By Pat Culverhouse
Freshman Louisiana state legislator Senator Adam Bass has become very familiar with the hallways and meeting rooms of the state Capitol during his first term as the District 36 representative.
Between regular sessions and special sessions, “We’ve spent more time in Baton Rouge in session during the last year than at any other year in history,” Bass told members of the Minden Lions Club Thursday.
Sessions ranged from redistricting to taxation and Bass said results were mostly positive.
“We did some good things and there were issues that we still must resolve,” he said.
On reapportionment, Bass said he was unhappy with the realignment of one state Supreme Court district which was created as a majority-minority district. The district winds its way from Baton Rouge to Shreveport and remains under review.
“There’s not much in common between Baton Rouge and Shreveport, and I believe it could take away our voice on the court. I would like to see north Louisiana keep a voice on the Supreme Court,” Bass said.
Bass said the legislature’s first special session dealt with high crime rates across the state and in cities, including Shreveport, Baton Rouge and New Orleans. He told Lions members of additional constitutional concealed and carry legislation, plus laws which allowed 17-year-olds to be tried as adults.
On insurance, Bass said one of the state’s big problems is not an affordability problem, but one of availability with companies pulling out of the state.
“I’m not very optimistic about auto insurance in the state,” he said. “We seem to be more injury prone in this state with people getting hurt at a rate more than twice the national average. We need more transparency in injury lawsuits.”
Bass serves on the senate’s Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee and he spoke of movement in tax reform during one legislative session. Changes in tax laws saw personal income tax placed at a flat 3 percent rate, corporate tax drop to 4.5 percent and a state sales tax increase from 4.5 to 5 percent.
A Constitutional amendment scheduled for a March ballot in the state could, if approved, double deductions for people 65-years-old and older and give teachers permanent pay raises.
“My goal is to have no state income tax,” he said. “We are the only state in the south where more people are moving out and we have to reverse that trend. With no income tax, people would be more likely to stay.”
Bass said nearly all surrounding states to Louisiana either have no state income tax or are moving in the direction to eliminate the tax.
“We currently rank number 42 in tax policy and with these packages, our ranking will improve,” he said. “Cutting our ranking is a huge step. It doesn’t mean we’ve got everything right, but it means we have taken the right steps.”
Bass said he had successfully presented his first bill to the legislature, one which provides a strategically-placed safe place for babies which may not be wanted by mothers. The “Baby Box Bill” provides a place, such as fire and police stations, where these babies can be safely cared for, he said.
He also carried the bill which allows for public display of the Ten Commandments through passage in the Senate.
“The ACLU has sued to stop the Ten Commandments bill and that is being adjudicated at this time,” he said. “I think the bill is constitutional, but it’s still making its way through the courts.”
In response to a question concerning preadjudication of juveniles, Bass said Gov. Jeff Landry had promised to study the problem with an eye on the possibility of establishing regional juvenile correctional facilities.
“The governor appointed Kenny Loftin as head of the O.J.J. (Office of Juvenile Justice), and I believe he knows what is going on,” Bass said. “I believe there has been progress in studying the problem, but at the end of the day it’s money that is the issue. Where’s the funding coming from?”