BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Senators added a $294,000 reimbursement to next year’s budget for former Alcohol and Tobacco Control Commissioner Murphy Painter for his legal fees involved in fighting federal charges against him.
A federal jury acquitted Painter, who had worked as commissioner for 14 years, in December of 29 charges of fraud, identity theft and false statements to the FBI. He was accused of illegally gaining national crime computer information on people who were not under investigation.
The governor’s office announced in August 2010 that Painter resigned from his job, but Painter has said he was fired by Gov. Bobby Jindal because of a dispute over a liquor license.
The federal charges came after Louisiana’s inspector general issued a report that accused Painter of improperly using an FBI database and two state law enforcement databases to gather information about the wife of U.S. Sen. David Vitter, state district court judges, legislative staff members, Painter’s administrative assistant and her lawyer.
Painter claimed the allegations were designed to smear him.
The budget bill containing the money awaits a final decision in the House.
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Lawmakers in the House rejected a proposal to give domestic violence victims new protections from eviction in Louisiana, amid concerns it would take away landlords’ rights and lead to lawsuits.
The Senate had unanimously passed the anti-discrimination measure (Senate Bill 233) by Sen. Sharon Weston Broome, D-Baton Rouge. But the bill ran into more criticism as it moved to the House, and lawmakers there voted 63-34 against the proposal Thursday.
Rep. Helena Moreno said the bill was narrowly tailored and would only apply to large apartment complexes. The proposal would have made it illegal to refuse to rent to someone because that person has been a victim of domestic abuse or to terminate a lease based on a domestic dispute. Moreno, D-New Orleans, said domestic violence victims often face another “form of abuse” because they are denied housing.
“Women who are being battered are being evicted from their apartments where they currently live and end up on the street,” she said.
Rep. Joe Harrison, R-Napoleonville, said federal law offers protections to people who are victims of domestic abuse, and he questioned the need for more. Harrison said he owns rental property and thinks the bill opens landlords up to more lawsuits.
“We have to allow the landlord, the owner of the property, to have their property right, to make the best determination of who should live there,” said Rep. Joe Lopinto, R-Metairie, who spoke in opposition to the bill.
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Sheriffs are in line for more state funding, under a bill that is nearing final legislative passage with support from the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday.
Currently, the state pays parish sheriffs $24.39 per day for any state inmates housed in local jails after a final sentence.
The proposal (House Bill 562) by Rep. Joe Lopinto, R-Metairie, would require the state also to reimburse sheriffs for housing people who are arrested for parole violations and awaiting a parole revocation hearing, after they’ve been in the local jail for 14 days.
The rate would be cut in half for the upcoming 2014-15 fiscal year and set at $20.89 in future years, subject to lawmakers deciding each year if they agree to fund the add-on. Next year’s budget already includes $7 million for the new payments.
Lopinto’s bill, already approved by the House, moves next to the full Senate for debate.
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Gov. Bobby Jindal has signed into law two bills aimed at supporting Louisiana’s veterans.
The measure (House Bill 654) by Rep. Nick Lorusso, R-New Orleans, will expand residential lease protections for members of the military, to make it easier for them and their spouses to terminate home and apartment leases.
The other bill (Senate Bill 538), sponsored by Sen. John Smith, R-Leesville, establishes a voluntary registry for veterans exposed to open-air burn pits during wartime, to help them access treatment for any health conditions tied to the exposure.
“These bills build on our previous efforts to help support and honor Louisiana Veterans who fought tirelessly to protect our freedoms,” the Republican governor said in a statement.
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In other legislative action:
-Any person with an outstanding fine of $250 or more owed to the Board of Ethics will be prohibited from appointment to a state board or commission, under a bill headed to the governor. The Senate gave unanimous, final passage Thursday to the measure (Senate Bill 394) by Sen. J.P. Morrell, D-New Orleans. The prohibition won’t apply if appeals of the fine are still pending. The bill will take effect Aug. 1.
-The legislative auditor will have greater ability to track state tax dollars paying for students to go to private schools through the statewide voucher program, under a measure that received final passage with a 37-0 Senate vote. The bill (Senate Bill 460) by Sen. Robert Adley, R-Benton, heads next to the governor. The voucher program is slated to receive $46 million in next year’s budget.
-Gov. Bobby Jindal has signed into law a ban on selling electronic cigarettes to anyone under the age of 18 in Louisiana. The bill (Senate Bill 12) by Sen. Rick Gallot, D-Ruston, outlaws sales of e-cigarette, vaporizers and other alternative nicotine products to minors, like the state already does for cigarette sales.
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Online:
Louisiana Legislature: www.legis.la.gov
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