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American Press
21-06-2025
- Politics
- American Press
Jim Beam column:Voters will see six amendments
Much of the job protection that Louisiana civil service workers enjoy will disappear if voters approve an amendment next April that changes that protecction. Louisiana legislators approved only six of the 21 proposed state constitutional amendments that were filed for their fiscal session that ended June 12. Unfortunately, they approved Senate Bill 8, one that would make it easier to move classified state workers whose jobs are protected by the state's civil service system into unclassified positions that aren't protected. The amendment sponsored by Sen. Jay Morris, R-West Monroe, passed the Senate 28-8 and the House 70-28, the exact two-thirds vote needed. Morris sponsored a similar bill in 2024 that came up two votes short of 70. The civil service system was passed during the term of Gov. Sam Jones of Lake Charles (1940-44) in order to avoid the scandals that occurred after U.S. Sen. Huey Long was assassinated. State employees, those appointed by Long when he was governor, were required to give 5% to 10% of their salaries to Long. They put that money into what was called the 'Deduct Box' that was never found. An AI overview said, 'On the day of his assassination, when asked about the box's whereabouts, Long replied, 'I'll tell you later, Seymour,' but he never revealed its location. Jimmie Davis was governor from 1944-48, and Earl Long, Huey's brother, was governor from 1948-52. Earl Long had a law passed allowing him to appoint members of the Civil Service Commission. That law didn't go far enough to suit him, so Long called a special legislative session in September of 1948 to abolish civil service. Robert F. Kennon was governor from 1952-56. He campaigned on taking 'a civics book' approach to government by eliminating corruption and he re-established the state's civil service system during his first year in office. SB 8 puts the system in danger again. And here is the rest of the amendment story: Five of the amendments that were approved are scheduled to be on the April 18, 2026, ballot seeking statewide voter approval. The sixth one is scheduled for the Nov. 3, 2026, ballot. One proposal that definitely deserved to die would have added two members to the five elected members of the state Public Service Commission that regulates public utilities. Those two would have been appointed by Gov. Jeff Landry. The Senate wisely decided not to eliminate the Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund amendment that would have moved trust funds to the Budget Stabilization Fund (the rainy day fund). It used $1.2 billion of the $3.9 billion in the revenue fund for infrastructure improvements (roads, bridges, ports, airports), and local water systems and college maintenance that has been delayed much too long. In addition to SB 8, here are the other four April 18, 2026, amendments: Senate Bill 25 (Act 218) allows the new city of St. George in East Baton Rouge Parish to create a school system. It cleared the Senate 26-5 and the House 70-24. House Bill 63 (Act 219) would change the mandatory retirement age of judges from 70 to 75. It passed the House 81-16 and the Senate 26-13, the exact two-thirds needed in the Senate. Similar amendments have been defeated by voters. The last vote came in 2014 when 58% of the voters who cast ballots rejected the amendment. HB 366 (Act 221) would authorize parishes to exempt business inventory taxes from property taxes and they would receive state funding if they exempt those taxes. It passed the House and Senate unanimously. HB 473 (Act 222) would eliminate three education trust funds in order to fund $2,250 permanent annual raises for certified teachers and $1,125 for school support workers. The amendment passed the House 95-1 and the Senate unanimously. Here is the Nov. 3, 2026, amendment: HB 300 increases the income limit for qualifying for the special property tax assessment level from $100,000 to $150,000 beginning in 2026. It would be adjusted for inflation annually beginning in 2028. The special assessment protects those who qualify from higher taxes. People who are 65 or older qualify for the special exemption along with spouses of armed forces and National Guard members who are killed in action and people with disabilities. We can expect to see much more news about the amendments before the first five show up next April 18 on state ballots. Jim Beam, the retired editor of the American Press, has covered people and politics for more than six decades. Contact him at 337-515-8871 or Reply Forward Add reaction
American Press
11-06-2025
- Politics
- American Press
Jim Beam column:Bad bills often surface late
The civil service system that serves Louisiana so well is targeted by late Legislative action. Writing about the Louisiana Legislature the day before it has to adjourn the next day at 6 p.m. is a risky undertaking. Sometimes lawmakers leave controversial bills sitting on the calendar and then pass them at the last minute. Senate Bill 8, a proposed state constitutional amendment that is designed to make it easier to fire employees protected by the state's civil service system, passed the Senate on May 15 with a 26-11 vote, the exact two-thirds vote needed. The House vote didn't take place until Monday and it cleared the lower chamber with a 70-28 vote, again with the exact two-thirds vote needed. Southwest Louisiana's 12 Republican senators and representatives voted for the bill. The Senate has to agree with a House amendment before the bill goes to the governor who is expected to sign it. Sen. Jay Morris, R-West Monroe, sponsored pretty much the same bill in 2024 that came up eight votes short of the 70 House votes needed. What he said last year explained his motive for sponsoring the legislation. The Louisiana Illuminator on May 29, 2024, reported that Morris 'said his preference would be to do away with civil service entirely, even though his bill stops short of doing so.' The Illuminator on June 5 reported that Morris' SB 8 was 'trying to change the state constitution to wrestle power away from the Civil Service Commission to eliminate state worker protections and could, according to some critics, allow for the quick firing of thousands of employees for any reason, creating fear that some dismissals could be politically motivated.' The Morris amendment would give lawmakers the power that currently rests with the Civil Service Commission. It is a seven-member independent review panel that oversees the hiring and firing of 28,000 'classified' state workers. Unclassified workers don't have that protection and can be fired 'at will' for no reason. Morris said, 'If you believe in democracy or republicanism — (because) we're a republic — then the Legislature should have some ability to alter how our civil service system works. Right now we can't do anything because the constitution prevents it.' Yes, it does prevent changes because voters approved the civil service system during the administration of the late-Gov. Sam Jones of Lake Charles (1940-44). Charles E. Dunbar Jr. is credited with drafting the 1940 and 1952 civil service basic laws and is considered the 'father' of the system. The Illuminator said some Democrats have taken issue with the ballot language on Morris' bill. They say it doesn't explicitly mention classified employees and could mislead voters into thinking the amendment doesn't affect those state workers who are currently protected under civil service. The news report said Republican Gov. Jeff Landry has tried repeatedly to exert authority over the civil service commission. In February, he tried unsuccessfully to revoke civil service classifications from 900 state jobs, mostly positions for engineers and attorneys, shortly after President Donald Trump made a similar move at the federal level. The state Civil Service Commission rejected Landry's request in a 4-2 decision. Daniel Sullivan, retired CEO with the Louisiana Civil Service League, in a letter to The Advocate said, '…This legislation would allow the entire classified civil service workforce in our state to be politicized…' Sullivan said 39,000 classified employees would be affected by Morris' legislation. He added that state civil service isn't perfect, but it is one of the most successful reforms in the state's history. He said it had received numerous national awards for the effectiveness of its human resource program. 'Our present system must be retained to ensure the most qualified applicants are hired and promoted, protected from political influence, and the incompetent or nonperforming are removed,' Sullivan said. 'Stop this political ploy before it returns us to the days of Huey Long and the deduct box.' The deduct box was a system where state employees, particularly those appointed by Long, were required to give 5% to 10% of their salary to Long himself. The major civil service complaint is that it's too hard to fire classified employees who aren't performing well. However, the Civil Service Commission has the power to make reforms that are necessary. Voters statewide will decide the fate of Morris' amendment on April 18, 2026. I hope the voters reject the amendment because of what it is — an effort to deny classified workers the job protection they deserve. Jim Beam, the retired editor of the American Press, has covered people and politics for more than six decades. Contact him at 337-515-8871 or Reply Forward Add reaction
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Immigration Enforcement Bill Sent To Abbott After House And Senate Reach Agreement
(Texas Scorecard) – A high-profile immigration enforcement measure is now headed to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk after both chambers approved a compromise hammered out in conference committee over the last week. Senate Bill 8, a top priority of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and the Republican Party of Texas, requires all Texas sheriffs who operate or contract to operate a jail to pursue formal cooperation agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement under Section 287(g) of the federal Immigration and Nationality Act. State Rep. David Spiller (R–Jacksboro), who led negotiations for the House, called the legislation 'heavily negotiated.' When the Senate first passed SB 8 in April, it applied only to sheriffs in counties with populations over 100,000. But the House broadened the bill significantly, requiring universal coverage for all counties that run jails, regardless of population. That provision was maintained in the final version. 'We improved the bill with a floor substitute to provide for universal coverage of the 287(g) program to all counties that operate or contract to operate a jail,' Spiller told House members Monday. 'SB 8, in its original form, only had counties with a population of 100,000 or more. This version has expanded that to all counties.' Under the final language, counties may enter into any of the three ICE partnership models allowed under federal law—the task force model, jail enforcement model, or the warrant service model that had been emphasized in the House version. The conference committee also made a major funding shift. While the House had created both a grant and reimbursement program to support implementation, the final bill eliminates the reimbursement system and substantially increases grant funding instead. 'The monies that were there for the entirety are now basically front-end loaded,' said Spiller. 'We addressed concerns that counties needed funds to be able to implement and operate. We've done that.' The grant program awards counties between $80,000 and $140,000, depending on population, to help cover the cost of implementing an agreement with ICE. These funds can be used for officer compensation, reporting requirements, equipment, training, and detention-related expenses not reimbursed by the federal government. 'What we now have, in my view, is a very strong bill that achieves the public safety purposes of the bill,' Spiller said. 'It provides universal coverage and cooperation, provides necessary funding to the counties, guarantees coordination with the executive orders and President Trump, and provides assistance and cooperation with our federal partners to assist in enforcing existing immigration law.' The legislation now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott, who is expected to sign it into law.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Bill requiring that Texas sheriffs work with federal immigration authorities heads to governor's desk
Texas would further cement its role in enforcing immigration laws under a bill the state Legislature sent to the governor Sunday that would require most sheriffs to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Gov. Greg Abbott has signaled support for such an idea, and President Donald Trump — whose administration could receive a big personnel boost for its mass deportation ambitions if Texas joins the effort — endorsed the proposed law Friday as state lawmakers worked on the latest compromise. The version of Senate Bill 8 that lawmakers ultimately voted to send to the governor would require sheriffs who run or contract out operations of a jail to request and enter agreements with ICE under a federal law that lets ICE extend limited immigration authority to local law enforcement officers. The bill would cover approximately 234 of the state's 254 counties, according to a bill author. Over the weekend, SB 8 received strong condemnation from some Democrats, high praise from immigration hardliners who had pushed all legislative session for a more sweeping bill, and ultimately a final green light from the GOP-dominated Legislature: The Senate approved the bill 20-11 and the House 89-52. 'It's not just about securing the border, it's about public safety,' Rep. David Spiller, a Jacksboro Republican who carried the bill in the House, said Sunday after the House vote. 'The focus previously before President Trump got back in office was mainly [to] secure the border. That's being done, but we still have to deal with what's happened over the past four years — and quite frankly the years before that — so the focus is still the same but it's slightly directed more toward just a public safety concern.' The federal government offers three kinds of partnerships, known as 287(g) agreements, that local authorities can enter with ICE. SB 8 previously required sheriffs only to enter into agreements involving serving administrative warrants in jails. The final version allows sheriffs to request any of the three agreements, including one that lets ICE authorize local officers to question people about their immigration status while doing their daily policing in the field. The Trump administration revived that program after it fell into disuse due to allegations that it led to racial profiling. Seventy-three law enforcement agencies in the state already have 287(g) agreements with ICE — including the state National Guard and the Texas Attorney General's office, according to statistics published by ICE. Most of the agreements are for the two jail programs. Before the votes in each chamber, Democrats raised concerns that SB 8 will erode immigrant communities' trust in law enforcement, result in racial profiling by law enforcement and place a financial burden on counties that have long complained that such agreements add new responsibilities for already-strapped law enforcement agencies. Sen. Charles Schwertner, a Georgetown Republican who co-authored the bill with Houston Republican Sen. Joan Huffman, dismissed the worries during the upper chamber's Saturday debate, arguing in part that voters asked for it. He also highlighted a grant program under SB 8, expanded under the final version, that would help to offset costs not covered by the federal government and said sheriffs would have discretion to select which program to participate in. 'The people of the United States and of Texas spoke very clearly last November regarding their concerns of illegal immigration and the concerns of criminal illegal aliens doing great harm to communities to Texas cities and counties,' Schwertner told his colleagues. 'That's why I filed this bill.' Sen. Roland Gutierrez, a San Antonio Democrat who is an immigration lawyer, brought up a racial profiling documentary about Texas police pulling over and harassing Black drivers, whose belongings — like cars and jewelry — they would confiscate through forfeiture cases that became a boon for a local government, he said. 'Are you not afraid of the potentiality for racial profiling by police if they see what presumably looks like Mexican or Hispanic people in a truck, that they will not be pulled over simply because of the color of their skin?' he asked Schwertner. 'Senator, our world is not racially blind, color blind,' Schwertner responded. 'There are obviously inherent biases of individuals. That said, there are ways to properly train … there is training to address the concerns of racial profiling.' 'Well, I'm glad that you agree with me that racism is still alive and well in this country,' Gutierrez said. The Trump administration is trying to shorten training for the program, according to Schwertner's testimony during a Senate panel hearing on the bill in March. During debate on the House floor, some lawmakers pointed to evidence of racial profiling, most notably by the sheriff of Arizona's Maricopa County, Joe Arpaio, whose deputies regularly engaged in misconduct that violated the constitutional rights of Latinos stemming from the program, according to a federal probe. 'It is one of the most inhuman models,' state Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins, D-San Antonio, said. SB 8 would become the latest move state lawmakers take to carve out the state's lane in immigration enforcement. Other states have followed suit by passing similar laws that together could recalibrate states' role in what was long held by courts to be the federal government's sole responsibility. Texas is home to about 11% of immigrants in the United States and an estimated 1.6 million undocumented persons — the second-most in the country after California. Two years ago the Legislature approved a bill to grant Texas police the authority to arrest people suspected of being in the country illegally. During the Biden administration, the U.S. Justice Department sued Texas to stop the measure from going into effect, as did civil rights and advocacy groups. The incoming Trump administration swiftly dropped the lawsuit, and the state has argued for the dismissal of a related legal challenge, arguing that the Department of Homeland Security and Texas law enforcement are already cooperating to enforce federal immigration laws. Before then, the state in 2017 prohibited local government policies that prevent a peace officer from asking about a person's immigration status, targeting municipalities that declared themselves 'sanctuary cities' and directed local police not to cooperate with federal immigration officials during Trump's first term. 'SB 8 will not make our communities safer, but it will force sheriffs to do the work of ICE in support of the federal government's shameful mass deportation efforts,' Sarah Cruz of the ACLU of Texas said in a statement Sunday. 'The legislature should not strip local communities of their ability to make decisions about what keeps them safe.' First round of TribFest speakers announced! Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Maureen Dowd; U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio; Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker; U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California; and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas are taking the stage Nov. 13–15 in Austin. Get your tickets today!
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Legislature OKs bill requiring sheriffs to partner with federal authorities to enforce immigration laws
AUSTIN (Nexstar) — The Texas legislature gave the final approval of Senate Bill 8, which will require almost every single county in the state to partner with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to enforce federal immigration laws. It's a move supporters say will keep Texans safe while aligning the state with the Trump administration on strict immigration enforcement. Opponents argue it could lead to overcrowding in jails, a chilling effect on reporting crimes, and racial profiling in minority communities. After going through various changes throughout the legislative process, lawmakers in both chambers finally came to an agreement on the final language of the bill a day before a deadline that would have killed the bill before getting to the governor's desk. SB 8 would require every sheriffs department in a county that operates a jail, or contracts with a private jail, to enter into an agreement with ICE known as 287(g). Currently in Texas there are 234 counties that this bill applies to, according to the bill's author State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown. 'Texas needs to be much more proactive in identifying, detaining, prosecuting and deporting criminal illegal aliens,' Schwertner said. The 287(g) program allows sheriff's deputies to assume some ICE duties, like questioning migrants, issuing warrants or arresting them for immigration violations, depending on their specific training. There are three models within the 287(g) program a law enforcement agency can enter into. They include: Jail Enforcement Model – allows officers to question people to determine immigration status, put their information into a Homeland Security database, take statements and begin the deportation process with an immigration detainer and notice to appear. Warrant Service Officer – a narrower scope than jail enforcement, with officers identifying people as non-citizens during the booking process, referring those people to ICE for evaluation and possible deportation, and serving ICE administrative warrants on people in their custody, according to the ACLU. Task Force Model – described by ICE as a 'force multiplier,' allowing local officers to enforce immigration laws during their routine duties in the community. The final version of the bill gives discretion to sheriffs to decide which of the three models it will enter into with ICE. Sheriffs could decide to enter into more than one type of model, but it is not required to have more than one. It also provides a grant program to help counties cover the cost of training staff or operating the program. The grant amount ranges between $80,000 and $140,000 depending on the size of the county. In laying out the bill on the Senate floor, Schwertner said it sends a clear message. 'Texas will not tolerate criminal illegal aliens threatening our communities,' Schwertner said. But Democratic members in the Senate raised concerns with the bill. It passed along party lines in the Senate. Opponents of the 287(g) program have argued the incorporation of local law enforcement in federal immigration enforcement will lead many people to not call in the case of emergency out of fear it could lead to them or their family being deported. 'That's an issue that I have, that we're going to potentially drive immigrants into the shadows, and you know, make them victims, or have them a bull's eye of potential crimes,' State Sen. José Menéndez, D – San Antonio, said to Schwertner on the Senate floor. Schwertner argued it would not prevent lawfully present citizens from calling the police in an emergency. 'The people of the United States and of Texas spoke very clearly last November regarding their concerns of illegal immigration and the concerns of criminal illegal aliens doing great harm to communities,' Schwertner said. But Menéndez pointed there are some families with mixed status, where the parents may not lawfully be in the country but their children are. 'If people understand that that family, there's an undocumented person, they have a target now, because people know, well, they won't call the police because there's an undocumented person in that household,' Menéndez explained. Another concern is the capacity in Texas jails. The 287(g) program would require counties place an immigration detainer on an inmate that is deemed to be in the country illegally. Opponents argue this would be costly for counties to hold on to somebody in the jail and wait for federal immigration officials to pick them up. There's also an issue of space. According to data from the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, between January and February this year there were 7,481 inmates in Texas jails with an immigration detainer placed on them. Those inmates spent a total of 156,494 days in jail, which averages out to about 21 days per inmate in jail. The total cost to the state is estimated to be more than $14 million, according to the data. 'What are we going to do when these jails must have a 287(g) agreement with the federal government to hold people who are not rapists, murderers or people who have been involved in aggravated assault, they are just people who are not here legally,' State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, D – Austin, said to Schwertner on the Senate floor. 'They are criminals, in the sense they are illegal aliens. The program does allow for expedite transfer to ICE to properly adjudicate those individuals,' Schwertner responded. Many opponents to the bill have pointed out concerns with the task force model within the 287(g) program. That model, as Schwertner explained, allows non-federal law enforcement, such as sheriff's deputies, to enforce immigration laws within the community as opposed to inside a jail. Some believe it will lead to racial profiling in minority communities. 'Are you not afraid of the potentiality for racial profiling by police if they see what presumably looks like Mexican or Hispanic people in a truck that they will not be pulled over simply because of the color of their skin,' State Sen. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, asked Schwertner. Schwertner agreed racial biases do exist in the world, but argued the sheriffs department and ICE would have oversight on who they place in a task force model. 'Through the 287(g) program task force model, there is training to address the concerns of racial profiling, there are procedures,' Schwertner said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
