Jonathan Henderson and Sandy Rosenthal at the Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge, 5-30-2017

This week, a bill championed by Levees.org saw continued success in the legislature.

HB266 authored by Rep Patrick Connick-R (Marrero) will require term limits for the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority nominating committee.

The group Levees.org has led a successful campaign showing how the levee board reform, in effect, took control of who gets to award flood protection contracts out of the Governor’s hands and gave it to a small group with apparent life terms.

The goal of HB266 is to “close the barn door before the horse gets out.” The bill will apply term limits to the small group that selects who will control more than $60 million of taxpayer dollars annually.

On May 30, HB266 passed by a vote of 37-0 on the Senate Floor. Senator Jean Paul “JP” Morrell handled the bill.

Pending House concurrence, the bill will soon be law. This will better safeguard flood protection taxpayer dollars for residents in Jefferson, Orleans and St. Bernard Parish.