Melancon Set to Run

LaPolitics broke this story June 12, 2009

While he is not ready to make a public announcement, Congressman Charlie Melancon is said to have decided to run for the U.S. Senate next year, according to multiple political sources. The congressman has made no comment about challenging Republican Sen. David Vitter in 2010, but sources say he has told national Democratic campaign officials he will run.

One piece of unfinished business to deal with is getting businessman Jim Bernhard, who is weighing his own options, to step aside and unify the party. A friend of Bernhard said he has been at his North Carolina retreat for two weeks making his own final decision on the race.

While Melancon earlier this year seemed to have ruled out running, a renewed press by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, armed with a poll showing Vitter's vulnerability, got Melancon to reconsider. Sources say his own polling confirmed the DSCC data. It showed Melancon could exploit Vitter weaknesses among women and independents and in the Baton Rouge area.

Considerations of time and money are driving Melancon to commit sooner rather than later to a campaign. The next federal fundraising quarter begins July 1, with Sen. Vitter's warchest expected to near $3 million in his next report. With $900,000 cash on hand in his latest report, Melancon needs a solid quarterly report by Sept. 30 to show that he can narrow that gap.

Potential Democratic Split Could Help Re-elect Cao

From March 19

The healthcare overhaul bill is seen as a make-or-break vote for Congressman Joseph Cao, R-New Orleans, who was been personally lobbied by the president this week and had a fundraiser hosted for him by the House's top Republican.

Yet, back home, his hopes for re-election could ride on the ambitions of some Democrats.

Cao would be the odds-on underdog in a straight-up election against a Democrat in the 2nd District, among the most heavily Democratic in the country. His chances would improve markedly if another prominent minority candidate qualifies as a independent, setting up a three-way race on Nov. 2, in which the leading vote-getter could win with a plurality.

There is rising speculation that no-party minority candidate could be Councilwoman Cynthia Willard-Lewis, who leaves office May 1 after losing her bid for an at-large seat. Willard-Lewis, a Democrat, did not return a phone call for comment. But sources say she is considering getting into the race.

She could run instead in the Aug. 28 Democratic primary, against current candidates Reps. Juan Lafonta and Cedric Richmond. It would be followed by a runoff, if needed, on Oct. 2. But she would start far behind on federal fundraising for an election almost two months earlier than if she runs as an independent.

Bid to Settle Leadership Election

From March 26, 2010

The months-long contest over the No. 2 position in the state House could be resolved without a vote when the Legislature convenes on Monday, thus avoiding what some see as a test of leadership for Speaker Jim Tucker.

Tucker is backing Rep. Joel Robideaux, a Lafayette independent, for speaker pro tem over Rep. Noble Ellington, D-Winnsboro, who has put together enough bipartisan support to make the contest close.

Now Ellington wants to meet with Robideaux over the weekend "and try to keep it from coming to a vote," he said. "I want to try to figure out which of us actually has more votes. If Joel has more than me, I plan to nominate him come Monday. If I have more than him, I'll leave that to him.

Robideaux confirmed that he and Ellington had talked but has not decided on a meeting. "If we can do it without an election, fine, but as it is, it's so much easier to vote," said Robideaux, noting that Ellington did not want to compare tick sheets of committed votes.

Such a comparison might embarrass some members whose names appear on both lists. "No question, you would look at some people differently," said Robideaux, which he cites as another good reason for a public vote.

Ellington said if the claims of Robideaux supporters that their man has 60 votes are true, "then we have 130 people in the House," which has 103 sitting members and two vacancies.

Robideaux concedes the numbers are close. House observers believe the continued competition has been a concern for Speaker Tucker, who, they say, has stepped up his efforts in support of Robideaux.

"It's a leadership issue now," said a Republican lawmaker backing Robideaux.

Ellington agreed. "He's been twisting arms and breaking legs," he said of Tucker. "He's been doing a lot more arm twisting than I thought Mr. Good Government would do. He is for good government. I'm not being sarcastic, but neither did I think he would go quite as far as he is going with some to get votes."

"That's not true," responded Tucker. "I've not threatened to take anything from anybody."

Is GOP Chairman Looking at Lt. Governor Race?

State Republican party chairman Roger Villere Jr. has talked about running for lieutenant governor this year, according to a knowledgeable source. Villere could not be reached for comment.

Villere of Metairie, who recently won a new four-year term as state chairman, has not held elected office before.

Two other Republicans, Secretary of State Jay Dardenne and St. Tammany Parish President Kevin Davis, have stated their strong interest in running to finish the term of New Orleans Mayor-elect Mitch Landrieu. No potential Democratic candidates have yet surfaced.

Dardenne, with $257,000 in his campaign account, held a fundraiser last night.

For Lt. Governor: Angelle or Angele?

From March 12

Gov. Bobby Jindal's insistence that whomever he appoints as interim lieutenant governor must promise not to run for the office in the fall limits the pool he might pick from.

A knowledgeable source says Jindal had offered the post to Scott Angelle, but the Natural Resources secretary balked at committing not to run. Both sides are said to be talking but that the governor is not budging on his caveat.

Several legislators have heard another rumor that Jindal is considering appointing Commissioner of Administration Angele Davis to the interim position. Her replacement, the rumor goes, would be deputy chief of staff Paul Rainwater, who recently joined Jindal's team after leading the Louisiana Recovery Authority.

Davis has recent experience for the job, having run the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism during Mitch Landrieu's first term. The newly elected mayor has said he will not vacate the state post until his May 3 inauguration in New Orleans.

Another name being floated: former Congressman Henson Moore.

On the election side, there appears to be significant opposition among legislators to a proposed constitutional amendment to make the No. 2 office appointive. With that, interest in the Oct. 2 special election to complete Mitch Landrieu's term remains high.

St. Tammany Parish President Kevin Davis has confirmed he wants to run for the office in the fall, though the term-limited Republican would still like the interim appointment without restriction. Sen. A.G. Crowe, R-Slidell, is also looking at the race, which would split their North Shore base.

Supporters expect Republican Secretary of State Jay Dardenne to declare his intentions soon.

'Tis the Season for Legislative Fundraisers

From March 5, 2010

It's nice to feel wanted, up to a limit. Lobbyists are sifting through dozens of invitations to legislators' fundraisers, which are being held back to back and several a day, leading up to the start of the session on March 29. A few lawmakers are holding breakfast events on that day before the noon deadline, after which lawmakers are banned from raising money until the June 22 adjournment.

One lobbyist counted receiving 43 invitations already, and he noted that 10 were for legislators who are term-limited.

Former Senators Returning as Lobbyists

State senators in the coming session will see some familiar faces on the other side of the rail that were inside it just two years ago.

Three former senators have registered as lobbyists this year. Former Sens. Francis Heitmeier, D-Algiers, and Art Lentini, R-Kenner, have signed up to represent the New Orleans Baton Rouge Steamship Pilots Association, or NOBRA Pilots. Former Senate President Don Hines, D-Bunkie, will lobby for the Rural Hospital Coalition, of which he is president.

Ethics laws bar former legislators from lobbying their old colleagues for two years after leaving office. That period ended in January for the three.

Heitmeier says the response to him from former fellow lawmakers has been positive. "I've already received an invitation to a fundraiser," he said.

Moves Could Be Made on BESE, Civil Service

From March 19

Two constitutionally created boards recently at odds with the Jindal administration could be in for changes, whether internally or through legislation.

BESE member James Garvey was unable to get a majority at Thursday's meeting to consider replacing Chairman Keith Guice following a new gubernatorial appointment to the board. The move fizzled, but observers expect the question to be revisited. Guice of Monroe is seen as the leader of the faction of elected members that have bucked the Jindal administration on policy.

Legislators say the constitutional powers of the Civil Service Commission to set pay-for-performance standards could be addressed during the session. The governor's office has rejected one pay plan from Civil Service and is expected to do the same for a revised plan to give merit raises of between 3 and 5 percent.

Hospitals Plan Media Blitz for Budget Relief

From March 19

Within two weeks, community hospitals will launch a media blitz to tell the public about the "desperate situation" they face without budget relief from the Legislature, according to a Louisiana Hospital Association spokesman.

LHA has hired a media consultant to produce ads to make the case for private hospitals receiving more government reimbursement for indigent care, which now goes mostly to public hospitals. The campaign is meant to educate the public that the uncompensated care costs to non-public hospitals are passed on to private insurers through increased premiums to individuals and businesses, said Sean Prados of LHA.

Meanwhile, negotiations continue between the Jindal administration and the LHA over possible solutions to the Medicaid reimbursement rate reductions to hospital providers in the proposed budget.

Massive Democratic Voter Drive

LaPolitics Weekly broke this story June 6

A massive voter registration drive backed by the Louisiana Democratic Party has deluged parish registrar offices with tens of thousands of applications, possibly resulting in a significant increase of Democrats going to the polls this fall. Registrars in the four largest parishes report that the unprecedented volume, along with problems in verifying some of the data, are clogging the system and could cause confusion and delays on Election Day in November.

"I've seen nothing as massive as some of these drives going on," said Jefferson Registrar of Voters Dennis DiMarco, echoing the assessments of officials in Caddo, East Baton Rouge and Orleans parishes.

State Democratic party spokesman Brian Welsh said the drive has nearly reached its goal of 70,000 applications from areas described as low-income and under-represented. He said the party is paying Voting Is Power (VIP), a Washington, D.C.-based business, to hire and train canvassers to go door to door. Registrars say the applicants are predominantly African-American, in some parishes over 95 percent.

Though the party effort is generating by far the most applications, others are coming in from ACORN, Jeremiah Group and Women's Voices, Women's Votes.

Officials in the four largest parishes say their staffs are working 12-hour days, six days a week to try to process the applications.

Registrars say most of the applications, which must be signed by applicants, are valid and will result in large numbers of Democrats being added to the rolls for the fall elections.

Yet, registrars say many applications submitted by VIP are from voters already registered or have missing information or are questionable, including a number with names of dead people.

In the most blatant case, Registrar DiMarco came across an application under his own name, identified as a young black male residing at the registrar's post office box.

Black Legislators Eye Congress

LaPolitics Weekly broke this story May 9

The prospects of Sen. Barack Obama winning the Democratic presidential nomination raises the party's hopes that a strong turnout by African-American voters would help Democrats win two congressional seats long held by Republicans.

But that scenario is complicated by plans discussed by three black legislators to run as independents this fall in the 4th, 6th and 7th congressional districts. Sen. Lydia Jackson of Shreveport, Rep. Michael Jackson of Baton Rouge and Sen. Don Cravins Jr. of Opelousas say there are seriously considering bypassing the Democratic primary to file as independents on the November general election ballot.

In that way, they could take advantage of the Obama-driven minority turnout without having to first survive a Democratic primary or two against better-funded white candidates. Other Democrats worry that the legislators' strategy would split party voters and enable Republicans to hold the seats.

Besides the historic opportunity offered by Obama's potential candidacy, the legislators also express some resentment over the lack of financial and organizational backing given to black candidates in Louisiana.

Sen. Jackson said she is "considering running as an independent along with other legislators as sort of an independent ticket." Two white Democrats have announced they will run for the 4th District seat to be vacated by GOP Congressman Jim McCrery. Three Republicans have declared.

Rep. Jackson said he would consider running in the fall even if Rep. Don Cazayoux, D-New Roads, wins the May 2 special election over Republican Woody Jenkins and seeks a full term in the fall. Jackson, who lost the party runoff to Cazayoux this month, was outraised 5-1 and received little of the organized labor or other Democratic PAC money from Washington.

"Why endure the primary process when they (white candidates) have the advantage?" he said. "Why not make it one run?"

"We're just thinking about it, but it kind of makes sense," said Sen. Cravins, who worked in his father's unsuccessful 2004 run for Congress. Not expecting to get encouragement or financial support from national Democrats, he said, "I don't need their political baggage, because I'm pro-life and pro-gun."

African-Americans voters comprise 31 percent of the 4th District, 30 percent of the 6th and 24 percent of the 7th. Democrats have yet to field a challenger to Congressman Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette.

State Democratic party officials did not return calls for comment.

Judge Leads Supreme Court Poll

From Oct. 15

In the special Supreme Court election in Northeast Louisiana, which will be the largest in the state on the fall ballot, the only judge who is running leads in a poll that mainly registers name recognition. Campaigning has yet to begin in earnest for the Oct. 17 primary.

The 400-sample Verne Kennedy poll done for a group of area businessmen in last June showed: District Judge Marcus Clark of Monroe, 20 percent; Monroe attorney Paul Hurd, 9 percent; former governor's counsel Jimmy Faircloth of Alexandria, 6 percent; Undecided, 65 percent.

The Supreme Court district seat vacated by retired Justice Chet Traylor spans 20 parishes in northeast and central Louisiana, the largest being Ouachita.

All candidates are Republicans, though Clark switched parties this year. The ultimate winner is not expected to veer greatly from Traylor's conservative opinions or to shift the high court's conservative balance. Still, LABI, which has been the major play in court elections for the past two decades, will interview the candidates in August before its four regional PACs decide on making an endorsement.

How well Faircloth runs will be seen as another test of whether Gov. Bobby Jindal's popularity transfers to candidates he favors. Faircloth was instrumental in drafting last year's ethics legislation and fending off legislative efforts to open the records of the governor's office to more public scrutiny.

For now, Jindal helps as a draw for Faircloth's fundraising. On Monday, the governor attended a Faircloth fundraising event in Alexandria, which, according to one attendee, raked in over $100,000.

When asked if Jindal would support Faircloth in any way, the governor's communications office only acknowledged that Jindal attended the event at Faircloth's invitation.

The governor is likely to be careful about any public show of support for his former aide. Jindal's unprecedented involvement in a legislative race earlier this year blew up on him when the Senate hopeful he endorsed, Lee Domingue, proved to be a flawed candidate and was soundly defeated. Jindal said that would not stop him from endorsing future candidates.

They Said It

"I have a picture of it in my mind but I don't have it with me."

--Rep. Gil Pinac

"We snickered. We laughed. . . . And then he won."

--Quang X. Pham of Orange County, Calif., on Congressman-elect Anh Cao's campaign style, in the Picayune

"There was a point where I was asked to be vetted for that spot and I declined."

--Gov. Bobby Jindal on the vice presidency, on WDSU

"If you're just governor of Louisiana, you don't go to Iowa to see the corn."

--Clancy DuBos on Gov. Jindal's upcoming trip to Iowa and speculation on his presidential ambitions, on WWL

"Right now, people in Washington are afraid to buy somebody a cup of coffee."

--Congressman Rodney Alexander, on the Abramoff scandal, in the News Star

"Take whatever idiot they have at the top of whatever agency and get me a better idiot. . . . Just don't give me the same idiot."

--Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard

"I'd be shocked if politics played a role in this."

--Gov. Bobby Jindal, asked if V-Vehicle federal loan rejection was related to Louisiana joining a 14-state lawsuit challenging constitutionality of healthcare bill, in Monroe News Star

"Thank God my daddy didn't need a car to run over his mule to tell him he needed a tractor."

--Rep. DeWitt, responding to Rep. Troy Hebert's story about how his grandfather resisted change until his mule was killed in an accident.

"All these damned notes we're writing to each other as if we're talking, as if the FBI is watching."

--Congressman Bill Jefferson on FBI wiretap

"I believe that a lot of problems that presently exist in my life are directly connected to this nickname."

--Convicted murderer and rapper C-Miller on changing his name from C-Murder, in the Advocate

"They are tired of waiting. They will be dead in the grave before someone is around to shake their hand."

--Sen. Robert Adley on veterans awaiting state medals that the governor has been awarding personally, in the Picayune

"If y'all want that in English, we can get that for you later."

--DHH Secretary Alan Levine on explanation of Medicaid rules

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