The 2015 Legislative Session is officially underway…:
CUT 30 (06) “vote your machines”
There are over 1000 bills that have been pre-filed for what is being called what will likely be one of the most challenging sessions in years. Legislators have to figure out what they will do to fix the state’s $1.6 billion dollar budget deficit.

Education is always a big topic during the session and Ville Platte Representative Bernard LeBas has filed a bill that would let retired teachers work up to 50% of their retirement checks instead of 25%. He says this would address a major substitute shortage and the whole idea is to offer students the best possible education…:
CUT 10 (08) “in the classrooms”
The bill will be heard first in the House Education Committee.

Louisiana is facing the prospect of a lot of rain this week. State Climatologist Barry Keim says rain chances across the state are 80-percent or higher for every day of the work week…:
CUT 6 (12) “of rain”
Keim says the national weather service has issued a flash flood watch is in effect until Tuesday night for portions of southeast Louisiana, including Baton Rouge, Houma and Hammond.

Monroe Representative Marcus Hunter has filed legislation that would raise the base pay for severs from $2.13 per hour to at least minimum wage. The two month long session is underway.

As the legislative session begins, education is always a big topic, and one lawmaker wants to make sure there are enough quality substitute teachers. Ville Platte Representative Bernard LeBas this bill would enable retired teachers to spend more time in the classrooms without their pension being affected. He says under present law, retired teachers are only allowed to work up to 25% of their retirement checks…:
CUT 9 (09) “their retirement”
He says HB 43 would raise the salary cap to 50 percent of benefits.

A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect for southeast Louisiana until Tuesday evening. The National Weather Service says several rounds of showers and thunderstorms are expected to fall over the next couple of days in those areas were the ground is already wet from recent heavy rainfall. They say amounts of 3 to five inches will be possibly.

A State Trooper and a Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s deputy have been arrested on racketeering charges in a case where they allegedly planted drugs on an individual. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

The ESPN produced film “Shaq and Dale” debuts tonight on the SEC Network at eight PM. Country music superstar and Louisiana native Tim McGraw does the narration as the show dives in to the special relationship between Shaquille O’ Neal and Dale Brown.

How involved will Governor Bobby Jindal be in this legislative session as lawmakers grapple with a $1.6 billion budget deficit? Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (27) “reporting”

One of the bills set to be discussed during the 2015 legislative session would raise the base pay for severs from $2.13 per hour to at least minimum wage. Monroe Representative Marcus Hunter says whether you get good tips or not, $2.13 an hour is deplorable pay for any worker…:
CUT 10 (08) “$7.25 an hour”

A State Trooper and a Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s deputy have been arrested on racketeering charges in a case where they allegedly planted drugs on an individual who was unlawfully arrested last year. State Trooper Corey Jackson and Lafayette Deputy Jason Kinch were arrested in the alleged scheme. Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Art LeBreton (le-breh-ton) says more people were involved…:
CUT 3 (10) “Metro Narcotics”
He says the apparent scheme resulted in over $100,000 in cash payments to people including the accused. The charges against Bryan Knight were eventually dismissed in court.

Strong storms are covering nearly the entire state today and the National Weather Service has issued Flash Flood watches for most of southeast Louisiana until tomorrow evening. Meteorologists say this hazardous weather could include possibly severe storms and damaging wind gusts. Rain remains in the forecast for the entire week.

How involved will Governor Bobby Jindal be in this legislative session as lawmakers grapple with a $1.6 billion budget deficit? Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (27) “reporting”

One of the bills set to be discussed during the 2015 legislative session would raise the base pay for severs from $2.13 per hour to at least minimum wage. Monroe Representative Marcus Hunter says whether you get good tips or not, $2.13 an hour is deplorable pay for any worker…:
CUT 10 (08) “$7.25 an hour”

A State Trooper and a Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s deputy have been arrested on racketeering charges in a case where they allegedly planted drugs on an individual who was unlawfully arrested last year. State Trooper Corey Jackson and Lafayette Deputy Jason Kinch were arrested in the alleged scheme. Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Art LeBreton (le-breh-ton) says more people were involved…:
CUT 3 (10) “Metro Narcotics”
He says the apparent scheme resulted in over $100,000 in cash payments to people including the accused. The charges against Bryan Knight were eventually dismissed in court.

Strong storms are covering nearly the entire state today and the National Weather Service has issued Flash Flood watches for most of south Louisiana until tomorrow evening. Meteorologists say this hazardous weather could include possibly severe storms and damaging wind gusts. Rain remains in the forecast for the entire week.

The state’s $1.6 billion budget shortfall will be the centerpiece for this year’s legislative session which gets underway today. Senate President John Alario says legislators are looking at ways to generate more state revenue. He says it will take several weeks before lawmakers can agree on a plan…

cut 15 (10) “those solutions”

There are several bills that seek to increase the tax on tobacco products, but for the governor to approve them, there has to be a tax cut somewhere else to offset new revenue.

Some wonder how involved Governor Bobby Jindal will be as lawmakers grapple with the budget deficit. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat doesn’t think the legislative session will stop Jindal from traveling outside the state pursuing his presidential hopes. However, Pinsonat says you can’t run for president when the state you’re supposed to be running is a disaster…

cut 6 (09) “national ambitions”

One of the bills set to be discussed during the 2015 legislative session would raise the base pay for severs from $2.13 per hour to at least minimum wage. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 2 (30) “reporting”

Showers and thunderstorms continue across Louisiana today which has raised concerns of flooding. The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch for a large portion of southwest Louisiana through this evening. In southeast Louisiana, a Flash Flood Watch is in effect through tomorrow evening. Flood Warnings are also in effect for several areas in the state.

State lawmakers convene in Baton Rouge today with a one-point-six billion dollar budget shortfall hanging over their heads. Scott Carwile has the story…

cut 3 (30) “reporting”

Shreveport Police say a suspect wanted in a weekend shooting that sent one man to the hospital has been arrested. Authorities report 21-year-old Gregory O’Neal is charged with principal to attempted first degree murder. They say 20-year-old Darrell Bell was driving when he was shot at by the driver of another car. Bell suffered a gunshot wound to his side and was able to drive himself to a local hospital. Police are still working to find more suspects.

One bill set to be discussed during the 2015 legislative session would raise the base pay for severs from $2.13 per hour to at least minimum wage. Monroe Representative Marcus Hunter says he doesn’t want to continue to see hard working people who are committed to serving their businesses go home with less than minimum wage. He says that’s what HB 677 aims to correct…

cut 12 (06) “are paid fairly”

Hunter says whether you get good tips or not, $2.13 an hour is deplorable pay for any worker.

The enormous budget deficit is expected to be the biggest issue lawmakers deal with this session, there are still many other issues, such as Common Core, on the agenda as well. LaPolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says with re-election just around the corner, it will be interesting to see if lawmakers even want to get involved in some of the hot button bills…

cut 9 (07) “get a hearing at all”

He says some of those hot button issues include same-sex marriage and marijuana legalization.

The legislative session begins today in Baton Rouge. It’s expected to be a difficult one as lawmakers will tackle a spending plan that takes into account a one-point-six billion dollar shortfall. Senate President John Alario says reforming the state’s film tax credit program is one of the priorities, as a recent study paid for by the Department of Economic Development found that the state is only getting 23-cents back for every dollar spent on tax credits…

cut 14 (09) “on the expenditure”

He says legislators are looking at ways to generate more state revenue

Governor Bobby Jindal will provide the opening address for the session. Many wonder how involved the governor will be as lawmakers grapple with the massive budget deficit. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says it’s not about the amount of time the governor spends at the capital…

cut 5 (09) “his national image”

Pinsonat says very few governors are around the capital very much during the session.

The huge budget deficit will by far be the biggest issue this legislative session, but there are still many other issues on the agenda as well. LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says even with the budget issues and the complicated tax situations on the table, lawmakers will still find time to touch that third rail of Louisiana politics…

cut 8 (07) “in the classroom”

He says Common Core will be one of the major items that will distract from the budget.

Monroe Representative Marcus Hunter has filed legislation that would raise the base pay for severs from $2.13 per hour to at least minimum wage. Hunter says they want to get the conversation started between employers and employees…

cut 11 (06) “$16 a day”

Hunter says even though people argue that servers make at least minimum wage when you count their tips, it shouldn’t be assumed that they will achieve that.

What is expected to be a very difficult legislative session begins today in Baton Rouge. Lawmakers will have until June 11th to approve a spending plan that takes into account a one-point-six billion dollar shortfall. Senate President John Alario says legislators are looking at ways to generate more state revenue…

cut 13 (11) “those things”

Alario says reforming the state’s film tax credit program is one of the priorities.

Even though the massive budget deficit will by far be the biggest issue lawmakers will be dealing with this session, there are still many other issues on the agenda. LaPolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says Common Core will be one of the major items that will distract from the budget…

cut 7 (06) “volatile issue”

He says bills dealing with same-sex marriage and marijuana legalization will also be hot button issues.

Governor Bobby Jindal will provide the opening address as the legislative session gets underway today. The question is how involved will the governor be as lawmakers grapple with a $1.6 billion budget deficit? Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says it’s important for Jindal to be active this session…

cut 4 (07) “pay a price” 3x

Pinsonat says Jindal doesn’t have to be at the capital every day during the session, but he does need to pay attention to what’s happening.

Showers and thunderstorms continue across the state today. Most of southwest Louisiana is under a flash flood watch through this evening. Most of southeast Louisiana is under the watch through Tuesday evening.