State Representative District 77

A Note From John

Dear Friends,

As we speed towards a fiscal session, budget hearings begin March 31 on HB 1. This is a long process, but it gives those on the Appropriations Committee the opportunity to investigate the Governor's proposals for spending in the 2009 - 2010 fiscal year. Now entering my second year on the budget committee, I have come to realize something: our state is suffering from a systemic problem. Many departments suffer from a lack of management, bloated work forces, and little accountability, much less service to the customer. It is my belief that government is 20-25% too large and must be scaled back. We must look towards business-type efficiencies and implement accountabilities that ensure the tax payer is receiving the best service.

I have been working with several freshman legislators on legislation that will deal with the biggest reform measures this term. First, we have filed a resolution to create a committee to determine the viability of a constitutional convention. It must be determined how best to attack the issue of dedicated funds, which has handcuffed the legislature's ability to adequately fund healthcare and higher ed. Second, a resolution "strongly" encouraging that accountability measures be implemented has been proposed. We must maximize efficiency, minimize waste, and save tax payer dollars. Third, legislation to revamp the civil service system, which has enabled people to get near-automatic pay increases and job protection based on seniority. This is major reform and will be critical to saving tax payer money and providing better services. Last, "ear mark" reform is long overdue. Little has been accomplished in the past, forcing the Governor to veto more than 200 ear marks last year!! We hope to create legislation to seriously limit how tax payer monies are spent on non-profit and local government, issues that should either be covered by the community or by local governing bodies.

You will hear about all of the money the state has in different funds and that these funds should be used to plug budget holes. Though I might be inclined to be open to those discussions, I will caution my colleagues not to avoid the real issues of reducing the size of government and the amount of wasteful spending. It will be very tempting to rob these funds, because making all the cuts will be very difficult and unpopular.

In the end I want you to remember something: government has failed this state. We spend at near-record national rates, but our outcomes are near the bottom of all statistics.

So why do we fight so hard to keep status quo??

I will be fighting the status quo and will vigorously push for the change that gets the size and growth of government under control.

Wish us a happy session.

John M. Schroder, Sr.
State Representative
District 77

P.S. KEEPING IN TOUCH DURING THE SESSION

You may not be able to travel to Baton Rouge for committee hearings or the session debates, but you can watch them on the internet. Just go to the State Legislature's website at www.legis.state.la.us. You can keep up with our schedule and watch live or archived meetings and days of session. You can email me at jschrode@legis.state.la.us with your comments and suggestions. Typically I can answer you more quickly via email while in session as I check my messages on a regular basis during the day.

Government Links

Important Dates

FREE BREAST CANCER SCREENING IN HAMMOND

Free clinical breast exams will be performed by a physician or nurse practitioner for women 18 and older at the Hammond Health Unit, 15481 Hammond Club Deluxe Road, on April 3rd from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. until 2 p.m. Screening mammograms will be available for women 40 and older who do not have a doctor and have not had a mammogram in the past 12 months. Insurance will be billed for mammograms; there is no charge for women without insurance. An appointment is required. Please call (888) 616-4687.

Hurricane Preparedness

Regular Hurricane Season Dates:
Atlantic, Carribean, Gulf of Mexico
June 1 - November 30

Evacuation Routes
Contraflow

Download the Red Cross PDF Preparedness Sheet
NOAA Hurricane Preparedness
WWL Hurricane Resource Center
St. Tammany Parish Hurricane/EOC
Tangipahoa Parish Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness
LA Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness

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Governor Jindal and the SLU vs. LSU Tailgate

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