Good morning and greetings from the LA GOP –

The House and Senate convened at 9am.  You can find a full list of committees meeting today here.

ANTI GROWTH LEGISLATION DEFEATED: Yesterday afternoon the full Senate referred House Bill 841 sponsored by Rep. Avon Honey to accept federal unemployment insurance dollars with strings attached to the Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee.  The Committee then voted to defer bill by 4 to 2 margin which according to today’s Advocate means “the bill likely is dead.”  The strings attached to acceptance would have resulted in higher taxes on our state’s jobs creators and discouraged new economic investment.  We’d like to thank Senators Sherri Cheek, (R-Keithville); Danny Martiny, (R-Metairie); Mike Walsworth, (R-West Monroe); and Neil Riser, (R-Columbia) for supporting Louisiana workers and small businesses by rejecting this anti-growth legislation.

TAX HIKE TUESDAY: With the 2008 Regular Session wrapping up this week, liberals in Baton Rouge still have tax increases on the agenda.  Of course they don’t call it a tax increase, but how could a bill that raises revenue and requires individuals to pay more state taxes than they were supposed to pay not be a tax increase?  A delay in promised tax relief is no different than a tax hike and that’s exactly what Senate Floor Amendment #3447 does.  As Louisiana families and small businesses tighten their belts, so must government.  Call your Representative today at 225-342-6945 and tell them to reject House Bill 889 and kill the tax increase amendment in conference committee because your taxed enough already.

CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR: The end of the 2009 Regular Session is quickly approaching and we encourage activists to contact their state representatives and state senators to make their voice heard on important issues.  Find contact information for your members here.

Stories we’re following…

FastStart key in securing plant

“V Vehicle Co.’s top executives said a key component in choosing Ouachita Parish for the company’s first assembly plant was a new state training program that could deliver a turnkey work force to the former Guide Corp. facility.” – Monroe News-Star

Community shows excitement over new plant

“Louisiana’s Economic Development Department staff had planned for as many as 200 people to attend V Vehicle Co.’s announcement that it was bringing 1,400 jobs to Ouachita Parish to assemble a new American car at the former Guide Corp. plant. They underestimated the community’s excitement. At least 350 people showed up, and there may have been as many as 400, but it was hard to tell because many couldn’t fit into the room. ‘You think people in northeastern Louisiana don’t care about jobs?’ 5th District U.S. Rep. Rodney Alexander, R-Quitman, said as the parking lot began to fill. ‘That parking lot is a field of dreams for our community.’” – Monroe News-Star

French company picks Iberville Parish site

“A French chemical company has chosen Iberville Parish to be home to a $362 million plant expected to employ more than 500 workers at an average salary of $57,400. Flanked by state and local government and company officials at the Iberville Parish Courthouse on Friday, Gov. Bobby Jindal announced SNF Floerger SAS had chosen Louisiana — specifically, an 800-acre site off of La. 405 just south of Plaquemine — over locations in three other states.” – The Advocate

A workable agreement

“A state-brokered deal to give Louisiana State University ownership of a proposed New Orleans teaching hospital and to give Tulane and other local universities seats on its governing body is a good compromise to advance the project. The Tulane Board of Trustees ratified the deal Friday. Their LSU counterparts are to consider it today, and they also should endorse it. … Having the two medical schools involved with the hospital would undoubtedly make it better — but that requires the cooperation this agreement brings. Gov. Bobby Jindal and Health and Hospitals Secretary Alan Levine deserve credit for their roles in the negotiations, which also included LSU System President John Lombardi, Tulane President Scott Cowen and board members from LSU and Tulane.” – Times-Picayune

Louisiana First Lady makes special visit to Tchefuncte Middle

“‘Did you know that when you add the lemonade powder to water, you’re causing a scientific reaction?’ asked Supriya Jindal. A combined group of campers from Pontchartrain Elementary School and Tchefuncte Middle School had a visit from Louisiana’s First Lady last week, as she presented a program on the importance of reading and developing math and science skills.” – St. Tammany News

Town Hall Queries

“U.S. Sen. David Vitter discussed his concerns over the growing federal deficit and vast government expansion Saturday, urging residents at a town hall meeting to stay informed and speak out on the overhaul of the health care system. … Vitter said health care comprises 16 percent of the economy, and added that a government option for health insurance would force private insurance companies out of business and thus force Americans to choose government-run insurance. ‘Do we really want government running our health care?’ he said. ‘You want the efficiency of the post office and the empathy of the IRS in your health care?’” – Daily Iberian

Senator David Vitter holds a town hall meeting in Jennings

“U.S. Senator, David Vitter, made a stop in Jennings, this morning, to hold a town hall meeting. Some of the topics that came up were healthcare and government spending. Vitter started by sharing some of his concerns and then asked others to share concerns of their own. ‘It is a great way to hear directly from folks; what’s on their minds and what’s on their hearts, and what they think I should be most focused on,’ said David Vitter.” – KPLC

Melancon eyes Senate out of weakness, not strength

“Louisiana’s Democrat Third District Rep. Charlie Melancon seems to be reevaluating his previous position not to challenge Republican Sen. David Vitter. In the end, it will come down just how risk he is willing to assume to have a longer political career.” – Between The Lines

Cassidy reacts to reforms

“U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy made a national television appearance last week to lay out his position on President Barack Obama’s health-care reform plan. The gastroenterologist was interviewed by Fox Business in what the station called an ‘exclusive.’ The Baton Rouge Republican is a member of the American Medical Association that Obama addressed last week. Instead of a government-run insurance plan to cover 47 million uninsured Americans, Cassidy said he would like to see the government provide vouchers or tax credits to allow the uninsured to buy private insurance.” – The Advocate

Obama Approval Index Falls to Lowest Rating

“The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Sunday shows that 32% of the nation’s voters now Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Thirty-four percent (34%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -2. That’s the President’s lowest rating to date and the first time the Presidential Approval Index has fallen below zero for Obama.” – Rasmussen Reports

Jefferson trial likely to be long

“Before they rest their case in the bribery trial of former U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, government prosecutors said they intend to call 49 witnesses. In addition, they plan to introduce 950 exhibits. And then there are hours of secretly recorded audio tapes. The trial begins its second week of testimony this morning The prosecutors said that it will take four weeks to present their side. Legal scholars tracking the case say the overwhelming amount of evidence is strategic.” – The Advocate