Danette O'Neal, PhD

LOUISIANA Progress IS interested in a positive agenda for working families. The regular session of the Louisiana Legislature began today at 1pm. With 1,000 bills filed in the House and nearly 800 in the Senate, the next 90 days will be chaotic.

If LOUISIANA is going to move forward, we need to focus on helping families be successful with better paying jobs, access to quality health care, quality affordable child care, and supporting economic opportunity for all. We need to move forward with criminal justice reform, protect Medicaid expansion and promote smart policies.

What can citizens do? Be Informed, Engaged and Mobilized
LOUISIANA Progress seeks to encourage the progressive leaders in Louisiana to work together to promote positive legislation and fight against legislation that is detrimental to progress.

In order to make progress, we need more people to be informed and engaged in contacting legislators – call and email them. There will be several opportunities to come to the CAPITOL with various organizations for Legislative Days.

Find your legislators! www.legis.la.gov
1. We need people to know who their legislators are
2. Find out what committees they are on and
3. Contact your legislators and let them know you are paying attention.

First Priority Bills
First up this week are the EQUAL PAY and MINIMUM WAGE bills which will be heard by both the HOUSE and SENATE Labor Committees this Thursday.

HOUSE LABOR
Please support:
– House Bill 328: Allows women to legally discuss how much they are paid with co-workers without retaliation; would be a BIG step forward
– House Bill 578: Prohibits forced arbitration in cases of sexual harassment
Talking points for the House bills:
– In LA women earn on average about 70 cents to the dollar of what men earn on average; and we are still LAST in the nation in the ratio of women to men’s earnings.
– To get equal pay, we support bills that say you cannot fire or retaliate for a woman asking about or discussing her pay.

SENATE LABOR
Please support:
– Senate Bill 118: Provides that the Louisiana Equal Pay Act be applicable to PRIVATE employers
– Senate Bill 159: Lifts the preemption of local minimum wage ordinances, meaning it would allow local governments to set their own minimum wages.
Talking points for the Senate bills:
– Equal Pay: In LA women earn on average about 70 cents to the dollar of what men earn on average; and we are still LAST in the nation in the ratio of women to men’s earnings.
– Minimum Wage:
1. Local elected leaders should have authority to meet constituents’ needs
2. It’s popular: a 2016 poll by LSU found that 76% of Louisianans support increasing the minimum wage, including 88% of Dems and 59% of Reps.

LOUISIANA Progress will keep you posted on developments with these important pieces of legislation, and more.We are building a list of progressive organizations and events at the CAPITOL. Please get informed and engaged. LOUISIANA needs citizens to pay attention and encourage your legislators to move Louisiana forward.

In 2018, Louisiana needs to focus on solutions, invest in success and put families first. If you are ready to solve problems, focus on the future and move Louisiana forward, then support Louisiana Progress for 2018.