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N O L A.C O M
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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
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 Insurä Nearly 40,000 ance Committee sided with him in Louisiana apply for private by overwhelmingly passing a school grants. measure that he PAGE 5A 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
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STAFF FILE PHOTO
Commissioner of Insurance Tim Temple spoke in opposition to legislation that would give his office more authority.
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 to consider it again if they reject the
measure. Eight of his aides were in the small committee room while Landry spoke in favor of the bill. Underlying the three-hour hearing 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 he thought the governor was trying to set him up to take the blame, referred to a recent interview that Landry gave to conservative talk show radio host Moon Griffon.
Council pauses funding for Walk of Fame Leaders seek more say in selecting honorees
BY BEN MYERS Staff writer
Seeking more say in the project’s rollout, the New Orleans City Council has tabled a request for public funding for the NOLA Walk of Fame effort, sparking the ire of local icon Percy “Master P” Miller, its architect. City Council members at a Monday committee meeting asked for a detailed budget and other information about the project, which aims to lay a Hollywood-style Miller trail of plaques along Canal Street to honor notable New Orleans’ artists, entrepreneurs and philanthropists. Council members Freddie King III and Eugene
ä See INSURANCE, page 5A
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ä See COUNCIL, page 4A
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