Governor Bobby Jindal was sworn in on January 14, 2008 along with all of the statewide elected officials and the newly elected members of the state legislature. More than half of the 105 members of the House of Representatives are newcomers and 18 of the 39 Senators begin their first terms. During the 2007 election cycle, ABC was very active in 42 legislative races of which 80% of our endorsed candidates were victorious. We congratulate all the newly elected officials and look forward to working closely with them during the upcoming 2008 Legislative Sessions.
Governor Jindal has announced that he will call two special sessions in the coming months to address immediate needs of the state. The first special session will be called in early February to address the administration’s ethics reform package. The second special session will revolve around business tax breaks and spending the state’s $1 billion surplus. Governor Jindal’s special session on ethics will focus on six areas, including detailed financial disclosure for statewide elected officials, legislators and cabinet members. He will also include stronger conflict of interest laws and more frequent financial disclosure by lobbyists. ABC will be active in these special sessions so please contact me if you have questions, comments or would like to get more involved. The 2008 Regular Session will convene on March 31st.
Louisiana has officially kicked off its 2008 presidential election season. Louisiana’s Republicans and Democrats are implementing key changes this year in the way delegates to national party conventions are selected. One change, the result of legislative action, was to move the state’s Presidential Primary Election up to February 9th. This was to make the contest more relevant nationally because Louisiana’s primary would have followed primaries in a handful of other states. Unfortunately, more than 20 other states will hold presidential primary elections on Feb. 5th, “Super Tuesday”. Louisiana decided against the Feb. 5th date because that day is Mardi Gras. So Louisiana voters will go to the polls on the 9th, four days after much of the nation has cast its ballot.
Another election cycle is under way, this one for Louisiana’s Congressional Seats. Three of the state’s U.S. House seats are wide open, with Jindal vacating the 1st District for the Governor’s Office, U.S. Rep. Richard Baker resigning from his seat representing the 6th District, and U.S. Rep. Jim McCrery retiring from his 4th District seat at the end of this term. There will be special elections held for the 1st and 6th Districts with the party primary scheduled for March 8th and the general election on May 3rd. All seven of Louisiana’s Congressional Seats will be required to run for re-election this fall.
Last note is just a reminder that the ABC Day at the Legislature is May 13, 2008. Please mark your calendar to be at this very important event.