A political analyst says embattled Secretary of State Tom Schedler might not be able to stay in office much longer as the sexual harassment allegations against him will not go away.
Schedler has previously said he will not resign, but this will be his last term. The Republican statewide elected official says it’s important for him to continue running the agency that handles elections, because they are in the process of buying new voting equipment. But Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Schedler’s time might be up…
A Senate-approved bill that would double, and in some cases, increased tenfold the fines associated with soliciting prostitutes passed a House committee nine to six. The bill would not change the current penalty of up to six months in jail for soliciting. Denham Springs Representative Valerie Hodges, supported the legislation, arguing that heavier punishments are the only thing the stop people from trying to buy sex.
The bill moves to the House for final passage.
There’s only two months left in the fiscal year, and doubts are growing as to whether a spending plan for next budget year can be approved in the current regular session. A 648-million dollar budget gap is forcing lawmakers to consider deep cuts in state spending. The House passed budget includes massive cuts to healthcare, which administrators warn would lead to the end of public-private partnership hospitals. LaPolitics.com Publisher Jeremy Alford says voters won’t accept those kinds of cuts, so revenues will have to be raised to replace the one penny sales tax that is set to expire in July.
Later Today New Orleans Senator J.P. Morrell’s unanimous jury bill goes before the House Committee on Civil Law. The bill which has cleared the Senate would require unanimous decision from a 12 person jury to convict a person of a major felony or to find them innocent. This is Morrell’s third attempt on passing this bill.