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Archive of Louisiana on Monday May 05, 2008
Oh say, is that banner made in the U.S.A.?
Lawmakers in 10 states have taken steps to require that American flags bought with state funds be manufactured in this country. While not all the legislation has passed, one state’s new law even bans the sale of foreign-made American flags in that state. Read More
Louisiana Dem Cazayoux nabs GOP seat in Saturday House special
Democratic state Rep. Don Cazayoux scored a nationally significant takeover victory in Saturday's election to fill the vacant and formerly Republican-held seat in Louisiana's 6th Congressional District. Read More
Winning Democratic campaign not at rest
For the first time in three decades, the Baton Rouge area has sent a Democrat to Congress. In a New Orleans-area district controlled by the GOP for about the same time, a Republican won easily in the race to replace Gov. Bobby Jindal in the seat. Read More
Phone legislation picks its prey
State lawmakers are trying to find ways to protect the public from distracted drivers without imposing a complete ban on communicating with cellular telephones while driving. Read More
Analysis -- Jindal proposes budget changes -- with control
Gov. Bobby Jindal's proposed revamp of the state's construction spending represents a fundamental change in the way the state budgets for construction projects, but it may be overstatement to call it a sweeping reform. Read More
Is Democrat's win in Louisiana a false hope
Even as Democrats rejoiced Sunday at having snatched a Louisiana congressional seat long held by Republicans, observers warned it doesn't necessarily mean voters are spurning the GOP. And the victor's hold on the seat could be shaky, one analyst said. Read More
Jindal asks Bush for levee cash
WASHINGTON - Making his second national television appearance of the week, Gov. Bobby Jindal used a speech to The National Press Club on Friday to call on the Bush administration to free up pledged levee money. Read More
Cazayoux wins 6th District
The Baton Rouge area has a Democratic congressman for the first time in three decades. Read More
No rest for Democrats after Cazayoux win
WASHINGTON - One down, two to go. That's how national Democrats are viewing Saturday's stunning victory by state Rep. Don Cazayoux for Louisiana's 6th Congressional District seat. Democrats now move on to Mississippi, where their candidate has forced a runoff in the special election for what was considered a "safe" Republican district. Read More
Bridge police change has no support
A bill to abolish the Causeway Police Department and transfer law enforcement duties on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway and the Huey P. Long Bridge to the State Police is failing to attract much support among legislators whose constituents traverse the bridges. Read More
Proposed cuts lead to budget limbo
Just a few weeks ago, lawmakers talked about reining in the growth of state government by slashing Gov. Bobby Jindal's first state operating budget by 5 percent. Read More
Lawmakers deciding on bill to scrap income tax
The Louisiana Legislature is considering a bill that would phase out state income taxes. SB 87 has been approved by the Louisiana Senate and is expected to be reviewed by the House Ways and Means Committee, possibly as early as this week. Read More
Democrats call victory a sign G.O.P. tactic failed
WASHINGTON - The Democratic victory in a special House election in Louisiana this weekend was interpreted by leading Democrats on Sunday as a sign that Republicans would fail in their efforts to damage Congressional candidates by tying them to national figures and presidential contenders. Read More
Republicans lose in Louisiana stronghold
Republicans lost a long-held House seat Saturday after trying to bring down the Democratic candidate by aligning him with Barack Obama. Read More
After hiatus, states set wave of executions
HUNTSVILLE, Texas - Here in the nation's leading death-penalty state, and some of the 35 others with capital punishment, execution dockets are quickly filling up. Read More
Fighting global warming block by block
SEATTLE - King County Executive Ron Sims has a simple test for every new public works project, building plan or government land purchase: Will it increase the region's total greenhouse-gas emissions, or reduce them? Read More
WORTH NOTING: Voters' guide promotes phone sex
An Oregon voters’ guide lists a very wrong number. California’s governor insults rural legislators. And Pennsylvania considers selling wine in vending machines. In case you missed those stories this week, “Worth Noting” fills you in. Read More
Parents turn to states for autism help
(UPDATED 4 p.m. EDT, Thursday May 1) One of the toughest problems facing autism patients, their families and policymakers is paying for treatment. Families are increasingly relying on states to help them cope with the financial, medical and educational needs. Read More
Fairness of death-penalty panels questioned
Death-penalty supporters are raising questions about the fairness of state commissions charged with studying how capital punishment is carried out in Maryland and Tennessee, claiming the panels will issue reports that ignore their views. Read More
Legislators prod Congress on Medicaid, Real ID
As some states tumble into what they fear is a recession, state lawmakers from across the country are pushing Congress for relief from impending federal rules that would force states to pick up more Medicaid costs and spend billions to make drivers’ licenses more secure. Read More
With justices' OK, voter ID moves ahead
A decision Monday (April 28) by the U.S. Supreme Court to let Indiana demand photo identification from voters paves the way for other states to do the same during November’s presidential election, experts say. Read More
More states offer choice in long-term care
More states are poised to offer a successful alternative to traditional Medicaid plans that allows elders and the disabled to avoid moving to a nursing facility by hiring friends, neighbors or family members to look after them in their own homes. Read More
Credit crunch hits states' college loans
(Updated 11:55 a.m. EDT, April 23, 2008)
The credit crisis has led some state lending agencies to suspend their federal and private student loan programs, forcing thousands of students to search elsewhere for money to pay for college. Read More
'Don't forget us,' PA candidates tell voters
As Pennsylvanians prepare to go to the polls tomorrow to cast ballots in the April 22 presidential primary, experts wonder how the surge in registered voters will affect little-noticed state legislative races, particularly those in the House, where Democrats cling to a one-seat majority. Read More
Partisan mix in R.I., Conn. poses challenges
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Will Democrats grow legislative edge in '08?
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Gay marriage decisions ripe in Calif., Conn.
More than four years after its historic court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage, Massachusetts stands alone in blessing gay marriages — more than 10,000 to date — and its example has spurred no imitators but lots of backlash. All eyes now are on the highest courts in California and Connecticut. Read More
'Purple' states turn a little more 'blue'
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Governors pitch ambitious programs
Billion-dollar deficits in California, New York and Arizona haven’t stopped governors there and elsewhere from proposing big-ticket items for 2008. Stateline.org looks at proposals from governors’ 2008 "state of the state" speeches and provides an exclusive summary of all the addresses so far.
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Commentary: Govs beat White House hopefuls as agents of change
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Iraq casts shadow on 2008 state races
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Democratic mid-term gains affecting policy
So complete was the Democratic rout in the 2006 midterm elections that the party even gained legislative influence in Alaska, Idaho, North and South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming – states long dominated by the Republicans. And those gains, though small, are translating into policy achievements. Read More
WORTH NOTING: Illinois gov runs up travel tab
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s commuting costs start to add up. South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds settles a dispute with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over a cranky game warden. Read More
Embryonic stem cell research divides states
President Bush’s second veto of a bill to allow federal funding of stem cell research puts the ethical issue squarely in states’ hands. So far, seven states have moved to fund the research, six have banned it, three have affirmed its legality but do not fund it and a handful of others continue to debate the issue. Read More
States outpace feds on minimum wage
When the new federal minimum wage takes effect July 24, 30 states will require employers to pay hourly workers more than federal law requires. Read More |
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