Daily Dime
Sixty-five years ago today, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka that racial segregation in America’s public schools was unconstitutional. But as LBP’s Neva Butkus explains in a new blog, segregation still pervades Louisiana school districts.… Read more...
In Louisiana, we pride ourselves in putting family, and especially children, first. And yet, too many of our children are left behind as numerous studies and reports continue to show poor outcomes for our most vulnerable kids. Victor M. Jones of the Southern Poverty Law Center writing in NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune highlights a number of bills advancing through the Legislature this session that can have a profound effect on our children – both for good and bad – beginning with House Bill 160 which provides greater transparency in school data collection:
… Read more...Without data, we are unable to track the effectiveness of student disciplinary and school policing programs, assess school climate, or evaluate whether schools are complying with anti-discrimination laws.
Local elected officials across Louisiana have approved resolutions in support of House Bill 422, which would lift a 1997 state law that takes away the ability of local governments to determine wage and benefit levels for their residents. The city council of New Orleans, Alexandria, Shreveport, and the Caddo Parish Commission are on record in support of the bill, but the Baton Rouge Metro Council struck down a resolution along party lines.… Read more...
A House committee voted without objection Monday to advance a tax plan that would destabilize Louisiana’s finances by cutting $914 million in projected sales tax revenue over the next five years. Rep. Lance Harris’ House Bill 599 would roll back 0.45% of the state sales tax, thereby unraveling last year’s hard-fought compromise that brought Louisiana’s budget back into balance after years of shortfalls.… Read more...