State Rep. Walt Leger III will be online Thursday at 1 p.m. to chat with Lens readers about issues before the Legislature, particularly those facing New Orleans.
Leger, an attorney who represents maritime clients, is a second-term Democrat from New Orleans. He’s the speaker pro tem and will be in the middle of any major issues affecting New Orleans during the legislative session.
Those issues include:
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Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s request for $100 million in state construction funds to create a Civic Complex out of the former Charity Hospital building.
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The mayor’s request that New Orleans voters be given the chance to raise property taxes for police and fire services. That’s House Bill 111, sponsored by Leger.
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The mayor’s request that the city be allowed to cut weeds on blighted property and charge the owner for the work. That’s House Bill 339, also sponsored by Leger.
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A bill to authorize the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center to undertake an expansion. (House Bill 788, sponsored by Leger). The governor’s budget proposes to borrow $50 million from the convention center’s coffers to pay for health care and higher education.
Other key issues in the session include:
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Passage of Gov. Bobby Jindal’s $25 billion state budget. Critics complain that Jindal wants to raid various trust funds to pay for the state’s daily operations.
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An effort to kill or stymie a lawsuit filed by the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority – East. The lawsuit seeks to force oil and gas companies to restore Louisiana’s eroding coast. State Sen. Robert Adley, R-Benton, is leading the charge against the authority’s lawsuit.
Efforts led by conservatives to upend the state’s Common Core curriculum.