Political optimism
University of Louisiana System President Rick Gallot said he is anticipating beneficial things for his nine universities after Donald Trump claimed last week’s presidential election.
“If the House doesn’t change, and Mike Johnson remains speaker, then obviously that bodes well for the Maritime Academy and some other initiatives that we’ve got commitments on from he and the other members of the delegation,” Gallot said at the Baton Rouge Press Club luncheon Monday.
The Legislature created the Universities of Louisiana Maritime Academy in 2023. It will primarily be based at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux and will specialize in training students for jobs navigating vessels inland and on coastal waterways.
Gallot also said former President Trump’s commitment to reversing oil and gas regulations could be good for his system, particularly McNeese State, home to the LNG Center for Excellence, which studies the liquified natural gas industry.
When asked about the potential downsides of the administration, including rumors of scaling back or eliminating the U.S. Department of Education, Gallot said he is taking a wait-and-see approach.
“We will have to cross that bridge when we get there,” Gallot said. “Right now, I’m hearing some things that are, quite frankly, going to be beneficial to our institutions.”
In addition to potentially disbanding the Department of Education, policy experts predict Trump’s platform could have an impact on the number of student visa-holders that could affect universities that enroll a large number of international students. UL System institutions primarily serve students from Louisiana, however, with approximately 88% calling Louisiana home, Gallot said.
Landry’s tax plan could mean more $ for higher ed
The Louisiana House of Representatives approved the second part of a legislative combo that would provide make permanent a K-12 public school teacher pay raise and free up $75 million in the budget that lawmakers expect to go toward higher education.
House Bill 5 by Rep. Tony Bacala, R-Prairieville, advanced Thursday on a 99-0 vote. Together with House Bill 7 by Rep. Julie Emerson, R-Carencro, the legislation would use constitutionally protected funds to pay down approximately $2 billion dollars in state teacher retirement system debt. Local school districts would be required to use money they would have put toward that debt to make a $2,000 stipend the Legislature provided on a temporary basis for the past two years a permanent part of teachers’ salaries.
A $1,000 stipend for school support workers would also be made permanent.
Emerson’s bill, which cleared the House on a 81-15 vote, is a constitutional amendment that requires voter approval and also contains several other constitutional changes required to make Republican Gov. Jeff Landry’s tax package complete.
The two bills will next be discussed in Senate committees.
Tying in the teacher pay aspect, which has near-total bipartisan support, could play a crucial role in turning out voters to support the amendment. Landry has faced pushback from Democrats on portions of the proposal that could increase the tax burden of low- and middle-income individuals. Business interests object to the elimination of certain tax exemptions aimed at drawing jobs and investment to the state.
The retirement debt payment would also free up about $75 million annually currently paid toward the debt by Louisiana’s four higher education systems: University of Louisiana, LSU, Southern and the community and technical college system. Legislators, including Appropriations Chair Rep. Jack McFarland, currently seem in favor of allowing higher education to retain that savings, but this would not be finalized until the Legislature crafts the 2025-26 budget in its spring legislative session.
Allowing higher education to retain these savings would make up for the approximately $20 million in support institutions will lose by dissolving the three state funds.
The total package is aimed at stabilizing the state budget after years of relying on a temporary 0.45% sales tax scheduled to expire June 30. If the plan passes in its entirety, analysts say it will result in a small, permanent increase in revenue for the state general fund, which pays for most state government services.
But it also will lead to an overall loss of state revenue, particularly money kept in reserve accounts, of a few hundred million dollars annually.
What I’m reading
Texas A&M Cuts Programs Amid Political Pressure By Josh Moody | Inside Higher Ed
US House approves repeal of provisions that docked Social Security for 90,000 Louisiana workers By Mark Ballard | The Advocate
Louisiana Senate approves proposal making it easier to send minors to adult prisons By Julie O’Donoghue | Louisiana Illuminator
Court temporarily limits scope of ruling that Louisiana’s Ten Commandments law is unconstitutional By Kevin McGill | Associated Press
Louisiana legislators threaten to remove state ethics board members, issue subpoenas By Julie O’Donoghue | Louisiana Illuminator
LSU student senate rebukes Landry’s tiger
The LSU student senate unanimously passed a resolution this week calling for the immediate halt of the use of live tigers at football games.
The resolution is related to the appearance of a live tiger at the LSU-Alabama game. The resolution was authored by Speaker Pro Tempore Ethan Elmer and co-sponsored by 14 other senators. It will be sent to LSU President William F. Tate IV, LSU Athletics Director Scott Woodward and Gov. Jeff Landry.
The controversial move to bring the tiger to games was the culmination of a months-long campaign from Landry, who initially requested LSU bring Mike VII, its live tiger mascot. LSU declined this request, citing humanitarian concerns. Landry instead turned to other tigers, and ultimately settled on Omar Bradley, whose owner Mitchel Kalmanson has a long history of mistreating animals in his care.
The tiger’s presence was condemned by thousands and was the topic of a small number of protests outside the stadium.
The resolution was praised by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, who vowed to send the student senators vegan chocolates.
“After nearly universal public condemnation over this stupid stunt, the LSU student government’s unanimous response drives home the point that only one person thought it was a good idea to bring a stressed tiger to a noisy football game: Louisiana’s Tiger King wannabe governor, Jeff Landry, who didn’t even attend LSU. Landry’s desperate bid for attention backfired spectacularly,” Klayton Rutherford, PETA Foundation associate director of captive wildlife research, said in a statement.