Recent editorials from Louisiana newspapers:
April 23
The Advocate on Louisiana car insurance rates:
If Louisiana were a wealthy state with high family incomes, maybe it wouldn’t be such a burden to be second in the nation in car insurance rates. But we are, and it is a challenge for working families that ought to be front and center for the Legislature, not a lame defense of today’s legal system by self-interested lawyers.
We’re No. 2, and we can’t afford that.
Lawmakers should help untangle the legal system that, uniquely in the United States, gives incentives for insurers to settle cases instead of fighting them out in court - and then pass on the costs of the settlements to consumers in premiums. Should it be that hard, when the threshold for jury trials in Louisiana is 28 times the national average?
The debate was joined over House Bill 372 by state Rep. Kirk Talbot, R-River Ridge, a three-pronged approach to the problem of sky-high insurance. It includes not only the important jury-threshold language but also other adjustments to the legal system long sought by conservatives seeking to lower Louisiana’s costs when a car wreck leads to a lawsuit.
It’s a complicated bill -and perhaps not likely to pass in a Legislature dominated by many lawyers of both parties.
There are also arguments against Talbot’s procedural fixes. Among other things, judges worry that a slew of jury trials over injuries in car wrecks would cram up the courts. An alliance of judges and lawyer-legislators - who often want to be judges when they grow up - is a tough obstacle.
Even if some form of the bill passes the Legislature, Gov. John Bel Edwards, who’s a staunch friend of the plaintiff bar, might veto it.
But if Talbot’s bill is defeated, it would put legislators - and perhaps, ultimately, the governor - on record as defending the status quo while families struggle with bigger bills than they can afford every six months for car insurance.
No one can argue that there are not other important factors in car insurance rates. Distracted driving is causing wrecks, and personal responsibility is an important part of the solution.
Many poor families, as Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon notes, are dazzled by the prospect of a payout of $25,000 promised by lawyers, who in today’s system just settle the cases and take a big cut. Donelon, though, can document that Louisiana’s litigation culture in car wrecks is out of control and out of line with other states.
And except for a few jurisdictions like New Orleans, there is precious little alternative to having a car for workers. The political and legal system should be focused on helping the families struggling with car insurance rates instead of protecting a system out of line with that in other states.
As it now stands, the lucky winners of the litigation bingo are the lawyers and a few plaintiffs, while consumers at large pay and pay and pay.
Online: https://www.theadvocate.com
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April 19
The Courier on pushing college courses for high school students
Gov. John Bel Edwards is pushing a proposal that would broadly expand the access our high school students have to college coursework.
The principle, called dual enrollment, allows students to take some college classes - and get college credit - while they are in high school. It is already in many schools, but what is available and how much it costs varies widely from district to district across the state.
Edwards’ measure would allow every high school junior and senior to take two college classes for free beginning next year. That sounds like an ambitious plan, but it really builds on what is already being done in a way that will guarantee at least some access to all qualified students.
“What is often found is that it becomes the chance for students who historically have never believed college was an option for them to have a chance to see that they are perfectly capable of succeeding in post-secondary education,” said Chris Broadwater, vice president of workforce policy for the Louisiana Community and Technical College System. “And it is important enough that it is worth the effort in order to get it done on that time frame,” he said.
This is a great example of an issue that can cut across the stubborn partisan divide that so often drives politicians apart in Baton Rouge. In considering the ability of our children to pursue higher education - particularly at a much smaller cost while they are in high school - our officials have to set aside their petty differences and work for the common good.
We are reminded frequently of how much our state lacks in providing resources for our colleges and the students they serve. This would be an excellent chance for our officials to help make a real difference in thousands of young lives, opening up the prospect of higher education to students who might not have thought of it otherwise or who might have thought college would be unattainable.
There will be a lot of talk in the coming weeks about what this will cost and how it can be implemented. But we have to be careful with education to think of money spent on it as investment rather than cost.
This seems to be an idea that will be worth honing into a politically acceptable bill. Let’s hope our officials are able to do just that.
Online: https://www.houmatoday.com
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April 17
The American Press on criminal justice reform:
Fewer Louisiana residents believe the criminal justice system in place is fair or effective at keeping communities safe, according to a new survey. Researchers in the Public Policy Research Lab at LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication found that about one-third of people polled agree with the statement that the current criminal justice system in the state is safe. Fifty-four percent disagree with the statement.
Similarly, 32% agree that Louisiana’s current criminal justice system is effective at keeping communities safe, and 55% disagree.
The survey, conducted by PPRL interviewers between Feb. 15 and March 7, polled 917 Louisianans age 18 or older across the state.
In 2017, Louisiana launched its most comprehensive criminal justice reform in state history. Six Republicans, two Democrats and one independent authored the bipartisan package of 10 bills with the goal of enabling Louisiana to shed its long-held status as the state with the nation’s highest imprisonment rate.
The legislation steers people convicted of less serious crimes away from prison, strengthens incarceration alternatives, reduces prison terms for those who can be safely supervised in the community and removes barriers to re-entry.
Over 10 years, the reforms are projected to reduce the prison and community supervision populations by 10 and 12%, respectively, according to The PEW Charitable Trusts organization.
Lawmakers also committed to reinvesting 75% of the estimated $262 million savings in local programs aimed at reducing the amount of offenders who commit crimes again.
The latest Public Policy Research poll found that 70% of Louisiana residents approve of those changes made in 2017. This percentage is up from 61% in 2018.
It seems lawmakers’ risks were worth taking, but despite the approval of the reforms it’s not good that so many Louisiana residents still feel unsafe.
The state took a big step forward in enacting these reforms but this latest poll shows there is room for some improvement.
Online: https://www.americanpress.com
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