Posted on behalf of our member: JJ Jackson Every member of our group should read this! Legislative Review-Opening Session 2014 Rep. Gene Reynolds, District 10 The 2014 Legislative Session is embarking, and at its start here is a look at District 10 issues of interest as well as a glimpse of the hot topics affecting us statewide. Please read through these and let me hear from you on your thoughts, concerns, and opinions. Budget As usual, we will have a budget deficit this year. The shortfall is approximately $600 million according to the Revenue Estimations Committee. There will be budget fights, just like last year; and there is no way to know right now how things will work out. We still have issues with dedicated money, one-time money, and retirement. The problem is that there is very little money that can be moved to balance the budget; and very few areas where cuts can occur. Our budget this year is around $26 billion; and only about $2 billion is undedicated by law or constitution. I am continuing to work with the “Fiscal Hawks” to find ways to correct budget problems. While money is tight, we do have several capital outlay projects that are important to us in District 10, and I will work with our delegation to help bring those projects to reality. The budget vote will most likely come toward the end of the session. I will send updates back as needed to keep everyone abreast of changes. Education Education reform issues will dominate this session. We have a very complex situation that involves Common Core, Act One and Act Two, and unconstitutional issues. Common Core is a set of content standards and supporting curricula that was approved by the Legislature and BESSE in 2010. Since that time, the State Department of Education has shifted toward new standards of curriculum and testing. These were field tested; and with training, were supposed to be complete by 2015. However, problems came to light this past summer when it was apparent that the training and transitions were ineffective. Then, political issues arose from different groups; mainly from the poor transitions and political ideology. So, here is the current situation: We have spent millions of dollars and countless training hours, and revised methods, books and testing to change to a program that has numerous issues and profound effects on the classrooms of the State. In this Session, we will carefully look at 50-80 bills that deal with the repeal, modification, or acceptance of Common Core and testing. I do not think there will be a simple “up or down vote” regarding Common Core; but rather a variety of bills that will be discussed to begin a new set of standards, curricula, and testing. Exactly where this will end up is not clear at this time. There are groups on all sides. Big business, chambers of commerce, and other business factions supporting Common Core, while Tea Party and traditional educational groups support a change to something entirely new. We need good, smart decisions by everyone because we are truly at a turning point for public education in Louisiana. We need to have a strong set of standards, curriculum, and testing that will stand up to scrutiny by governors and politicians in the future so that we have a stable format that delivers Louisiana students with job skills and thinking/problem solving skills. Your input is critical during this Session. I encourage you to investigate and make decisions on facts—not myths or propaganda, which exist heavily on both sides of the Common Core debate. My job is to represent your wishes. The Act One and Two issues deal with teacher evaluations and tenure as well as school board authority and salary schedules. These will be revisited since the Acts were ruled unconstitutional. In order to put these things into law there need to be adjustments. The Department of Education, Teachers Unions, and School Board Associations all have bills regarding these issues. It will be interesting to review these and I’m very hopeful we will make great strides this year for our children. Camp Minden The Camp Minden explosion and following investigation into the improperly stored explosives has been in the news for over a year now. The progress to address the millions of pounds of explosives has been a slow and complicated process. Now, we have a perfect solution for this complex problem and simply need the funding to see it through. Madden Construction, along with a company called Expal (not Explo), have developed a process to control burn the M6 propellant in a contained structure with very little, if any, exposure to the atmosphere. This process is great news because the explosives, in their current state, cannot be moved. The typical procedure of disposal of these types of materials is by way of open pit burning, which is slow, and releases smoke and gases into the air. Right now the only problem is with Superfund Project funding from the Federal Government. Senator Robert Adley and I are working with Senator Vitter to encourage him and others to help us secure the funding for this project. We are hopeful that we can begin to dispose of the explosive materials very soon. You can get involved via letters and emails by encouraging your Federal delegation to secure the funding for this cleaner disposal. I must applaud David and James Madden for their dedication to their local populations, and ingenuity in developing this groundbreaking method of safer, cleaner disposal. Lake Bistineau Although there are many ideas, opinions, and myths surrounding the problems and solutions of the Salvinia in Lake Bistineau and nearby lakes, I can provide the most recent update on the situation. First, everyone must understand that the controlling department for Lake Bistineau and other State lakes is the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF.) They control all activity on the Lake and are charged with all decision-making for the Lake’s problems and issues. Earlier last year, I asked the lead biologist from LDWF to report to me the best plan for controlling Salvinia on the Lake. He responded with a comprehensive Master Plan that included the following measures for best tackling the problem: 1) Thin the Cypress trees to allow for more wave and wind action; 2) Reconstruct the dam to allow for more drainage of the Lake draw-downs in order to expose more Salvinia to dry, hot, or cold conditions; 3) Continue spraying for control; 4) Apply Salvinia weevils from a greenhouse in mass numbers. This plan was discussed at a meeting in Doyline, and printed in local newspapers and online. We allowed 30 days for public input and after several meetings with different groups from the Lake and conservation associations, the following plan of action was agreed upon: 1) Reconstruction of the dam with capital outlay funds (some of which has been approved) to allow for better drawdowns, Salvinia exposure, and control; 2) Mass productivity of the Salvinia weevils in greenhouses, and research for cold-tolerant weevils as well as other sprays and biological methods of better controlling the weed; 3) Continue spraying when needed; 4) Investigate other methods of control. *There is NO plan to cut the Cypress Trees, per the overwhelming opposition; and to dispel rumors, there is NO plan to draw the Lake down for 7 years! I have been in contact with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF), LDWF, Red River Waterway, and Senator Vitter and Senator Landrieu about obtaining funds to administer this plan for the Lake and the State. All parties have now agreed on the approach; but we need the money and special training to carry out the plan. I currently have a Bill to put $300,000 from mineral income from the Lake toward the Bistineau project for the next three years. If passed, LDAF or LDWF would be charged with the funds and operation of weevil greenhouses and research. In addition, stakeholders are looking for General Funds to address the Salvinia statewide. We have been holding ongoing meetings to pull together a solid effort to address this statewide problem, which continues to spread toward all freshwater lakes, bayous, and rivers. As for the water mowers, fungus, and other methods that many people have discussed, I have to repeat that LDWF makes all decisions for these methods. I have talked to the biologists and the Director about each alternative method mentioned, and they are basing their procedures on scientifically studied, fiscally efficient, and practical methods. I can assure everyone that Lake Bistineau and the Salvinia problem is on my agenda every day. I am hopeful we will be able to get some funding this year for weevil production and research; but money from the State’s budget is tight. Winning the funding will take a solid front from all legislators—not just the local delegation. I think we have that support at this time; and presenting this as a statewide threat to our recreation, tourism, business, natural habitats, and overall way of life will only further encourage such support. Please keep in mind that this is a very complex problem that is requiring research, money, time, and persistence. Recent discussions with LDWF have resulted in the move of $200,000 for equipment and $150,000 per year for five years to the LSU Ag Center in Bossier Parish for weevil research. This is an ongoing project and new developments will be forthcoming. Statewide Hot Topics There are typically 2,000-3,000 bills filed and reviewed each legislative session, and most will be killed during committee. However, in no particular order, these are ten of the anticipated hot topics to be heavily addressed this year: 1) Legacy Lawsuits / Levee Board Suits 2) TOPS Funding 3) Medical Marijuana 4) Laser Eye Surgery for Optometry 5) Payday Loan Regulations 6) Retirement Costs for School Boards and Municipalities 7) Medicaid Expansion 8) Retirement Age from 60 to 62 for new state employees 9) Educational Standards 10) State Budget Again, I appreciate your continued feedback and always welcome your opinions. Please engage in the issues by sending your comments, ideas, questions, and concerns to me at [email protected], by calling 318-371-3092, or by visiting my office at 736 Main Street, Minden.
Posted on: Tue, 11 Mar 2014 16:13:28 +0000
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