Inasmuch as the attorney general has offered an opinion that the privatization of the Office of Group Benefits and its contract with Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Louisiana must be approved by the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Finance Committee, we thought we would be remiss if we did not provide the names, home towns and email addresses of the two committees.
We are sure that they would geniunely love to hear from their constituents on matters that involve the livelihoods of 121 employees at Group Benefits–especially now that the handwriting is on the wall that clearly shows that not a single member of the legislature–friend of foe–is immune from cuts, privatizing, layoffs and contracts that affect residents in their districts.
Sometimes, Piyush Jindal does the strangest things with no warning of his intentions. Take the J. Levy Dabadie Correctional Center, which he closed without giving legislators in that area a heads up. Likewise Southeast Louisiana Hospital in Mandeville. And on Friday, September 14, he did it again, announcing the closure of C. Paul Phelps Correctional Center in DeQuincy.
So, with no further ado, here are the members of the House Appropriatons Committee and the Senate Finance Committee and their email addresses. We’re sure they’d love to hear from you.
As a precaution, if you are a state employee, do not use your real name as this could get you teagued. Do, however, explain to your legislator why you choose to use an alias.
If you’re not a state employee or if you are a state retiree, by all means, use your real name.
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
Fannin, James R., Chairman
D-Jonesboro
larep013@legis.la.gov
Henry, Cameron, vice-chair
R-Metairie
henryc@legis.la.gov
Armes, James K.
D-Leesville
armesj@legis.la.gov
Berthelot, John A.
R-Gonzales
berthelotj@legis.la.gov
Billiot, Robert E.
D-Westwego
billiotr@legis.la.gov
Brossett, Jared
D-New Orleans
brossettj@legis.la.gov
Burns, Henry L.
R-Haughton
burnsh@legis.la.gov
Burrell, Roy
D-Shreveport
larep002@legis.la.gov
Champagne, Simone B.
R-Erath
champags@legis.la.gov
Chaney, Charles R.
R-Rayville
chaneyb@legis.la.gov
R-Rayville
Connick, Patrick
R-Marrero
connickp@legis.la.gov
Foil, Franklin J.
R-Baton Rouge
foilf@legis.la.gov
Geymann, Brett F.
R-Lake Charles
larep035@legis.la.gov
Harris, Lance
R-Alexandria
harrisl@legis.la.gov
Harrison, Joe
R-Gray
harrisoj@legis.la.gov
Hensgens, Bob
R-Abbeville
hensgensb@legis.la.gov
Jackson, Katrina R.
D-Monroe
jacksonk@legis.la.gov
James, Edward C.
D-Baton Rouge
jamest@legis.la.gov
Leger, Walt III
D-New Orleans
legerw@legis.la.gov
Ligi, Anthony V.
R-Metairie
ligit@legis.la.gov
Montoucet, Jack
D-Crowley
montoucj@legis.la.gov
Moreno, Helena
D-New Orleans
morenoh@legis.la.gov
Morris, James
R-Oil City
larep001@legis.la.gov
Pope, J. Rogers
R-Denham Springs
poper@legis.la.gov
Schroder, John M.
R-Covington
schrodej@legis.la.gov
Smith, Patricia Haynes
D-Baton Rouge
smithp@legis.la.gov
Thierry, Ledricka
D-Opelousas
thierryl@legis.la.gov
Kleckley, Chuck—Ex Officio
R-Lake Charles
larep036@legis.la.gov
Senate Finance Committee
Senator Jack Donahue (Chairman)
R-Mandeville
donahuej@legis.la.gov
Senator Norby Chabert (Vice-Chairman)
R-Houma
chabertn@legis.la.gov
Senator R.L. “Bret” Allain, II
R-Franklin
allainb@legis.la.gov
Senator Sherri Smith Buffington
R-Keithville
smithbuffington@legis.la.gov
Senator Dan Claitor
R-Baton Rouge
claitord@legis.la.gov
Senator Ronnie Johns
R-Lake Charles
johnsr@legis.la.gov
Senator Eric LaFleur
D-Ville Platte
lafleure@legis.la.gov
Senator Fred H. Mills, Jr.
R-New Iberia
millsf@legis.la.gov
Senator Edwin R. Murray
D-New Orleans
murraye@legis.la.gov
Senator Gregory Tarver
D-Shreveport
tarverg@legis.la.gov
Senator Mack “Bodi” White
Baton Rouge
whitem@legis.la.gov
Senator Gerald Long (Interim Member)
R- Natchitoches
longg@legis.la.gov
Senator Dan “Blade” Morrish (Interim Member)
R-Jennings
morrishd@legis.la.gov
Senator Francis Thompson (Interim Member)
Delhi
thompsof@legis.la.gov
Senator Mike Walsworth (Interim Member)
West Monroe
walsworthm@legis.la.gov
Louisiana Voice 
I would not expect them to pull their heads out and take notice of the people who elected them. They are too busy playing us all for suckers.
I am giving it one last effort. I emailed all of the Committee members.
I received a reply from Rep Armes. He states that he does not support the privatization of anything!
I am a retired state employee since 2002. I am in shock. Does anyone else remember an administration that acted this way back the 1970s? Where I believe 7 people went to jail for mismanaged funds and millions of dollars were lost? I believe that was a GOVERNOR involved in that. I remember state employee’s got letters of regret for their medical bills with Blue Cross and those employees had to mortgage/sell/lose their homes as they thought they had insurance coverage. And learned they did but the insurance company had no money. De Ja vu???
I am a member of OGB PPO Plan, have been for over 35 years. The employees are about the only ones who are truly dedicated to their jobs. They literally care about each and every plan member. They attend the annual enrollment meetings and keep the highly paid private sector reps for the managed care plans from lying and making their plans sound incredible. The private sector plans (HMOs) SOLD insurance to us, drove Mercedes, BMWs, and said it was part of their expense account. They were commissioned sales people and would lie a lot at the meetings. We did not know it was a lie until the OGB rep corrected them. Thank God they were there looking out for us state employees.
The OGB employees PRESENTED their benefits and made it clear we had the choice of what plan we wanted.
Since 1979 Blue Cross tried numerous times to take over OGB, but thank God, Legislation was done, to never allow that nightmare to come back and to PROTECT state employees and their benefits. Now I hear about this. Scary!!
And last of all, when Blue Cross tried in the past to take over the plan, I believe their administrative cost at that time was 14 to 19 percent. Also the retirees’ premiums that WILL NOT HAVE MEDICARE were unaffordable. Isn’t OGB’s administrative cost less than 4%? And doesn’t OGB have a surplus, probably the only state agency that does, Oh My God, it is De Ja Vu. We have to stop this if I am correct. Someone pinch me and tell me I’m dreaming. Oh My God.
May God Help Us.