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T h u r s d ay, a p r i l 17, 2025
2025 LEGISLATURE
State officials spar over car insurance
Landry backs measure giving insurance chief power to reject rate increases
Temple says legislation is setting him up to take the fall for rising rates
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PSC abruptly halts energy efficiency program Plan’s intention was to help residents save on bills BY SAM KARLIN Staff writer
About a year after Louisiana’s utility regulator moved to set up a long-sought program to help residents reduce energy use and save on their bills, the Public Service Commission voted Wednesday to abruptly change course and end the program. A complex vote by the commission’s three Republican members — JP Coussan, Eric Skrmetta and Mike Francis — ends a statewide program to put millions toward energy efficiency in homes and businesses, especially for low-income residents. Staff was in the process of standing up the program when the commission voted to end it Wednesday at a meeting in Many, south of Shreveport. Instead, the commission, which oversees electric utilities, appears poised to double down on a program that allows the elected commissioners to steer millions in energy efficiency improvements to government officials and offices in their districts. The money goes to sheriffs, schools, parish councils and other local facilities. It was not immediately clear whether the commission would attempt to set up a different type of program that allows residents to take advantage
ä See PSC, page 4A STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS
Gov. Jeff Landry speaks during a House Insurance Committee meeting at the State Capitol on Wednesday.
House panel overwhelmingly approves bill pushed by governor BY TYLER BRIDGES Staff writer
A high-stakes legal and political battle between Gov. Jeff Landry and Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple — one that affects everyone who has car insurance — played out in a House committee room at the State Capitol on Wednesday. After hearing from Landry, the House Insurance Committee sided with him by overwhelmingly passing a measure that he said would allow Temple to reject excessive rate increases for car insurance. Temple spoke after Landry and told committee members that House Bill 576 would give the commissioner the authority to act capriciously in ruling whether to approve rate increases, a move he said would ultimately harm the state. The governor said passing the bill is so important to him that he would call legislators into a special session
on HB576 is the political fight over who will take the heat for car insurance rates that are driving angry voters to give an earful of complaints to Landry, Temple and state legislators. Under some measures, Louisiana has the highest car insurance rates in the country. Asked after the hearing what would happen if the bill passes and Temple doesn’t stop the continued climb in insurance rates, Landry replied, “The people could hold him accountable.” Temple, asked afterward whether STAFF FILE PHOTO he thought the governor was trying to Commissioner of Insurance Tim set him up to take the blame, referred Temple spoke in opposition to to a recent interview that Landry legislation that would give his office gave to conservative talk show radio more authority. host Moon Griffon. “If the rates don’t go down, then it’s to consider it again if they reject the on him,” Landry told Griffon, refermeasure. ring to Temple. Eight of his aides were in the small Said Temple on Wednesday: “I don’t committee room while Landry spoke know if he really intended that. But in favor of the bill. ä See INSURANCE, page 4A Underlying the three-hour hearing
Nearly 40K apply for private school grants Number of eligible students will depend on financial allocation BY PATRICK WALL Staff writer
A new program to help Louisiana families pay for private education drew nearly 40,000 applications in less than two months, state officials said Wednesday — a number that Gov. Jeff Landry, who has championed the program, called “astounding.” Beginning next school year, the LA GATOR Scholarship Program will give tax dollars to eligible families to pay for private school tuition and other approved expenses like tutoring and school
ä See GRANTS, page 4A
Fields calls out tariffs, cuts to Medicaid
of Lafayette and Baton Rouge for Medicaid enrollment, at 32% or 1.6 Congressman meets parts and stretches to Shreveport. million residents. The congressman met with Lafayette A recently passed House budget with Lafayette residents residents Monday to talk about what is resolution directs the House Energy
BY STEPHEN MARCANTEL
happening in Washington, D.C., and the impacts on Louisiana. Fields spoke on possible cuts to Medicaid, the effects U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields, of Louisiana’s of tariffs on the state and Congress’ 6th District, said 206,000 residents in willingness to stand up to President his district are under threat of losing Donald Trump. The crowd, made up largely of seMedicaid coverage if the current budget resolution becomes a reality. niors, voiced their concerns over cuts Fields, D-Baton Rouge, was elected to Medicaid. The state might have outin November to a redrawn second sized reason to be concerned; Louisimajority-Black district that includes ana overall ranks second in the nation Staff writer
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and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over Medicaid, to cut $880 billion over the next 10 years. Despite the resolution not mentioning Medicaid services, some experts say cuts like that are not possible without touching the program. “We use a whole bunch of Medicaid. Why? Because we have a lot of poor
PHOTO By ROBIN MAy
U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields, D-Baton Rouge, speaks with ä See FIELDS, page 4A constituents at a town hall meeting in Lafayette on Monday.
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100TH yEAR, NO. 291