Analysis: Business group could double political donations

By JEREMY ALFORD
LaPolitics.com
The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry is expected to achieve “big PAC” status by the end of the year for its four political action committees, which will allow the group to double the amount of money it gives to candidates.
Right now, as “small PACs,” LABI’s NorthPAC, SouthPAC, WestPAC and EastPAC can individually provide candidates with a maximum contribution of $2,500. If all four PACs get behind a single candidate, that politico can capture $10,000.
Moving into the 2015 statewide and legislative cycle, a $5,000 or $20,000 donation must sound tempting to campaigns, and will be a major carrot during the regular session.
The PACs started accepting online donations earlier this fall — through northpacla.org, southpacla.org, westpacla.org and eastpacla.org — and the goal is to boost the membership of all four, separately, to 250 donors, with each giving a minimum of $50. That threshold must be achieved for big PAC status.
Brian Landry, LABI’s vice president of political action, said most of the PACs are just a few members away from that threshold, with NorthPAC needing the most, about 10 new $50 members before Dec. 31. But it should have a bow around it by Christmas morning.
“With that said we are not going to stop fundraising for a minute,” said Landry. “Well, we might take off Christmas Day, but otherwise it is full steam ahead for 2015. This is a critical election cycle, and we want to be fully prepared to support highly qualified pro-business candidates.”
That may or may not include the governor’s race. When asked about the top of the ballot, LABI’s decision-makers have said it’s still up in the air.
But those involved with the process over the years contend it would be rare. By most accounts, only three governors have received the backing of the PACs in recent memory: Dave Treen; Mike Foster, who actually turned it down after seeking the group’s support; and Bobby Jindal, back when he had re-election in the bag.
“Our PACs will be vetting all candidates and looking at this race very closely,” said Landry.
No immediate transition of party leadership
Party diehards on both sides of the fence are asking very different questions with similar angles.
After dominating statewide elections, supporters wonder what else Roger Villere, chairman of the Louisiana Republican Party, can accomplish. And after being on the losing end of that success, blame is lightly and quietly being tossed around for state Sen. Karen Carter Peterson, chairwoman of the Louisiana Democratic Party.
Villere tells LaPolitics that the 2015 statewide and legislative races will be his swan song.
“About a year and a half or so,” Villere said. “I’m done after that.”
Following a recent speech to the Baton Rouge Press Club, Peterson was cornered with a question by a reporter about finishing her term or stepping down. Peterson sounded like she has the job she wants.
“Why wouldn’t I?” she responded, her voice reaching a crescendo. “I was elected for four years.”
Key legislative seats still unfilled
As the year winds down, three important positions in the House are vacant, including a chairmanship and seats on the budget-writing and education committees.
Rep. Herbert Dixon, D-Alexandria, resigned from House District 26 earlier this month, leaving the gavel for the House Labor and Industrial Relations Committee up for grabs. Currently, Rep. Chris Broadwater, R-Hammond is the vice chairman.
The recent resignation of Rep. Simone Champagne, R-Erath, also left vacancies open on the House Appropriations Committee and the House Education Committee.
House Speaker Chuck Kleckley, R-Lake Charles, said he’s close to selecting someone for the Appropriations Committee, which is the first panel to get its hands on the budget.
“Appropriations isn’t as coveted as it used to be with all of the problems with the budget, but several lawmakers are very interested and have contacted me,” said the speaker, adding he’ll consult with Appropriations Chair Jim Fannin, R-Jonesboro, on the appointment.
With full budget hearings beginning as early as March, Kleckley said he’ll make his appointment sometime in early January. The new chairmanship of the House Labor and Industrial Relations Committee should be decided sooner than later as well.
As for the seat on the House Education Committee, Kleckley said he’ll likely wait until the Feb. 21 special legislative elections are decided in House Districts 8, 26, 49 and 66. You can learn more about those races here: http://lapolitics.com/2015-legislative-races/.
Campbell hits redial on phone debate
Barely a month after being re-elected, Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell is saying he plans to reignite one of the hottest regulatory issues of recent years in his next term. He wants to complete the PSC’s reform of the inmate telephone industry.
“The PSC cut rates for calls from jail by 25 percent in December 2012 and banned all added fees, but the fee ban was rolled back four months later,” he said. “During an 18-month PSC investigation our staff found that inmate families pay an average of 30 times more per minute to speak to their loved ones behind bars than we do on the outside, not including outrageous fees added to bills such as $10 to buy $50 worth of talk time and $10 to get a refund. We also found that inmate telephone providers pay steep commissions to jails to obtain contracts for handling these calls.”
While that will put Campbell at odds with law enforcement officials again, since they rely on the revenue, he has national news at his back. A proposal by the Federal Communications Commission to ban such commissions grabbed big headlines recently. It comes on the heels of a recent FCC decision lowering the cost of inmate calls that cross state lines.
Baton Rouge throws electoral weight around
With the 2014 U.S. Senate race, East Baton Rouge Parish reinforced its status as a leading force in statewide Louisiana elections.
East Baton Rouge voters cast 131,389 ballots in the Dec. 6 runoff, more than the other most active parish, Jefferson, which accounted for 109,672 votes. Here’s how the next three parishes stacked up in the runoff:
—Orleans: 102,983 votes.
—St. Tammany: 76,509 votes.
—Caddo: 69,755 votes.
U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, a New Orleans Democrat, carried East Baton Rouge in the runoff, besting Congressman Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, by six points, down from her 16-point advantage in the parish in 2008.
It’s a clear sign that Baton Rouge has become a voter-rich hub for statewide politicos. As such, it should start receiving special attention in coming elections.
They Said It
“These guys are the most absurd people I’ve ever seen running government, and it’s a joke. The last time I saw this many clowns I was at the circus.” — BESE Chairman Chas Roemer on the Jindal administration, in The Associated Press
For more Louisiana political news, visit www.LaPolitics.com or follow Jeremy Alford on Twitter @LaPoliticsNow.