Good Morning, Buddy Roemer was the last governor from north Louisiana and the only one in the past generation who tried to take a visionary role in the state’s overtly politicized and transactional top job. He was 77 when he died Monday. A young congressman in 1987, Roemer beat Edwin W. Edwards with a “drain the swamp” campaign narrative. Roemer’s one term as governor was beset with staggering crisis both personal and global. With the state teetering on bankruptcy after the great 1980s crash of oil prices, Roemer stabilized the state’s finances, then instituted fiscal reforms – such as the Revenue Estimating Conference, which meets today at 11 a.m. – to impose more realistic protocols on how Louisiana gathers and spends taxpayer dollars. He pushed through gambling – now the state’s largest source of tax revenues and jobs – and started real ethics enforcement that has all but eliminated the once common headline of some state official being packed off to prison. The Roemer Revolution had significant impact, though much of that will be recognized only in hindsight. Protests over statements about the “good of slavery” has slowed down legislative action for nearly three weeks. The controversy is coming to an end with the apparent ouster late Monday of House Education Committee Chairman Ray Garofalo, R-Chalmette. An official announcement is expected Tuesday, though just how this is being done is still being worked out. Action in both Senate and House chambers moves into a higher gear on Tuesday. The recreational marijuana proposal, along with ways to tax it, is finally headed for a vote Tuesday evening, maybe. (Legalizing weed for recreational use, which has surprising support, twice has been set for what will be the first floor vote in the state's history on the issue.) Meanwhile, the Senate is scheduled to vote on sports betting Tuesday evening. Voters in 55 of the state's 64 parishes endorsed a proposition in November allowing residents in those parishes to make wagers on football, basketball, and other sports. But before anyone can place a wager, however, lawmakers need to establish how it would work, how much it would cost, and how it would be regulated. The Senate takes up two bills that allows sports betting on cell phones, at bars and restaurants serving alcohol, and in casinos, setting up the structure, taxes, and fees. Continual coverage, all day long, of the Louisiana Legislature is available online using this link: https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/legislature/ As always, check throughout the day for the latest Louisiana political news at theadvocate.com/politics or NOLA.com/politics and on Twitter at @MarkBallardCNB, @tegbridges, @samkarlin, @blakepater, @WillSentell. Here are a dozen articles, commentaries and editorials that will catch you up for the week to come. The Advocate is conducting a reader survey to learn more about how we can meet your needs and interests. One last item: Thank you to our subscribers. Your support means a great deal to us. If you're not yet a subscriber, we’ve got a special offer you can check out here. – Mark Ballard |