The top issues that will be carried over into the 2013 regular session. Retirement To help craft his proposed (but only partially successful) retirement reforms, Gov. Bobby Jindal paid $400,000 to Buck Consultants of New Jersey. The contract doesn’t end …

An overview of the new state laws supporting Louisiana’s veterans and military families — House Bill 945 by Rep. Henry Burns, R-Haughton  Extends TOPS eligibility for students that reenlist and maintain continuous active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces prior …

What are the top five ongoing security-related contracts awarded by the state this year?  —–No. 1——- Contractor: Cypress Audit Team Amount: $6.2 million Description: Make routine and special audits of records of hospitals and other entities; hourly rate: $83.11 per …

Which college athletic officials and coaches have the highest state salaries?  Last week we started peeling back the layers of the state’s 110 employees who take home annual salaries of $200,000 or greater. While it’s well known that coaches and …

The largest state salaries not related to education and health care.  According to records released by state Civil Service, there are 110 state employees who are presently being paid annual salaries of $200,000 or more. Just as it is with …

What are your lawmakers saying online? (A few) days left and the Louisiana State Legislature well adjourn sine die. Still a lot of work to do… “Great works are performed, not by strength, but by perseverance.” Dr. Samuel Johnson   – …

Who has the biggest salaries in the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana? – Maureen Westgard, $250,000.00, Unclassified, Director – Philip Griffith, $165,000.00, Unclassified, Chief Investment Officer – Roy Mongrue, $154,461.00, Unclassified, Executive Counsel – Arthur Cagle, $152,277.00, Unclassified, Deputy Director …

The six points of agreement that led to a cease-fire on Louisiana’s legacy battle. Gov. Bobby Jindal announced a landmark compromise Wednesday evening for the Legislature’s ongoing legacy debate. Legacy lawsuits involve the contamination of land by oil and gas …

What happens to the budget if one-time monies are taken out? Arguing that nonrecurring revenues should not be used for recurring expenses, the House voted last week to pull $268 million worth of one-time monies out of the state budget. …

Why the administration is opposed to contract-cutting legislation. For the second year in a row, the Appropriations Committee has approved House Bill 327, which calls for a 10 percent reduction in the total dollar amount for professional, personal and consulting …