A measure that guarantees equal pay in the workforce has passed out of the Senate Labor Committee. Jeff Palermo has more…
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Republicans in the US House have passed their plan to replace the Affordable Care Act and sent it to the Senate for approval. Halen Doughty has more…
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”
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The full House passed a budget plan on a 63 to 40 vote that would fund the Department of Health 237 million dollars less that the governor proposed. Emelie Gunn has more…
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If you love crawfish, then Breaux Bridge is the place to be this weekend for Crawfish Festival that begins today. Publicity Director Angelique Bernard says this festival is huge for the St. Martin Parish town of about 8,000, as the three-day event draws 30,000 people a year. She says there’s plenty of festivities for attendees to enjoy.
Bernard says they have 30 bands playing on three stages. On Sunday there’s even have a parade and etouffee cook-off. She says they have 16 different food vendors selling crawfish anyway you can imagine.
With the festival going through roughly 20,000 pounds of mudbugs, it’s no surprise Breaux Bridge is known as the Crawfish Capitol of the World. Bernard says over 1,000 volunteers help put on the festival, and there’s something for attendees of all ages.
Attendance fees are $5 on Friday and Sunday and $10 on Saturday. There’s also a weekend pass available for $15 on Friday.
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A bill to require businesses in Louisiana to guarantee equal pay has passed out of the Senate Labor Committee and could receive a vote on the Senate floor next week. New Orleans Senator JP Morrell says there’s safeguards in place that can prevent businesses from being sued…
But Louisiana Association of Business and Industry small business director Renee Amar spoke out against the legislation.
Morrell authored an equal pay bill last year, but it failed to get past the House Labor committee. Amar says they also have a problem that the legislation fails to allow for salary differences given market changes.
Cut 9 (05) “defend themselves”
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The US House has passed its plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and the measure now heads to the US Senate. Congressman Ralph Abraham of Richland Parish says what this means for the American people is lower premiums, better health insurance, and more options for patients. He says this is a good day for patients across the nation.
Abraham says the American Healthcare Act would freeze enrollment for Medicaid expansion, but they aren’t throwing anyone out of the expanded program, yet. He is confident that once better healthcare plans are available, workers will be able to get affordable insurance through their employer.
Political blogger Lamar White has cerebral palsy and has been a long-time advocate for disability rights. He opposes the replacement plan, which he says is woefully underfunded, especially to cover people with pre-existing conditions.
White thinks most people on Medicaid expansion would love to be able to afford health insurance, but unfortunately that’s not the reality of the economy. He says for many people with disabilities, purchasing private insurance just isn’t an option.
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The full House passed a budget plan on a 63 to 40 vote that the governor and Democrats do not like because it funds the Department of Health at 237 million dollars less than John Bel Edwards proposed. Franklin Representative Sam Jones questioned Chairman Cameron Henry for not knowing where the cuts to LDH would be.
Henry argued that his job is to appropriate the money and the department head determines what areas should be cut.
Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle spoke out in concern for how cutting funds to LDH would affect the health and well-being of the people of Louisiana.
The budget passed with TOPS still fully funded. Henry defended before the House why making these cuts is necessary even though difficult.
Governor John Bel Edwards released a statement saying this budget guts health care, children’s services, and veteran services to levels that endanger the health and welfare of the people of Louisiana.
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There are seven baseball teams within one game of first place for the overall lead in the Southeastern Conference. LSU is one of those teams, with a 13-7 league mark. Coach Paul Mainieri believes his squad is heading in the right direction…
The Tigers are coming off a sweep of Alabama and they begin an eight-game homestand tonight against South Carolina, who is 10-11 in league play. But Mainieri says the Gamecocks are more than capable…
Aaron Fitt with D-1 baseball-dot-com believes LSU and Florida are the two SEC teams best equipped to make a strong run once postseason play arrives. Fitt likes the Tigers starting pitching…