The House Governmental Affairs Committee rejects legislation that would have prohibited state-funded facilities from denying access to individuals who are not vaccinated against COVID-19. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (32) “ …I’m Jeff Palermo” 

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House Education Chairman Ray Garofalo, whose comments about slavery earlier this month ignited a controversy, says the House Speaker threatened to have him removed from the Capitol this morning if he tried to chair today’s meeting. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (31) …I’m Matt Doyle”  

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The House Governmental Affairs Committee rejects a Senate-approved bill that would prohibit state facilities from denying entry to individuals who are not vaccinated against COVID-19. Harvey Representative Rodney Lyons says the legislature should not prevent a public building like the State Capitol from only allowing vaccinated persons inside

Cut 3 (07)  “…circumvent that.” 

Monroe Senator Stewart Cathey’s bill died on a seven to six vote. Cathey says he’s trying to protect individuals who have made the personal decision not to get the vaccine

Cut 4 (12) “..is wrong.” 

Cathey admitted to the committee he has not received the vaccine over concerns the shot will impact the ability for him and his girlfriend to have a child.

Cut 5  (11  “…vaccinated”

Health officials have said there is no evidence that any vaccine affects fertility.

Jennifer Herricks of Mandeville testified for the bill. She’s concerned about her children getting the virus and would like to send them to a school where everyone is vaccinated

Cut 6 (07) “..diseases”

While this bill was killed, a similar bill by Gonzales Representative Kathy Edmonston has already passed the House and awaits a Senate hearing.

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Governor Edwards says video of the Ronald Greene arrest shows State Police troopers acting unprofessionally and not conducting themselves as law enforcement officers should.

Edwards first saw the footage last October while viewing it with the Greene family. He called it disturbing then…

Cut 7 (11) “…they should.”

Greene died in police custody in 2019 after being severely beaten and tased by State Police troopers following a car chase in Union Parish. Immediately after Greene’s death the first report to come out of State Police claimed Greene died in the car crash following the chase.

Edwards says the footage is being reviewed by the Union Parish DA and the US Department of Justice for a reason.

Cut 8 (11) “…restrained.”

Edwards says Greene’s death has led to policy changes.

Cut 9 (11) “…again”

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The ongoing controversy involving House Education Chairman Ray Garofalo, whose comments about slavery ignited a firestorm, results in today’s meeting of his committee being called off.

Garofalo says this morning Speaker Clay Schexnayder told him he was still Chairman, but when he told Shexnayder he was going to chair today’s meeting, Schexnayder said no you’re not.

Cut 10 (12) “…to”

Garofalo’s comments earlier this month in committee calling for the teaching of “the good, the bad, the ugly” of slavery during a tense debate about education policy resulted in calls from the Legislative Black Caucus for Garofalo to be removed as chairman. Garofalo says his words have been taken “out of context” and he has nothing to apologize for.

Garofalo says the discussion with Shexnayder took a turn after he said he would sit as chair…

Cut 11 (11) “…duty”

When asked by a reporter if the “heated” meeting with Shexnayder got physical Garofalo declined to comment.

The committee meeting was called off after 45 minutes when only one member showed up, delaying discussion of legislation that would allow student-athletes to collect paid endorsements…

Cut 12 (12)    “…for that” 

The committee is scheduled to meet again next Wednesday, June 2nd, but the session is scheduled to end on June 10th.

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An E Pluribus Unum survey finds a majority of southerners support major police reform and believe not enough has changed since the murder of George Floyd. EPU Founder and former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu says the annual survey of 1,200 indicate common ground that Floyd was wrongly killed and broad support of police reform being negotiated in Congress and locally.

Cut 13 (07)“…supervision.”

The survey tracks attitudes on systemic racism in policing and police reforms in the South. It included 400 Black, 400 Latino, and 400 white respondents. Landrieu says the survey also highlighted major support of police officers stepping in when other officers use excessive force.

Cut 14 (09) “…onsite” 

Landrieu says responses from the annual survey surprised him this year because of common ground belief in police reform when before it was split along racial lines. He says the murder of George Floyd magnified the issue.

Cut 15 (10) “…might say.” 

The survey also found broad support for police officers and departments to carry liability insurance so taxpayers do not have to pay for settlements when officers are found guilty of misconduct.

It appears pay raises for the next fiscal year will be $800 for teachers and $400 for support staff. Union leaders say lawmakers claim they want to invest in education, but their actions show otherwise. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 1 (32) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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A bill that would extend the state’s 180-million dollar film tax credit program for another three years to 2028 is headed to the House floor for final legislative passage. Jeff Palermo has the details…

Cut 2 (29) …I’m Jeff Palermo.”  

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The budgeted amount for K-12 teacher pay raises in Louisiana appears to be on track for $800 and not $1000 as previously discussed by lawmakers. Louisiana Federation of Teachers Legislative Director Cynthia Posey says the amount is disappointing and the goal to bring teacher pay to the southern regional average continues to be put on the backburner.

Cut 3 (08)  “…to stay.” 

On Monday the Senate Finance committee released their markup of the state budget that begins on July first.

Posey says there was an understanding to continue to increase teacher pay in an effort to retain and attract qualified educators in the state, but the momentum was sidetracked.

Cut 4 (08) “…again.” 

Posey says teachers were in the classroom on day one of the 20-21 school year and lawmakers praised them for it because allowed it parents to reenter the workforce and also meet the nutritional needs of those students who received free or reduced-priced meals at school.

Cut 5  (08)  “…list”

The House approved budget includes $800 pay raises for teachers and $400 raises for support staff. Louisiana schoolteachers are paid on average $51-thousand annually which is $4-thousand below the southern average.

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Legislation that extends the state’s 180-million dollar film tax credit program for another three years through 2028 is moving closer to final passage. Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt explained to the House Ways and Means Committee on why it’s important to pass the tax credit beyond 2025…

Cut 6 (12) “…of that”

Hewitt says the film industry supports about 10-thousand jobs in the state and last year invested more than 432-million dollars in productions in Louisiana. She expects those numbers to grow…

Cut 7 (12) “…the conversation.”

The House Ways and Means Committee approved Hewitt’s bill, which has already passed the Senate. It heads to the full House for final legislative passage. Eunice Representative Phillip Devillier is not a fan of spending 180-million dollars on the film tax industry

Cut 8 (12) “…concerns me.”

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The state House passes a bill that would require Louisiana public high schools to spend more time teaching students about the Holocaust and World War Two. Denham Springs Representative Valarie Hodges says students and young adults know very little about the murder of six million Jews by the Nazi regime

Cut 9 (12) “…died”

Hodges says currently public schools are only required to spend one-semester teaching students about the Holocaust and World War Two, but she believes it’s a topic that should be discussed throughout a child’s high school career…

Cut 10 (11) “…I believe”

The bill passed on a 66-32 vote. Several Black lawmakers voted against the bill after Baton Rouge Representative Ted James tried to amend the bill to also include the required instruction of significant figures in Black history.

Cut 11 (10) “…as well”

James’s amendment failed on a 45-51 vote.

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Senate Judiciary C advances house-backed legislation that would decriminalize possession of up to 14 grams of marijuana.

Shreveport Representative Cedric Glover says under his bill those found with just under half an ounce would only face a 100 dollar fine.

Cut 12 (10)    “…felon” 

While an effort to fully legalize recreational marijuana failed in the House 47-49 Glover’s bill to decriminalize passed easily 68-25.

Louisiana Progress Action Policy Director Peter Robins-Brown spoke in support of the bill. He says polls show nearly 70 percent of Louisianans support decriminalization.

Cut 13 (12)“…law”

The Louisiana Baptist Convention opposes the bill. Office of Public Policy Director Dr. Will Hall says these days 14 grams of marijuana can be a dangerous amount.

Cut 14 (09) “..THC” 

The bill heads to the Senate floor for final passage.