An effort to legalize the recreational use of marijuana is dead for this session after the bill that would have taxed the sale of marijuana fails to get the 70 votes needed to pass in the Louisiana House. Thibodaux Representative and former police officer Brian Fontenot led the charge against the bill. Fontenot says we do not know enough about the impacts of legalizing recreational use of pot in Louisiana…
cut 14 (09) “….the answer” (2x)
The bill’s author, Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson, countered…
cut 15 (11) “…use it”
The Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association is staunch opponents of legalizing marijuana saying it would lead to more traffic accidents and crime.

Chalmette Representative Ray Garofalo tells the Louisiana Radio Network why he’s no longer the chairman of the House Education Committee. Garofalo on his conversation with House Speaker Clay Schexnayder…
cut 11 (09) “….as chairman”
The Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus demanded Garofalo’s removal as chair after he said students should hear the good, the bad, and ugly of slavery. Black lawmakers say there is no good when it comes to slavery, Garofalo says his comments were taken out of context.

Senator Bill Cassidy spoke on the U-S Senate floor about Lake Charles recovering from another natural disaster…
cut 5 (10) “…natural disaster”
The city is still pushing Congress to pass a disaster relief bill to assist victims of last year’s hurricanes.