Elections
Federal
It is time to start taking a look at the 2010 mid-term federal elections. All seven of our U.S. House members and one U.S. Senator (Vitter) are up for re-election in 2010. It is not too early to get involved in the 2010 elections. November 2, 2010 will be here long before we know it.
Congressman Charlie Melancon has announced that he will challenge Senator David Vitter for his U.S. Senate seat. In doing so, and upon his official qualification, it opens up Congressman Melancon’s U.S. House seat. Though the congressional district could be carved up and/or eliminated after the reapportionment associated with the 2010 census, interest remains to be high among potential candidates. Those mentioned as potential Republican candidates are Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre (R), Jeff Landry (R) from New Iberia, Representative Nickie Monica (R) LaPlace, Lafourche parish President Charlotte Randolph (R), former House Speaker Hunt Downer (R) Houma, and Natural Resources Secretary Scott Angelle, now a Democrat, is said to be considering running as a Republican. Also considering running as Democratic candidates are Representative Gary Smith (D) Norco and Houma attorney Ravi Sangisetty (D).
State
Elections were held to fill the remainder of the terms for two Louisiana Legislative seats on August 29, 2009. The seats were Louisiana House District 40 in St. Landry Parish and Louisiana Senate District 20 which covers Parts of Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes.
The House District 40 election was won by Opelousas attorney Ladrika Thierry. Thierry will fill the two years remaining in the unexpired term of Elbert Guillory, who vacated the seat earlier this year after he was elected to serve in the State Senate.
The Senate District 20 election was won by Norby Chabert. Chabert will fill the two years remaining in the unexpired term of Reggie Dupree, who relinquished his seat to become the head of the Terrebonne Levee District.
Louisiana Commission on Streamlining Government
Passage of Senate Bill 261, by Senator Jack Donahue, this past legislative session created the Louisiana Commission on Streamlining Government. The purpose of this commission is for the State of Louisiana to expeditiously act to reduce the cost of state government through all means available. The success of this commission is extremely important to Louisiana, as the revenue projections through fiscal year 2012 for state operations are less than favorable. To this extent, should the commission effectively work to streamline government and reduce the cost associated with operations, it could certainly lessen or hopefully eliminate the possible tax liability that would have to be generated to cover the gap between tax revenue and state operating costs that would be placed on businesses and individuals. The commission is being chaired by Senator Jack Donahue who is optimistic about the commission, and stated “We're going to be meeting regularly and getting down to business, Louisiana is going to change. You just wait and see."
The Truth about Project Labor Agreements (by Example)
The Pennsylvania Department of General Services (DGS) Aug. 21 announced that the 2,000-bed State Correctional Institution at Benner Township prison project in Rockview, Pa., will be opened for a second round of bids without a project labor agreement (PLA) because the first round of bids came in too high.
DGS opened the project to bidders in June with expectations of a $200 million budget and a requirement that bidders sign a PLA. When the first round of bidding closed in July, bids were tens of millions of dollars over budget and the decision was made to reopen the bidding process without the PLA.
“We would like to see the job awarded to the lowest qualified contractor who is able to build the best project at the lowest cost for the state of Pennsylvania,” said Dave Remick, president of ABC’s Central Pennsylvania Chapter.
Government-mandated PLAs are contracts that discourage open shop contractors and their employees – comprising more than 85 percent of the construction workforce in America - from bidding and working on construction projects. In addition, government-mandated PLAs unnecessarily increase the costs of construction projects paid for by taxpayers, as well as discriminate against women and minorities who have traditionally been underrepresented in construction trade unions.
For more information about PLAs, visit www.thetruthaboutplas.com.