A recent Southern Media and Opinion Research poll shows that voters approve of a series of revenue generating bills the House passed to cover state’s $1.6 billion budget deficit. Scott Carwile reports…

cut 1 (30) “reporting”

State Police say an unrestrained teen was killed and another teen injured in a single vehicle accident in Vernon Parish. They say 15-year-old Acadia Sanders of Leesville lost control of her pickup truck, exited the roadway, and struck a large tree. Sanders was pronounced dead at the scene. Her passenger, 18-year-old Jon Stuckey of Leesville, was restrained and received moderate injuries. He was transported to a local hospital. The investigation is ongoing.

Retired Army Lieutenant General Russel Honore, who gained fame with his no-nonsense approach to relief efforts in post-Katrina New Orleans, says he’s considering a run for Governor. On the Jim Engster Show, Honore says the only reason he wouldn’t run is if another one of the candidates ended up mounting a serious challenge to US Senator David Vitter…

cut 13 (06) “quite understand that”

Honore says if he does decide to run, he would do so under “No Party” and make an announcement before July 4th.

The state House approves Stonewall Rep. Richard Burford’s bill that would let some motorists get an inspection sticker every five years. Opponents of the measure say inspectors would lose revenue if this passes. But Lafayette Representative Nancy Landry says the five year sticker would be $50 so inspectors aren’t going to lose any money, they are just going to get it at different time intervals…

cut 12 (06) “the next year”

The vote was 58-33 and the measure now heads to the Senate for further consideration.

A bill that would ban someone from getting an abortion based on sex selection is scheduled for debate on the House Floor today. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 2 (30) “reporting”

In a unanimous vote, the state House passed New Orleans Representative Helena Moreno’s bill that would ban hospitals from billing rape victims for their medical exams. The measure would permit health care providers to submit a claim to the victim’s insurance company for payment, but the victim would not be required to pay any share of the costs. The legislation now goes to the Senate for consideration.

A recent Southern Media and Opinion Research poll shows that 67-percent of respondents want to see the state raise revenue from several different sources to deal with the budget crisis. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says says this survey shows the House is on the right track in dealing with the budget…

cut 5 (11) “Louisiana voters”

The legislature is currently dealing with a $1.6 billion budget shortfall.

The state house advances a bill that would let some motorists get an inspection sticker every five years. Stonewall Rep. Richard Burford says his bill would only apply to vehicles 7 years old or less. Shreveport Representative Barbara Norton opposed the measure saying there are many businesses who rely on the revenue the inspection stickers generate…

cut 11 (08) “they may suffer”

Currently the brake tags are $10 a year and the five year sticker would be $50.

A Southern Media and Opinion Research poll finds that voters approve of what the state House has done when it comes to dealing with Louisiana’s one-point-six billion dollar budget deficit. The House has approved a package of bills that raises revenue from several different sources, and Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says 67-percent of the respondents agree with that approach…
cut 4 (06) “….to this poll”
The poll also indicates that only 17-percent of voters would be okay with the budget balanced through deep cuts in funding.

Retired Army Lieutentant General Russel Honore says he’s still considering a run for governor this year. Honore, who gained a lot of fans for his no nonsense approach following Hurricane Katrina, says even though it’s late in the game, raising money for a campaign would be no problem…
cut 15 (07) “….if we needed to”
Honore says if decides to run, he would do so under “No Party” and announce befor the fourth of July.

The state House approves a bill that would allow some motorists to receive a brake tag every five years, instead of current law, which is ever year or every two years. The measure passed on a 58-33 vote, Lafayette Representative Nancy Landy voted in favor…
cut 10 (06) “….car inspected”
The measure, which heads to the senate, would only apply to vehicles seven years old or less, and a five-year sticker would also not be allowed in the Baton Rouge and New Orleans areas, because of air pollution problems.

On the House floor today, lawmakers are scheduled to vote on whether sex selection abortions should be banned in Louisiana. Supporters say it’s a big social problem in Asian countries and that don’t want to see that practice brought to this state. But Pro-choice activist Shivana Jorawar says it’s not happening in any widespread fashion in the United States…
cut 9 (08) “….abortion restriction”
The bill passed out of a House committee unanimously.

A bill that would ban someone from getting an abortion based on sex selection is scheduled for debate on the House floor today. Louisiana Right to Life says the use of abortion as a means of sex selection is a major social problem in a number of Asian countries where male children are widely preferred over females. Shivana Jorawar is a pro-choice and gender equality activist and she calls this measure a rouse to confuse people into passing something that is bad for women.;…

cut 8 (12) “…..next”

The House convenes at 9 AM

The full House has approved legislation that will reduce the maximum penalty for those who are convicted multiple times for simple marijuana possession. Under the bill, a person convicted three times for having a small amount of pot, faces a maximum sentence of eight years, instead of 20 which is current law. The senate will debate the measure next.

Retired Army Lieutenent General Russel Honore, who became nationally known for his efforts following Hurricane Katrina, says he’s seriously considering a run for governor. Honore doesn’t think the current front-runner in the race, Republican Senator David Vitter, is the right man to lead Louisiana. He says the state is in bad shape and needs the right person…

cut 14 (10) “….we’re broke”

Honore made the comments on the Jim Engster Show.

Have you gotten your state income taxes done yet. Tomorrow is the deadline for filing 2014 Louisiana individual income tax returns. The state department of revenue recommends that you electronicly file.

Supporters and opponents of Common Core have come together on legislation that puts a process in place that could lead to new public school education standards. Lake Charles Representative Brett Geymann, an outspoken critic of Common Core, says the compromise legislation, which was approved by the House Education committee Wednesday, allows for more public input in developing academic standards…:
cut 10 (08) “embrace”
The plan calls for BESE to approve new education standards in March 2016, but the next governor could reject them. Some members of the public expressed issues with the plan…:
cut 12 (08) “initiative”
The Governor’s office says they don’t like the veto mechanism and also have concerns that BESE would set up a standard’s commission filled with Common Core Supporters.

In a narrow vote, the state Senate advances an equal pay bill to the House. According to recent Census data, Louisiana has the largest gender pay gap in the nation. The bill also lays out a course of legal action if a worker is not paid the some as another doing the same job. Opponents say this would set businesses up for hoards of litigation but New Orleans Senator Karen Carter Peterson says this bill is about shrinking the gender pay gap, not promoting lawsuits…:
CUT 4 (07) “all it does”
The bill passed the Senate on a 21-16 vote.

The state house approves a bill that would let some motorists get an inspection sticker every five years. Currently the brake tags are $10 a year and drivers can get either a one or two year sticker. Stonewall Rep. Richard Burford says his bill would only apply to vehicles 7 years old or less. Lafayette Representative Nancy Landry voted in favor…:
CUT 1 (06) “car inspected”
Opponents say this would hurt brake tag business. The vote was 58-33 and the measure now heads to the Senate.

The House Education Committee approves legislation that could put an end to the controversy over the Common Core education standards. Jeff Palermo has more…:
CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

The Grant Parish Sheriff’s office has arrested a man accused of leaving his truck in the middle of the road then breaking into someone’s home and dancing naked under a water hose at another house. They say 27-year-old Tristan Yenzer of Alexandria was booked with unauthorized entry, aggravated obstruction of a roadway, theft of utilities and 2 counts of criminal trespassing.

The Senate advances an equal pay bill to the House. New Orleans Senator Ed Murray’s legislation would ensure that all employees receive the same pay for the same work. It also lays out a course of legal action if a worker is underpaid. Mandeville Senator Jack Donahue says this bill puts another nail in the coffin of business…:
CUT 3 (07) “pay fair wages”
But supporters say this is about shrinking the gender pay gap, not lawsuits. The favorable vote was 21-16.

A Louisiana based oil company is set to drill near the site of the BP well blowout that killed 11 workers and caused the nation’s largest offshore oil spill. LLOG (log) Exploration Offshore has been approved to drill into the Macondo reservoir. Associate Director of the Tulane Energy Institute, Professor Eric Smith says this shouldn’t mean people should worry about another blowout…:
CUT 8 (10) “company like LLOG”

A process that could lead to new public school education standards has been approved by both supporters and opponents of Common Core. Lake Charles Representative Brett Geymann, an opponent of Common Core, says under the proposed compromise, BESE will begin a comprehensive review of English and Math standards this summer and the process will also involve public meetings across the state…:
CUT 11 (10) “ended up”
A spokesman for Governor Bobby Jindal, who opposes Common Core, says they support this process moving forward but do not endorse the bill.

The latest Southern Media and Opinion Research poll finds that more Louisiana voters disapprove of Jindal’s job performance than they do the president’s…:
CUT 14 (05) “square that”
Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says in the poll 42% rate the president’s job performance as positive while Jindal is at 32%.

In a 21-16 vote, the state Senate advances New Orleans Senator Ed Murray’s equal pay bill to the House. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

The Attorney General’s office says two former St. John the Baptist Parish Water Works employees were convicted Tuesday for covering up their failure to properly collect water samples from testing sites. The Department of Health and Hospitals later found a brain eating amoeba at those sites. 55-year-old Kevin Branch of LaPlace and 43-year-old Danielle Roussel of Paulina, both pleaded guilty to false swearing.