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Jeremy Alford: Kicking press off Legislature's flood has a certain appeal

Wed, 03/11/2020 - 12:53pm

By JEREMY ALFORD

As many of us already know from “Schoolhouse Rock!” and hopefully civics courses, bills are important to the legislative process because they have the opportunity to become state law. Then there are resolutions, which largely serve as the throat-clearing vehicles of the Louisiana Legislature.
Resolutions help lawmakers make decisions that do have they force of law, or they can be used clearly state policy goals, make declarations or simply express the opinion of the body. Legislators can likewise use resolutions to change the rules of the House and Senate.
As of Tuesday morning there were 35 resolutions introduced for the regular session, compared to 1,124 bills. That resolution tally will grow. By the end of the last term-starting session in 2016, lawmakers filed 760 resolutions. Unlike bills, which have filing deadlines, most all resolutions can be introduced at any time during a session.
Then there are ideas, which are harder to track. One idea that was intended to become a resolution but may never see the light of day involves lawmakers removing members of the working media from their coveted spots on the House and Senate floors, located along two banks of desks situated between the speaker’s perch and the general membership.
“I won’t be filing the resolution for this, but depending on how it’s worded, I would certainly considering supporting it,” said Rep. Alan Seabaugh, R-Shreveport, adding he once fell victim to a reporter who overheard his private remarks to a colleague and who quoted him in a story. “It affects how we communicate with each other.”
Another House leader, speaking on background, said, “There’s no way I could vote for this. I know y’all have a job to do and I want to make sure the press is getting the access others enjoy.”
Other lawmakers interviewed last week confirmed there have been talks about a potential resolution, but it was unclear if an actual sponsor was attached to the proposal. While such a move would certainly ruffle the feathers and quills of Louisiana’s political press corps, most of the scribes covering Capitoland wouldn’t notice much of a difference. (Plus, it appears that there aren’t any lawmakers willing to file the much-discussed resolution.)
Floor access is limited to print journalists, and only six to eight at a time, if that many. All other credentialed photojournalists, broadcasters, freelancers, bloggers and First Amendment practitioners are restricted to the south wall of the House, just outside the rails of the floor.
Proponents and opponents have long noted anecdotally that not all legislatures allow reporters on House and Senate floors. That’s indeed true, but only in small numbers. If this muted conversation were taking place in Alabama, for example, representatives would instead be discussing a constitutional amendment, since the state’s charter guarantees floor access for reporters in both of its chambers.
Most all other states allow some form of chamber access, whether on the actual floors, in designated areas or generally nearby, save for seven, including Arkansas, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Wyoming, based on a review performed by the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Whether Louisiana becomes the eighth state to greatly restrict media access to a chamber remains to be seen. This isn’t the first time Louisiana’s elected legislators have had this conversation in Baton Rouge. In 2004, former Sen. Rob Marionneaux introduced SR130 to remove reporters from the Senate floor — by sending them to the Senate balcony.
Marionneaux and other senators were upset with The Advocate’s coverage of the preferential treatment lawmakers received when purchasing LSU baseball tickets, and the paper’s refusal to write about a legislative charity basketball game.
After speaking his mind on the resolution in June 2004, Marionneaux shelved it but promised reporters the issue would be back eventually.
Some 16 years later, it appears Marionneaux was right.
For more Louisiana political news, visit www. LaPolitics.com or follow Alford on Twitter @LaPoliticsNow

Guest column: Change in school tax might turn opponents into supporters

Wed, 03/11/2020 - 12:39pm

By STATE SEN. BRET ALLAIN

As controversy continues to swirl around the half-cent sales tax increase proposed by the St. Mary Parish School Board, I would like to take the opportunity to publicly address the interested parties in this debate.
The fundamental issue at play is that both sides have compelling arguments for why the additional tax revenue is and is not needed at this time.
First and foremost, I do not think I am going out on a limb when I say that our teachers deserve better pay. Louisiana has historically lagged behind in teacher pay, and I am proud that the state has stepped up in recent years to provide raises to educators and support staff.
I supported these measures then, and I support continuing them this year. Our public school system is one of the most important investments that government makes in our future and making sure that we can attract and retain the best educators is vital to our school system’s success. Our school system has made great strides under the leadership of the School Board and past and current administrations.
I think that our Central Office would agree, though, that the vast majority of credit for our district’s rising scores goes to the teachers in the classroom. Our statewide ranking of 17th out of 70 school systems is something to be very proud of as a parish.
However, many business owners and taxpayers correctly point out that our current economic situation does not warrant additional tax burdens. And with oil trading at around $30 a barrel earlier in the week, the short and long-term outlook of the oil and gas sector is tenuous at best. It is very fair to ask if additional taxes, whether at the state or local level, are appropriate given current economic conditions.
As the new chairman of the Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee, one of my main responsibilities concerns tax policy of the state and our political subdivisions.
I have never voted for a tax increase that was not absolutely necessary, and I will never support any tax proposal in perpetuity. As a matter of principle, government policy, especially tax policy, should never be enacted without the ability to review its effectiveness and necessity at a future date.
To the School Board’s credit, I was happy to see that the proposal was amended at a recent special meeting to an initial term of five years.
However, this does not alleviate all of the opposition’s concerns. This tax proposal was intended to be hidden on the spring ballot when voter turnout is historically low.
This would give the tax the easiest path to passage with an energized school system vote and an apathetic general public considering the election falls between the high-turnout governor’s race of last fall and the high-turnout presidential election to be held this November.
My disagreement has never been about teacher pay. Most reasonable people would agree that we need to improve the compensation of those that are instrumental in shaping our children’s future. I just do not agree that this proposed sales tax increase is the best way to get our teachers more money. Our total student population has gone down by about 900 students since the oil and gas downturn, yet our sales tax collections for the school system have rebounded by about $1.3 million since 2016 and property tax collections for the school system have rebounded by about $3 million since 2017. In addition, state Minimum Foundation Program (MFP) funding has increased by nearly $4 million from 2018-2019 to 2019-2020.
This equates to nearly $450 per student or roughly $10,000 per classroom in additional state funding for education.
In other words, it is fair to ask the question of whether this proposed sales tax increase is the only way to fund teacher pay raises. Revenues have recently been increasing for three major sources of school system funding (property tax, sales tax, and MFP funds), and many would like to know if these increases could be used to fund the pay raises. If these funds are not enough to cover the raises, then it is incumbent upon the School Board to explain to the public why they are not sufficient and why increasing taxes is a necessity and last resort rather than an attempt to capture more revenue from an economy that is far from being recovered.
My office has been receiving numerous emails and calls from both proponents and opponents of this proposal. It is a position that I am used to in my role as a state senator when various interest groups are fighting over the finite resources of government. I do want to make one thing clear, however.
I have never been against raising teacher pay, and I am not attempting to kill this proposal. In fact, I have asked the state treasurer to schedule the revised tax proposal with the five year-term for the next Ad Hoc meeting of State Bond Commission, keeping the proposal alive and to be decided at that meeting. I am hopeful that between now and then, continued discussions can be had to put this proposal in the best possible posture not only for our school system, but for our taxpayers and economy at large.
In the spirit of compromise, I am urging the School Board to further amend its proposal from a 0.5% increase to a 0.3% increase in order to alleviate the concerns of some businesses and taxpayers currently opposed to the measure.
I am also hopeful that the entire increase will be dedicated to raises for our deserving teachers and support staff. Coupled with the increases in funding listed above, I feel that a proposed 0.3% increase in sales tax accomplishes the goal of providing raises and has a much better chance of passing than the current proposal. Recently, sales tax initiatives have been unsuccessful in places like Terrebonne and Lafayette, and an identical proposal in Lafourche is currently facing growing opposition.
I just hope that St. Mary’s proposal is not hurt by an unwillingness by its elected leaders to improve its chances of success.
Bret Allain, R-Franklin, represents Louisiana Senate District 21, which covers all of St. Mary Parish.

Complete statement from Ochsner St. Mary on coronavirus situation

Wed, 03/11/2020 - 12:27pm

Ochsner St. Mary is prepared should a Coronavirus (COVID-19) arise. Similar to the flu, there are several strains of the coronavirus which cause the common cold. This does NOT mean you have the COVID-19 coronavirus strain associated with the current respiratory disease outbreak you are seeing in the news. Common cold coronaviruses DO NOT require extra isolation precautions.

We have a systemwide protocol in place for the screening and isolation of any patient suspected of having COVID-19.

This is a rapidly changing public health situation and rest assured that we work closely with the Louisiana Office of Public Health (OPH) and follow the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, guidelines to ensure our employees and patients are receiving the latest information.

If a case is suspected or identified, we will implement all appropriate isolation and protective measures outlined by the CDC and follow their guidelines for hospital personnel and visitors. Additionally, we will immediately notify the proper parties, including the Louisiana State Epidemiologist, OPH and the CDC. We are currently going through OPH for all COVID-19 testing. We will continue to monitor as commercial testing becomes available in the next few weeks.

If you feel sick, contact your healthcare provider. We have several resources available:

• Please call the Ochsner On Call line at 1-800-231-5257 or 504-842-3155 for immediate assistance and guidance on whether an in-person visit is needed.
o Ochsner On Call is a free service providing appointment booking, health education and advisory services and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
o We have increased staffing at Ochsner On Call to serve you better and to support a potential increase in call volume.

• Instantly connect with a provider through Ochsner Anywhere Care, a consumer-facing virtual visit platform for urgent care visits.
o Ochsner Anywhere Care users can instantly connect with providers through a secure, interactive video via their smartphone, tablet or personal computer from home, work, or on the go. You could download the free Ochsner Anywhere Care mobile app on iOS or Android or online through a computer www.ochsner.org/anywherecare.
o During the virtual visit, providers and patients communicate through video, and providers can diagnose, prescribe medications, as needed, and suggest follow-up care. Ochsner Anywhere Care is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for $54 per visit for urgent care needs.

In addition, here are five things to know about COVID-19:

1. What are the symptoms of COVID-19? COVID-19 is a respiratory disease. Some symptoms may include a runny nose, cough, sore throat, headaches and possibly fever. For people who have a weakened immune system, such as the elderly, the very young or immunocompromised patients, symptoms can become severe quickly and can cause serious respiratory tract illnesses, such as pneumonia or bronchitis. 
2. Should I buy a mask to protect myself from contracting COVID-19? If you are sick, a mask is a good way to help prevent the spread of your germs and the virus when you sneeze or cough. However, if you are not sick, wearing a mask will most likely not protect you from contracting a virus or other sickness. Additionally, most people do not know how to wear masks properly and end up touching their faces more, which can increase your chances of contracting the virus. The best thing to do is to wash your hands thoroughly. For best handwashing techniques, follow the CDC’s guide.
3. What preventions and treatments are available? Currently, there is no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent contraction is to avoid being exposed to the virus. There is no specific treatment for COVID-19. People who contract the virus should receive supportive care from their healthcare team to help alleviate symptoms. People with a severe case will need care that involves support for vital organs. Some everyday preventions the CDC recommends are:
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
• Stay home when you are sick
• Cover your cough or sneezes with a tissue and immediately throw it away in the trash.
• Disinfect objects that you frequently use, such as your phone, computer, purse, remotes, chargers, kids’ toys, water bottles, etc.
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating or after you cough or sneeze.
4. Can I still travel? The CDC currently lists five countries with various levels of travel warnings: China, Iran, South Korea, Italy and Japan. People traveling to these areas should take extreme caution and if trying to return to the United States, can expect restrictions on entry and quarantines upon return. The status of COVID-19 is changing every day, so continue to monitor the CDC’s list of travel notices before traveling. 
5. What should I do if I think I have COVID-19? If you are an Ochsner St. Mary patient and think you contracted COVID-19, reach out to Ochsner On Call, our free 24/7 nurse care line. Ochsner On Call, is always available when you have health concerns or need advice on care options. Our specially trained registered nurses are available to discuss your health care concerns, recommend self-care techniques and help you decide if your symptoms require a visit to urgent or emergency care. The service is free and available by calling 1-800-231-5257 or 504-842-3155. Or see a provider from home with an Ochsner Anywhere Care virtual visit.

For further information, please visit the CDC.

LHSAA memo on coronavirus and the state tournament

Wed, 03/11/2020 - 12:14pm

From the Louisiana High School Activities Association:

In collaboration with the National Federation of State High Schools (NFHS), the National Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC), and the Louisiana State Department of Health we submit the following:
The 2020 Boys Basketball Marsh Madness Tournament begins today at the Burton Coliseum Complex, in Lake Charles, and officials are continuing to monitor the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The health and well-being of the tournament’s participants and guests, including fans, student-athletes, coaches, staff, and media is of the utmost importance, and the Burton is taking numerous precautions through the week. Burton staff has also been engaged on this subject with the Office of Homeland Security and the State Department of Health.
The Burton Complex is following directives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and advocating a risk mitigation approach. Educational material, stressing the importance of patrons washing their hands to stop the spread of germs and respiratory diseases such as COVID-19, will be posted throughout the Burton Coliseum.
The Burton Complex requests that all teams, staff, officials, fans, and volunteers follow the CDC’s standard precautions which include:
1. Avoiding close contact with people who are sick.
2. Avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
3. Staying home if you are sick.
4. Covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue and immediately disposing of the tissue in the trash.
5. Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the restroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

AgMagic event set April 20-26 on LSU campus

Wed, 03/11/2020 - 9:46am

By OLIVIA MCCLURE, LSU AgCenter

BATON ROUGE — Hundreds of young people will have the chance to learn about Louisiana agriculture through fun activities when the LSU AgCenter holds its annual AgMagic educational event April 20-26 in Baton Rouge.
Visitors will be guided through a series of interactive exhibits on topics such as plants, animals, insects, nutrition and 4-H programs. It will take place in the John M. Parker Coliseum on the LSU campus.
Registered school groups will tour AgMagic April 20-24. Teachers may schedule time slots for their classes by visiting http://bit.ly/2VYsXRJ.
The event will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 25 and 26. Admission is free.
Those interested in volunteering at AgMagic can sign up at http://bit.ly/3aMld9D.
In May, the AgMagic experience will be offered in the New Orleans area. Students will visit from May 5 to 8, while anyone can come May 9.
Go to www.LSUAgCenter.com/AgMagic for more information.

Man gets angry when wife resists catering to his libido

Wed, 03/11/2020 - 9:44am

DEAR ABBY: I have been married for 30 years. I still work full time, and my husband is now retired. We have had issues during most of our marriage, mainly concerning his not getting enough sex. A couple of times a week isn’t sufficient. In the past, he looked at porn a lot. He likes to take pictures of me that he stores on his phone, wants me to wear seductive clothing when we go out and demands that I send him naked pictures of myself from work. It makes me very uncomfortable, but he gets angry when I don’t ...

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Rep. St. Blanc opens Dist. 50 office

Wed, 03/11/2020 - 9:20am

Newly-elected Louisiana State Representative Vincent “Vinney” St. Blanc, Dist. 50, held a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday at his office on Main Street in Franklin.
Ahead of his first Legislative session, St. Blanc said he felt good and ready to go to work, but that he would only be co-sponsoring any bills during this session.
However, he did say his focus is on tort reform, insurance rates and education.
“I can’t wait to get to work,” St. Blanc said. “District 50 comes first.
“I believe in ‘We the people,’ like the constitution says. So, I’ll represent District 50, where everybody is involved. And I will make sure that District 50 is at every table that means something.
“They will have a representative there.”
The legislative session began Monday in Baton Rouge.

Wellness center coming to FFH

Wed, 03/11/2020 - 9:11am

Sen. Bret Allain said Thursday at a St. Mary Chamber of Commerce function that a wellness center will be built for Franklin Foundation Hospital.
He said the hospital is in the process of interviewing two architects.
The wellness center reportedly would be on the current campus, and include education sections, a gym, and swimming pools.
Allain is a member of the hospital board, and believes the wellness center will be an asset to the area.

City market, 'Bayou Teche Music Series' ramps up

Wed, 03/11/2020 - 9:09am

The Bayou Teche Music Series began Saturday morning across the street from the Bayou to Main Marketplace.
The Bayou Teche Music Series is a music and arts concept created by Ed “Tiger” Verdin and Johnny Chauvin in an effort to promote and create an outlet for local musicians and artists with a major focus on cultural preservation through Cajun, Creole, indigenous folk music and art while exploring folklore and oral histories of the Bayou Teche.
Striving to create this ongoing family-friendly series in Franklin they also focus on music education by pulling together self-taught musicians of all ages and genres together with more seasoned and trained musicians to create a jambalaya of musical sounds.
There were 15+ musicians in the premier, including Eli Schmidt, Stephen Schmidt, Daryl Fluke, Kenny Blanchard, Brianna Moresi, Donovan Driskil, Skeet Landry, Johnny Chauvin, Keri McClelland, Torry Landry, Jeremy Lange, Ray Duce, Mitch Broussard and Chase Landry.
Although venues for the music series will more than likely be in various places across Franklin the inaugural performance will take place near the soon to open Lamp Lighter Coffee Shop during the Bayou to Main Marketplace in the old Center Theater lot.

UPDATED 2:58 P.M.: Two more COVID-19 cases in Louisiana

Tue, 03/10/2020 - 3:02pm

BULLETIN

The Louisiana Department of Health has two new presumptive positive cases of COVID-19, commonly called the coronavirus, bringing the total presumptive positive cases in the state to three, the Governor's Office.

Gov. John Bel Edwards will hold a meeting of the Unified Command Group Wednesday afternoon, followed by a news conference at 4:30 p.m.

Gov. Edwards said, “Currently, we have three presumptive positive cases of coronavirus in Louisiana, all in the New Orleans area. While we investigate the cases and travel of the individuals, we cannot disclose any additional information about these patients at this time. It is important that the public take measures to protect their health and reduce the spread of illness, including avoiding going out in public when you are sick, washing your hands, social distancing and disinfecting commonly used surfaces. Additionally, older people may consider additional measures like avoiding any kind of unnecessary airline travel and reducing their public interactions to avoid their potential exposure to illness. We know testing for COVID-19 is expanding this week as commercial labs come on board. We expect to see more presumptive positives in the coming days and weeks and I am asking all Louisianans to remain vigilant as we work to contain the spread of this and other illnesses.”

As of 11 a.m. Tuesday, the CDC report 647 confirmed U.S. cases and 25 deaths in 35 states plus the District of Columbia.

Original story

The spread of the coronavirus came a little closer to home Monday with the news that Louisiana has its first positive test for the COVID-19 virus.
The Governor’s Office confirmed Monday that Louisiana has its first presumptive case of COVID-19, widely known as the coronavirus.
The patient who tested positive for the disease is a Jefferson Parish resident who is hospitalized in Orleans Parish.
The presumptive finding means the patient tested positive for the virus in an initial test.
Confirmed cases are those which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have tested.
“While today is the first time that we can confirm that we have a presumptive positive coronavirus case, Louisiana has been preparing for this moment for many weeks,” Gov. John Bel Edwards said at a news conference. “The CDC still believes the risk to the general public is low, but we will work quickly and decisively to assess the risk to those around this patient.”
Louisiana will send the presumptive positive test to the CDC for final confirmation of COVID-19. Because of the reliability of the test, Louisiana will move forward as if the test is an actual positive and take actions to contain the illness and assess the risk of spread, the
The Office of Public Health’s epidemiology team will begin an investigation of people who have come in close contact with the patient, including health care workers, to determine the risk of spread.
OPH will administer additional COVID-19 tests to determine if more people have been infected. Some people at risk may be quarantined for 14 days, even if their initial test is not positive.
The governor said last week that 40 Louisiana people who had returned from areas known to have high rates of coronavirus infection had self-quarantined in their homes for the 14 days required to see if they’ll show symptoms.
As of 11 a.m. Monday, the CDC reported 423 total U.S. cases in 34 states plus the District of Columbia. Fourteen people have died.
The international coronavirus situation had an impact on at least one facet of economic life in St. Mary: the price of oil.
Fears of a disease-related slump in demand plus a looming production war between Saudi Arabia and Russia pushed the price of West Texas Intermediate crude down 25% to near $32 a barrel. Media reports say the price drop is putting pressure on energy companies heavily in debt to finance shale deposit oil production.
The price of oil rebounded 10% in early trading Tuesday.
The CDC offered this advice for prevention:
—Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
—Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
—Stay home when you are sick.
—Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
—Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
—Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask. CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19. Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others.
—Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
On Monday, The Unleash Local Coalition called on the Louisiana Legislature to lift the state ban on local paid sick leave laws Monday, following reports of the state’s first case of COVID-19.
Louisiana currently does not require private sector employers to provide any paid sick leave and does not allow parish or municipal governments to set their own paid sick leave laws.
Vitalant, the company that accepts blood donations in Morgan City, put out a statement saying that giving blood is safe.
Public health officials are enacting a number of measures to limit COVID-19, and Vitalant supports these initiatives, the organization said.
Blood centers have always required individuals to be in good health to donate blood, and the blood collection process follows policies established by the Food and Drug Administration to ensure the health and safety of donors and patients.
“Hospitals will be extremely challenged if COVID-19 infections increase. The last thing we want them worrying about is having enough blood for trauma victims and cancer patients. That’s why it’s imperative that healthy individuals donate blood at drives and blood donation sites now,” said Dr. Ralph Vassallo, Vitalant’s chief medical and scientific officer.
Representing all blood banks, the AABB (formerly the American Association of Blood Banks) Interorganiza-tional Task Force on Domestic Disasters and Acts of Terrorism recently urged healthy individuals to make and keep donation appointments — and ensure blood drives continue.
Currently, all blood types and components are needed, with a significant need for platelets and type O blood donations. Platelets have a very short shelf life — only five days. Type O-negative blood is the universal blood type, frequently used in traumas, that can help stabilize all patients.
Vitalant strives to maintain a four-day supply of blood just to provide what patients need, and currently they are at less than half that for many blood types.