Several bills related to casino gaming in Louisiana will be considered during the regular session. Kelley Ray has a look.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kelley Ray.”

In Baton Rouge today the House Appropriations Committee will begin the long process of attempting to hammer out a budget before the end of the regular session. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne doubts the legislature can pass a spending plan facing a billion dollar revenue shortfall.

Cut 7 (09)  “to dramatic.”

West Monroe Senator Mike Walsworth has filed legislation that would allow school students to use bullet proof backpacks on campus and school buses. Concerned parents have come to him with their fears about their children while they are attending classes. Walsworth says he’s not sure why it’s currently illegal to have a bulletproof backpack, but he has a theory…

Cut 15 (05) “something bad..”

The minimum wage proposal faces opposition from the National Federation of Independent Businesses, who says the market should set wages, not government.

The governor sited a report showing Louisiana with one of the worst gender pay gaps in the nation, and came out in support of legislation that would make it illegal to pay women less than men for the same job.

Several bills related to casino gaming in Louisiana will be considered during the regular session. Kelley Ray has a look.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kelley Ray.”

There are several bills filed for this legislative session that will seek to make major changes to the state’s gaming industry. Executive Director of the Louisiana Casino Association Wade Duty says the state legalized riverboat gambling in 1991 and now those casinos are looking to become more attractive to players if they can have gambling space on land… Cut 4  (10) “games themselves.” 

Governor John Bel Edwards laid out his economic agenda in front of the legislature, calling for a higher minimum wage, fewer small business regulations, and equal pay legislation for women. 18 states raised their minimum wage this year, and Louisiana remain one of only five states without its own minimum wage. Edwards says the current minimum wage just isn’t right to workers.

Cut 11 (11) “two years”

West Monroe Senator Mike Walsworth has filed legislation that would allow school students to use bullet proof backpacks on campus and school buses. Concerned parents have come to him with their fears about their children while they are attending classes. Walsworth says parents want alternatives to further protect them…

Cut 14 (10) “in Louisiana.”

Governor John Bel Edwards kicked off the regular session today by laying out his legislative agenda. The governor is urging legislators to cut back on unnecessary regulations hampering the state’s economy. He says Louisiana has some of the most burdensome occupational licensing restrictions in the nation.
Cut 13 (06) “to require.”
The governor also pushed for the passage of a higher minimum wage bill and equal pay for men and women.

One of the many issues lawmakers will consider is changes to the riverboat gaming industry and allowing them to have gambling on shore. LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says other gambling operators are seeking changes to current laws…
Cut 7 (09) “to speak.”
Bills to legalize sports betting and fantasy sports with a third party vender have also been filed for this session.

NFL teams can contact Drew Brees’ agent and begin the negotiating process about joining their team. Brees is free to sign with another team on Wednesday. But NFL analyst Mike Detillier still believes Brees will stay with the Black and Gold…
cut 9 (09) “with it.”
The NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero says the Vikings have made a call to Brees’ agent.

Also, today Baton Rouge porn star Stormy Daniels is offering to pay back the 130-thousand dollars she received for allegedly agreeing not to disclose a sexual relationship she had with President Trump. Daniels says she wants to openly talk about the relationship.

The F-B-I said today they have arrested 62 people for making threats against schools since the deadly school shooting in south Florida on February 14th. Those arrested range in age of 11 to 28 years old and most those arrested were charged with terrorizing.

Over 11-hundred bills have been filed for the regular session. Kelley Ray spoke with LAPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford on what lawmakers will take about over the next couple of months…
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Kelley Ray.”

Tomorrow, the House Appropriations Committee will hold its first budget hearing. Chairman Cameron Henry says they will work to pass a budget for next fiscal year in this regular session, even though the administration claims the cuts will be to deep.

During this session legislators will not be able to vote on revenue raising bills, which means there’s a great uncertainty over whether TOPS will be fully funded next school year. Governor Edwards told legislators he knows of a student who is considering Alabama instead of LSU, because of uncertainity with TOPS funding..
Cut 12 (09) “on both.” (audience clapping)
If lawmakers fail to find a solution to the billion dollar budget gap, TOPS could receive an 80 percent cut in funding.

There are several bills filed for this legislative session that will seek to make major changes to the state’s gaming industry. Executive Director of the Louisiana Casino Association Wade Duty says the state legalized riverboat gambling in 1991 and now those casinos are looking to have gambling space on land…
Cut 4 (10) “games themselves.”
Duty says these changes are designed to help casino operators and benefit the state with more tax revenue.

Governor Edwards hit on several topics during his address to the state legislature which convened today for the 2018 regular session. Edwards pushed for a higher minimum wage, anti-sexual harassment training for all public employees and hazing prevention education on college campuses. He did not get specific about proposed legislation dealing with guns…
cut 14 (11) “…this session”
There are numerous gun bills filed during this session.

NFL teams can contact Drew Brees’ agent and begin the negotiating process about joining their team. Brees is free to sign with another team on Wednesday. But NFL analyst Mike Detillier still believes Brees will stay with the Black and Gold…
cut 9 (09) “with it.”

Governor John Bel Edwards supports a bill that rolls back the standard public school teachers need to achieve for tenure. Jeff Palermo has more.
Voicer 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The regular session is set to end on June 4th. But La-Politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says the goal is to end the regular session in May, so they can have another special session to discuss solutions to the fiscal cliff…
cut 8 (07) “…regular session”

Lawmakers are back in Baton Rouge for the start of the regular session. Kelley Ray spoke with LAPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford on what we can expect…
Voicer 2 (30) “I’m Kelley Ray.”

Tax bills are not allowed to be discussed during this regular session, which is why a special session is likely at the conclusion of the regular session to fix the fiscal cliff. Governor Edwards told legislators he knows of a student who is considering Alabama instead of LSU, because of uncertainity with TOPS funding.

LSU President F King Alexander was a guest this morning on Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster. Alexander was asked about the role the greek system plays on campus in wake of the suspected hazing death of Maxwell Gruver. Alexander says the culture of tradition runs deep in the Greek system and he says there is no reason for them to be hazing…
cut 5 (06) “…to have’
LSU is implementing a zero tolerance policy towards hazing and anyone caught doing so will be kicked off campus.

NFL teams are now allowed to talk with Saints Quarterback Drew Brees representatives as he’s set to become an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday. Saints analyst Mike Detillier says if history holds true, the Saints will pay up, because Hall of Fame quarterbacks don’t come around very often…
cut 11 (11) “…he wants”

Lawmakers return to the capitol today to begin the regular session, just days after the special session failed to find a resolution for a one-billion-dollar budget shortfall. LAPolitics-dot-com Publisher Jeremy Alford says the backbiting and harsh words slung around between legislators will have an impact. Alford says they need to work together to consider over 1,000 bills for this session…
cut 6 (07) “…Medicaid services”
Teacher tenure will also be discussed in the regular session. Currently, teachers must be rated “highly efficient” for five of six years to qualify. The bill would lower the requirement to “effective: proficient”. West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman says only 20 percent of teachers in a given year qualify for “highly efficient” status. He says his bill makes the requirements for tenure more reasonable.
Cut 11 (09) “you did.”

LSU president F. King Alexander is standing behind his decision to institute a zero tolerance policy on hazing in the Greek system. In the wake of the death of Maxwell Gruver the school commissioned a group to come up with a plan. Alexander says the restrictions on alcohol are to protect students he says the Greek system is a valuable asset for the university
Cut 3 (11) “graduation rate.”

New Orleans police say they arrested a 20-year-old man who allegedly threatened to shoot several people at UNO. The threat forced the university to cancel classes up until 5 PM today. The suspect has been identified as Nicholas Heard and he lives on campus. He allegedly made threats against UNO to two other students.