House and Senate committees are meeting today to discuss legislation that if adopted would trigger a constitutional convention. Much of the interest is due to the state’s current budgetary law that restricts cuts to only higher ed and health care when faced with a budget deficit. Senator Troy Carter says a constitutional convention would likely take at least a year to complete, which wouldn’t do anything to solve the impending fiscal cliff, but the New Orleans Democrat says it could lead to a more reasonable budgetary process in the future.

Cut 6 (07) “the brunt.”

Representatives Neil Abrahamson, Frank Foil, and Barry Ivey, as well as Senator Page Cortez have also introduced legislation to trigger a convention.
The Ragin Cajuns basketball team seems ready for tonight’s 6 PM N-I-T match-up between UL-Lafayette and LSU. Cajuns coach Bob Marlin says it’s great to play in Baton Rouge, but he believes they should have been seeded higher than LSU and the home team…
This will be the 47th meeting on the hardwood between the two south Louisiana schools, but it’s the first time they’ve played each other since 2009. Marlin says it’s sad that it took a NIT committee to finally pit UL-Lafayette against the Tigers…

Cut 9 (12) “be honest.”
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If the legislature decides to cut its way through the billion dollar budget gap, private health care providers warn the consequences would be dire. If the Department of Health sustains the kinds of cuts being discussed, public-private facilities would be on the chopping block. Our Lady of the Lake President Scott Wester says those cuts would mean the end of their partnership with the state, LSU, and LDH.
Our Lady of the Lake has a robust residency program that allows hundreds of aspiring doctors get the experience necessary to complete their education. Wester says if the cuts go through, hundreds of LSU students would lose that opportunity.

Cut 12 (12) “it self”

Wester says the cuts would also damage rural hospitals and nursing homes.
Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard says 43-year-old Ricardo Diaz shot and killed 31-year-old Lydia Johnson in Walker, then led police on a chase to the Mississippi River Bridge and jumped. Both left behind seven children. Ard says sadly this case ended in tragedy even with a protective order in place, but it normally gives police an extra layer of defense…

Cut 13 (08) “arrest someone.”