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The legislature should close the loophole that gives elected officials access to a perk that is prohibited for other public servants. SB 382 would eliminate a controversial exception in the ethics code that allows elected officials, including legislators, to receive free tickets to cultural and sporting events. The bill passed the Senate overwhelmingly by a […]
Consolidation of New Orleans’ seven assessors into a single office ranks high among the meaningful reforms that the legislature must pass this session. New Orleans stands alone in having seven constitutionally-protected assessors, while all other parishes operate with only one. Consolidation of these offices is a good first step toward achieving more uniform assessments, streamlining […]
Tough ethics laws that keep public officials out of the recovery contracting business will help decrease the appearance of impropriety and help make the case for more federal recovery aid. A House committee got off to a good start last week by unanimously approving HB 1236, which would prohibit elected and appointed state officials, their […]
Records held by a long list of agencies within the governor’s office should be subject to the public records law. The state’s “sunshine laws” are the tools that allow citizens to participate in key public decisions and to hold government accountable. The public records and open meetings laws help ensure that actions taken by public […]
A bill aiming to repeal a major ethics reform that restricts campaign contributions during legislative sessions is scheduled for a hearing on Wednesday. The law being targeted prohibits campaign contributions to legislators and the governor during regular legislative sessions. The ban, recommended by PAR in 1995, was a key part of the Governor’s 2004 ethics […]
A few important reforms were enacted in the 2006 special legislative session that ended today. While the usual political resistance to change was cause for some embarrassment, the successes realized this session may have been just enough to improve the national perception of Louisiana and set the stage for the state’s recovery. Passage of the […]
Governance of the fragmented system of levee districts in the southeast region of the state should be consolidated in a single board with the focused mission to coordinate flood control efforts for the entire area. This is a necessary foundation for securing investment in Louisiana’s recovery. A consolidated, regional levee authority would centralize responsibility for […]