[StBernard] Newcomer shows legislative vets not best at reform

[Westley Annis]

Newcomer shows legislative vets not best at reform

By WILL SENTELL
Capitol news bureau
Published: Feb 23, 2006

It is worth noting the lawmaker most responsible for likely levee changes in
Louisiana has been in the Legislature for barely two years.It is also
notable the levee package marked the third time that Sen. Walter Boasso,
R-Arabi, has left an impact on a key state issue since arriving in Baton
Rouge.

Before Hurricane Katrina, Boasso already was a veteran of two other
super-sensitive issues: river pilot rules and curbing state retirement
benefits .

So much for paying dues. So much for the view that lawmakers need years and
years to learn the ropes. So much for the notion Louisiana is best left in
the hands of time-tested veterans.

Boasso was the chief sponsor of a plan that won approval last week to put
key levee operations in southeast Louisiana under the control of two
professional boards. The package, up for statewide voter approval Sept. 30,
also would abolish levee boards in Orleans and other parishes that have come
under heavy fire since Hurricane Katrina struck Aug. 29.

Backers said the plan is critical to luring residents back to New Orleans,
restarting the state's economy and ensuring federal hurricane aid.

The landmark legislation won approval in a 12-day special session, the need
for which was questioned by House Speaker Joe Salter, D-Florien, and Senate
President Don Hines, D-Bunkie. They have a combined 33 years in the
statehouse.

The Senate criticism was led by Sen. Francis Heitmeier, D-New Orleans, a
22-year veteran.

Heitmeier and others led the charge to split levee oversight between two new
boards, which Boasso and others agreed to when it was apparent the original
one-board plan was doomed.

Others running interference for levee operations on the west side of the
Mississippi River include Rep. John Alario, D-Westwego, and Sen. Chris Ullo,
D-Harvey. Both are 34-year legislative veterans.

Boasso's initial bid for levee improvements in November won Senate approval
but died in the House.

Gov. Kathleen Blanco opted for another bill, which set up the Coastal
Protection and Restoration Authority to oversee levee boards. Boasso and
others said that failed to go far enough.

Between the death of that bill and the February special session, backers not
only lit a fire under the issue. They took it to the top of the special
session agenda.

A group called Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans collected nearly 53,000
signatures asking for levee improvements. New Orleans business leaders
repeated the message that, without confidence that the levees will hold, the
rebuilding of southeast Louisiana will not happen. Backers got a formerly
reluctant Blanco on board.

Fair or not, Boasso became the burly symbol of levee reform. Veteran
lawmakers said that, for any levee measure to win public confidence, it
needed the newcomer's name on it.

The legislation will be known as "the Boasso reform," Sen. Tom Schedler,
R-Mandeville and an ally, told colleagues during one point in the debate.

Boasso, 45, joined the Senate in 2003. He is a lifelong resident of St.
Bernard Parish and, like most residents there, lost his home in Hurricane
Katrina. He is president and chief executive officer of Boasso American
Corp., which does tank container cleaning and maintenance.

In his first session in 2004, Boasso was one of the players behind a bill
that, for the first time, imposed state rules on what had been 280 mostly
unregulated river pilots, who reportedly were paid about $340,000 a year
each.

Last year, he sponsored a sweeping bill that would have tightened retirement
rules for state workers and public schoolteachers. Debts in the two systems
totaling about $11 billion was the key reason for the push.

Boasso's effort died, but it helped pave the way for approval of another
bill last year that toughens retirement rules for state employees who join
the ranks after July 1.

Prospects for a levee package were no better than 50-50 when the session
began Feb. 6, but the two-bill compromise plan passed the Senate 39-0 both
times. The House backed it 98-3 and 99-0.

Sometimes the best way to avoid legislative  business as usual is to be new
to the business.

Will Sentell works in the Capitol News bureau of The Advocate.

This is the footer that's displayed at the bottom of every Inside Report
story page.

 
Find this article at: 
http://www.2theadvocate.com/columnists/insidereport/2355031.html