 6 (12) “as immutable”

The measure was approved in the Senate Labor Committee on a 3 to 1 vote.

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U.S. Senator John Kennedy spoke on the Senate floor touting a Medicaid reform bill that he has filed.  Kennedy says it would require adults ages 18 to 55, that have no dependents and are not disabled, to work 20 hours a week, go to school or do community service to receive Medicaid.

Cut 7 (11)  “private sector”

Kennedy says he filed The Medicaid Reform and Personal Responsibility Act of 2017 as not an attempt to take Medicaid away from people in need but so fewer people need Medicaid.

Cut 8 (10) “from government”

Kennedy says requiring 20 hours of schooling or work provides an incentive for able bodied Americans to know the dignity of work. He says a person without a job is neither happy nor free.

Cut 9 (08)  “need Medicaid”

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Governor John Bel Edwards says he’s disappointed at how far behind the legislature is in this fiscal session and it could mean another special session in the near future. Edwards says a tremendous amount of work needs to be done before this session ends on June 8. He says this is the best opportunity lawmakers have to resolve the state’s looming budget problems.

Cut 10 (10) “just gone”

In 2018, over a billion dollars in temporary taxes will expire, leaving lawmakers with the task of finding other ways to fund state services. Edwards says nothing has moved out of the House that addresses the cliff. He says if legislators fail to act in this session, he’ll call them back to Baton Rouge.

Cut 11 (08) “next year”

Edwards is also not pleased with the budget put together by the House. He says it was done in a very irresponsible fashion and would cut about $720 million from healthcare. And the governor says House Republicans did not specify what areas of the health budget they’d like to see cut. He says that budget will never become law.

Cut 12 (09) “lacks courage”

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A Senate-approved bill seeks to refine the state’s film tax credit program. The proposal by New Orleans Senator JP Morell would place a $150 million front-end cap on the program. It would also sunset the program after 8 years. He gave his colleagues two simple reasons to support the measure.

Cut 13 (08) “sunset it”

Some lawmakers have been hesitant about the return on investment from the program, including Metairie Senator Conrad Appel. He says the state can’t afford to fund TOPS, and we shouldn’t give away millions of dollars to the film industry.

Cut 14 (07) “that dollar”

Morell seeks to ease some of those concerns by sun setting the program after 8 years, if no action is taken.

Cut 15 (08) “no longer exist”

The bill would also ensure that 10 percent of the available credits are reserved for local Louisiana filmmakers. The measure was approved on a 33 to 3 vote and heads to the House.

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LSU and Mississippi State battle for the SEC West championship starting tonight with a three-game series in Starkville. The Tigers lead the Bulldogs by one game in the standings. To add a little spice, former LSU assistant coach Andy Cannizaro is in his first season as the head coach of Mississippi State. Bayou Bengals right fielder Greg Deichmann…

Cut 16 (17) “this weekend”

The Tigers are playing their best baseball of the season as they’ve won nine of their last eleven. Deichmann is not surprised by how the team has responded down the stretch of the regular season….

Cut 17 (20)  “this weekend”

Mississippi State is led by Brent Rooker, who is hitting .406 with 20 home runs and 71 RBIs. Rooker is the SEC leader in all three of those categories, along with doubles. He has 26 of them. LSU pitcher Jared Poche is hopeful the Tiger pitchers can limit Rooker’s impact…

Cut 18 (18)    “get em out”

A proposed increase to the state’s minimum wage has won the approval of the Senate Labor Committee. Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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Opponents and supporters of the removal of the statue of Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard watched as crews took down the monument in New Orleans last night. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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The Senate Labor Committee approves a proposal to increase the minimum wage to $8.50 over the next two years. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, and this measure would create a state minimum wage at $8.00 by 2018 and increase to $8.50 by 2019. State Director of the National Federation for Independent Business, Dawn Starns opposes the measure because she says it will create uncertainty for small businesses.

Cut 3 (10) “in their budgeting”

But New Orleans Senator Troy Carter says raising the minimum wage would actually help businesses. He says the turnover rate for low wage employees is very high. He says giving workers a decent wage would boost morale and lower turnover rates.

Cut 4  (10) “better employees”

The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry also opposes the measure. Jim Patterson with LABI says minimum wage is a starting hourly rate and not intended to be a living wage. He adds that once employees making minimum wage start making more, other workers will want better compensation too.

Cut 5  (10)  “what have you”

But Carter says the world doesn’t come to an end when you treat people fairly. He says not only will better wages make for better work environments, it will also help the community.

Cut 6 (10) “about that”

The bill was passed on a 4 to 2 vote. It will go to the Senate floor, but first it could be sent to the Senate Finance Committee, where it was killed last year. 

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The statue of P.G.T. Beauregard was hauled away in New Orleans by a masked crew last night. Workers took down the monument of the Confederate General as opponents of the removal watched while waving Confederate battle flags and singing the National Anthem.

Cut 7 (09)  “yet wave”

It took crews seven hours to get the equestrian statue off its base. Supporters of the removal threw a party just feet away from the opponents. One onlooker explained why this statue and all Confederate Monuments need to be taken down.

Cut 8 (08) “that nature”

The next monument to go will be Robert E. Lee. One opponent present at the removal spoke out about why it’s important to keep these monuments up.

Cut 9 (10)  “terrible” 

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A proposal that aims to resolve Louisiana’s opioid epidemic is heading to the Senate floor. New Orleans Representative Helena Moreno’s bill would limit first time opioid prescriptions for acute conditions to a 7 day supply, in the hopes of keeping the pain pills away from addicts. She says 4 out of 5 heroin users say they started with painkillers.

Cut 10 (09) “our state”

Another component of the bill requires doctors to tell their patients about the risks associated with taking pain pills. It also allow pharmacists to fill less than the prescribed amount at the patient’s request. East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner Dr. beau Clark testified in support of the bill.

Cut 11 (07) “our epidemic”

The measure does allow for doctors to prescribe more pills if they feel the patient needs them. It also specifies that opioids can be given to those with chronic conditions. Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor made sure that patients who need them would have access to painkillers.

Cut 12 (11) “that balance”

The House approved bill was unanimously approved and heads to the Senate floor.

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The House Criminal Justice Committee rejects a proposal to that sought to end the death penalty in Louisiana. Speaking in favor of the bill was Bishop of the Diocese of Houma-Shelton Shelton Fabre, who says every human life is sacred. He says an execution cannot bring back a loved one or heal terrible wounds.

Cut 13 (11) “ever done”

Baton Rouge Senator Dan Claitor, who has a similar measure in the Senate, says the death penalty costs our state millions of dollars, which is important given our state’s massive budget deficit. He also adds the death penalty doesn’t make Louisiana any safer.

Cut 14 (10) “we do”

But the proposal failed on an eight to nine vote. Hugo Holland with the Louisiana District Attorneys Association defended the need for the death penalty…

Cut 15 (07) “death penalty”

Mother of slain St. John the Baptist Sheriff’s Deputy Jeremy Triche, Edie Triche, says the death penalty isn’t about revenge, but justice. She says the murder of law enforcement officers deserves the protections that come with first degree murder.

Cut 16  (09)  “his state”

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