The 2014 legislative session is less than a month away (March 10) and as always, we can expect the unexpected, the unusual, the downright bizarre and of course, controversy.
Under the law, sessions during even-number years—this year, for instance—consists of 85 calendar days during which the legislature may meet on no more than 60 days, though lawmakers receive per diem payments for all 85 days.
During odd-number years, the session is 60 calendar days and legislators are restricted to no more than 45 legislative days—again with full pay for all 60 days.
Gov. Bobby Jindal has two more regular sessions in which to push through his full ALEC-sponsored agenda so it is quite likely that we will see more controversial bills from the administration as well as the re-introduction of past bills that failed the first time around.
In the past we’ve been treated to a senator (Mike Walsworth, R-West Monroe) asking a high school science teacher during a committee hearing if cultures her students were growing in her classeroom could produce a human being.
We’ve had a House member (Nancy Landry) attempt to change a rule to force teachers in Baton Rouge to testify about controversial education bills to declare if they were on sick leave or otherwise authorized to miss a day of school (her precedent-setting rule failed).
There was even a strange question from then Rep. Mert Smiley (R-Port Vincent) who asked if there was some rule or regulation that could be invoked to prevent employees of the Office of Risk Management from leaving the agency for employment elsewhere (no such rule has existed since Jan. 1, 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation).
And then there was Rep. Valerie Hodges (R-Denham Springs) who voted in favor of state funding for church-affiliated charter schools—until an Islamic school in New Orleans applied for a charter. That’s when the fecal matter hit the Westinghouse oscillating air circulation device. Apparently her vote was restricted to her interpretation of what constitutes a non-secular school.
Despite the far too frequent lapses into idiocy such as exhibited by these three, there are important issues which come before the House and Senate and many times the forgotten citizens back home would like to make their voices heard but don’t always know the best way to get through to their legislators.
Well, we didn’t name this blog LouisianaVoice for nothing.
A regular reader in Lafayette inspired us with the solution.
We have decided to post the names of all 144 legislators (105 representatives and 39 senators) along the corresponding telephone numbers and email addresses.
By doing this, we are not necessarily soliciting a telephone or email campaign because we don’t even know what legislation will be introduced this year. This is simply an informational guide so that readers will have the information if and when it becomes necessary.
We also do this with full knowledge that some legislators simply do not return calls. We’re still waiting for a return call from Sen. Neil Riser (R-Columbia) from more than a year ago—well before his crash-and-burn congressional campaign.
We suggest you print this post and post it somewhere—or save it to a shortcut on your computer. If you do not know the name of your senator and representative, shame on you but here are the links that will help you find them:
And here are the alphabetical lists of both the House and Senate:
Members of the House (to reach your representative during the session dial the House clerk at 225-342-7259):
- Neil Abramson (R-New Orleans)—(504) 275-8051, abramson@legis.la.gov
- Bryan Adams (R-Gretna)—(504) 361-6013, adamsb@legis.la.gov
- John “Andy” Anders (D-Vidalia)—(318) 336-5865, larep021@legis.la.gov
- James Armes, III (D-Leesville)—(337) 238-7004, armesj@legis.la.gov
- Jeffery “Jeff” Arnold (D-New Orleans)—(504) 361-6600, larep102@legis.la.gov
- Austin Badon, Jr. (D-New Orleans)—(504) 243-7783, larep100@legis.la.gov
- Taylor Barras (R-New Iberia)—(337) 373-4051, barrast@legis.la.gov
- Regina Barrow (D-Baton Rouge)—(225) 359-9400, larep029@legis.la.gov
- John Berthelot (R-Gonzales)—(225) 647-5646, berthelotj@legis.la.gov
- Robert Billiot (D-Westwego)—(504) 436-8929, billiotr@legis.la.gov
- Stuart Bishop (R-Lafayette)—(337) 981-7409, bishops@legis.la.gov
- Wesley Bishop (D-New Orleans)—(504) 242-4198, bishopw@legis.la.gov
- Chris Broadwater (R-Hammond)—(985) 543-4900, broadwaterc@legis.la.gov
- Jared Brossett (D-New Orleans)—(504) 286-1033, brossettj@legis.la.gov
- Terry Brown (I-Colfax)—(855) 261-6566, browntr@legis.la.gov
- Richard Burford (R-Stonewall)—(318) 925-9588, burfordr@legis.la.gov
- Henry Burns (R-Haughton)—(318) 949-2463, burnsh@legis.la.gov
- Timothy “Tim” Burns (R-Mandeville)—(985) 624-4492, larep089@legis.la.gov
- Roy Burrell (D-Shreveport)—(318) 676-7137, larep002@legis.la.gov
- Thomas Carmody, Jr. (R-Shreveport)—(318) 862-9956, carmodyt@legis.la.gov
- Stephen Carter (R-Baton Rouge)—(225) 362-5305, carters@legis.la.gov
- Simone Champagne (R-Erath)—(337) 937-8827, champags@legis.la.gov
- Charles Chaney (R-Rayville)—(318) 728-5875, chaneyb@legis.la.gov
- Patrick Connick (R-Marrero)—(504) 371-0240, connickp@legis.la.gov
- Kenny Cox (D-Natchitoches)—(855) 844-8583, coxk@legis.la.gov
- Gregory Cromer (R-Slidell)—(985) 645-3592, cromerg@legis.la.gov
- Michael Danahay (D-Sulphur)—(337) 527-5581, danahaym@legis.la.gov
- Herbert Dixon (D-Alexandria)–(318) 487-5661, dixonh@legis.la.gov
- Gordon Dove (R-Houma)—(985) 876-8823, larep052@legis.la.gov
- John Bel Edwards (D-Amie)—(985) 748-2245, edwardsj@legis.la.gov
- James “Jim” Fannin (R-Jonesboro)—(318) 259-6620, larep013@legis.la.gov
- Franklin Foil (R-Baton Rouge)—(225) 342-6777, foilf@legis.la.gov
- A.B. Franklin (D-Lake Charles)—(337) 491-2320, franklina@legis.la.gov
- Randal Gaines (D-LaPlace)—(985) 652-1228, gainesr@legis.la.gov
- Raymond Garofalo, Jr. (R-Chalmette)—(504) 277-4729, garofalor@legis.la.gov
- Brett Geymann (R-Lake Charles)—(337) 491-2315, larep035@legis.la.gov
- Jerry Gisclair (D-Larose)—(985) 798-7707, gisclairj@legis.la.gov
- Hunter Greene (R-Baton Rouge)—(225) 362-5900, larep066@legis.la.gov
- Mickey Guillory (D-Eunice)—(337) 457-0194, larep041@legis.la.gov
- John Guinn (R-Jennings)—(337) 824-0376, guinnj@legis.la.gov
- Lance Harris (R-Alexandria)—(318) 767-6095, harrisl@legis.la.gov
- Joe Harrison (R-Gray)—(800) 935-2081, harrisoj@legis.la.gov
- Kenneth Havard (R-Jackson)—(225) 634-7470, havardk@legis.la.gov
- Lowell Hazel (R-Pineville)—(318) 767-6082, hazelc@legis.la.gov
- Cameron Henry (R-Metairie)—(504) 838-5433, henryc@legis.la.gov
- Bob Hensgens (R-Abbeville)—(337) 893-5035, hensgensb@legis.la.gov
- Dorothy Sue Hill (D-Dry Creek)—(337) 259-2118, hilld@legis.la.gov
- Valerie Hodges (R-Denham Springs)—(225) 791-2199 hodgesv@legis.la.gov
- Frank Hoffman (R-West Monroe)—(318) 362-4130, hoffmanf@legis.la.gov
- Paul Hollis (R-Covington)—(985) 871-4680, hollisp@legis.la.gov
- Dalton Honoré (D-Baton Rouge)—(225) 771-5674, honored@legis.la.gov
- Frank Howard (R-Many)—(318) 256-4135, howardf@legis.la.gov
- Marcus Hunter (D-Monroe)—(318) 362-3440, hunterm@legis.la.gov
- Mike Huval (R-Breaux Bridge)—(337) 332-3331, huvalm@legis.la.gov
- Barry Ivey (R-Baton Rouge)—(225) 261-5739, iveyb@legis.la.gov
- Katrina Jackson (D-Monroe)—(318) 362-5123, jacksonk@legis.la.gov
- Edward “Ted” James, II (D-Baton Rouge)—(225) 925-4859, james.ted@legis.la.gov
- Patrick Jefferson (D-Homer)—(318) 927-2519, jeffersonpo@legis.la.gov
- Robert Johnson (D-Marksville)—(318) 253-8891, johnsoro@legis.la.gov
- Sam Jones (D-Franklin)—(337) 828-7778, joness@legis.la.gov
- Charles “Chuck” Kleckley, House Speaker (R-Lake Charles)—(337) 475-3016, larep036@legis.la.gov
- Eddie Lambert (R-Gonzales)—(225) 673-5048, larep059@legis.la.gov
- Nancy Landry (R-Lafayette)—(337) 262-2252, landryn@legis.la.gov
- Terry Landry (D-New Iberia)—(337) 373-9380, landryt@legis.la.gov
- Bernard LeBas (D-Ville Platte)—(337) 363-0152, lebasb@legis.la.gov
- Walt Leger, III, Speaker Pro Tempore (D-New Orleans)—(504) 556-9970, legerw@legis.la.gov
- Christopher Leopold (R-Belle Chasse)—(504) 393-5649, leopoldc@legis.la.gov
- Joseph Lopinto, III (R-Metairie)—(504) 838-5430, lopintoj@legis.la.gov
- Nick Lorusso (R-New Orleans)—(504) 483-4711, larep094@legis.la.gov
- Sherman Mack (R-Livingston)—(225) 686-3887, macks@legis.la.gov
- Gregory Miller (R-Norco)—(985) 764-9991, millerg@legis.la.gov
- Jack Montoucet (D-Crowley)—(337) 783-2999, montoucj@legis.la.gov
- Helena Moreno (D-New Orleans)—(504) 568-2740, morenoh@legis.la.gov
- James “Jim” Morris (R-Oil City)—(318) 995-6852, larep001@legis.la.gov
- John “Jay” Morris (R-Monroe)—(318) 362-4270, morrisjc@legis.la.gov
- Barbara Norton (D-Shreveport)—(318) 632-5887, nortonb@legis.la.gov
- Stephen Ortego (D-Carencro)—(337) 886-4687, ortegos@legis.la.gov
- Kevin Pearson (R-Slidell)—(985) 646-6487, pearsonk@legis.la.gov
- Vincent Pierre (D-Lafayette)—(337) 262-2330, pierrev@legis.la.gov
- Eric Ponti (R-Baton Rouge)—(225) 362-5301, pontie@legis.la.gov
- Rogers Pope (R-Denham Springs)—(225) 667-3588, poper@legis.la.gov
- Edward Price (D-Gonzales)—(225) 644-6738, pricee@legis.la.gov
- Stephen Pugh (R-Ponchatoula)—(985) 386-7844, pughs@legis.la.gov
- Steve Pylant (R-Winnsboro)—(318) 435-7313, pylants@legis.la.gov
- Eugene Reynolds (D-Minden)—(318) 371-3092, reynoldsg@legis.la.gov
- Jerome Richard (I-Thibodaux)—(985) 447-0999, richardj@legis.la.gov
- Harold Richie (D-Bogalusa)—(985) 730-2147, larep075@legis.la.gov
- Joel Robideaux (R-Lafayette)—(337) 984-1091, larep045@legis.la.gov
- Clay Schexnayder (R-Gonzales)—(225) 473-6016, schexnayderc@legis.la.gov
- John Schroder (R-Covington)—(985) 893-6262, schrodej@legis.la.gov
- Alan Seabaugh (R-Shreveport)—(318) 676-7990, seabaugha@legis.la.gov
- Robert Shadoin (R-Ruston)—(318) 251-5039, shadoinr@legis.la.gov
- Scott Simon (R-Abita Springs)—(985) 893-6246, simons@legis.la.gov
- Patricia Smith (D-Baton Rouge)—(225) 342-7106, smithp@legis.la.gov
- Karen St. Germain (D-Plaquemine)—(225) 687-2410, larep060@legis.la.gov
- Julie Stokes (R-Kenner)—(504) 468-8603, stokesj@legis.la.gov
- Kirk Talbot (R-River Ridge)—(504) 736-7299, talbotk@legis.la.gov
- Major Thibaut (D-New Roads)—(225) 638-3811, thibautm@legis.la.gov
- Ledricka Thierry (D-Opelousas)—(337) 948-0369, thierryl@legis.la.gov
- Jeff Thompson (R-Bossier City)—(318) 741-2850, thompsonj@legis.la.gov
- Lenar Whitney (R-Houma)—(985) 858-2970, whitneyl@legis.la.gov
- Alfred Williams (D-Baton Rouge)—(225) 382-3243, williamsa@legis.la.gov
- Patrick Williams (D-Shreveport)—(318) 676-5990, larep004@legis.la.gov
- Thomas Willmott (R-Kenner)—(504) 465-3479, willmott@legis.la.gov
- Ebony Woodruff (D-Harvey)—(504) 361-6972, woodruffe@legis.la.gov
Members of the Senate (to call senators in Baton Rouge, the main switchboard number is 225-342-2040):
- Robert Adley (R-Benton)—(318) 965-1755, adleyr@legis.la.gov
- John Alario, Senate President (R-Westwego)—(504) 340-2221, alarioj@legis.la.gov
- Brett Allain, II (R-Franklin)—(337) 828-9107, allainb@legis.la.gov
- Jody Amedee (R-Gonzales)—(225) 644-1526, amedeej@legis.la.gov
- Conrad Appel (R-Metairie)—(504) 838-5550, appelc@legis.la.gov
- Sharon Weston Broome (D-Baton Rouge)—(225) 359-9352, lasen15@legis.la.gov
- Troy Brown (D-Napoleonville)—(985) 369-3333, brownte@legis.la.gov
- Sherri Smith Buffington (R-Keithville)—(318) 687-4820, smithbuffington@legis.la.gov
- Norby Chabert (R-Houma)—(985) 858-2927, chabertn@legis.la.gov
- Dan Claitor (R-Baton Rouge)—(225) 765-0206, claitord@legis.la.gov
- Yvonne Dorsey Colomb (D-Baton Rouge)—(225) 342-9700, dorseyy@legis.la.gov
- Page Cortez (R-Lafayette)—(337) 993-7430, cortezp@legis.la.gov
- A.G. Crowe (R-Slidell)—(985) 643-3600, crowea@legis.la.gov
- Jack Donahue (R-Mandeville)—(985) 727-7949, donahuej@legis.la.gov
- Dale Erdy (R-Livingston)—(225) 686-2881, erdeyd@legis.la.gov
- Rick Gallot (D-Ruston)—(318) 251-5019, gallotr@legis.la.gov
- Elbert Guillory (R-Opelousas)—(337) 943-2457, guillorye@legis.la.gov
- David Heitmeier (D-New Orleans)—(504) 361-6356, HeitmeierD@legis.la.gov
- Ronny Johns (R-Lake Charles)—(337) 491-2016, johnsr@legis.la.gov
- Robert Kostelka (R-Monroe)—(318) 362-3474, kostelka@legis.la.gov
- Eric Lafleur (D-Ville Platte)—(337) 363-5019, lafleure@legis.la.gov
- Gerald Long (R-Natchitoches)—(800) 265-2437, longg@legis.la.gov
- Danny Martiny (R-Metairie)—(504) 834-7676, martinyd@legis.la.gov
- Fred Mills (R-New Iberia)—(337) 365-8484, millsf@legis.la.gov
- Jean-Paul Morrell (D-New Orleans)—(504) 284-4794, morrelljp@legis.la.gov
- Dan “Blade” Morrish (R-Jennings)—(337) 824-3979, morrishd@legis.la.gov
- Edwin Murray (D-New Orleans)—(504) 945-0042, murraye@legis.la.gov
- Ben Nevers (D-Bogalusa)—(985) 732-6863 neversb@legis.la.gov
- Barrow Peacock (R-Bossier City)—(318) 741-7180, peacockb@legis.la.gov
- Jonathan “J.P.” Perry (R-Kaplan)—(337) 643-6425, perryj@legis.la.gov
- Karen Carter Peterson (D-New Orleans)—(504) 568-8346, petersonk@legis.la.gov
- Neil Riser (R-Columbia)—(318) 649-0977, risern@legis.la.gov
- Gary Smith, Jr. (D-Norco)—(985) 764-9122, smithgl@legis.la.gov
- John Smith (R-Leesville)—(337) 238-2709, smithj@legis.la.gov
- Gregory Tarver (D-Shreveport)—(318) 227-1499, tarverg@legis.la.gov
- Francis Thompson (D-Delhi)—(318) 878-9408, thompsof@legis.la.gov
- Mike Walsworth (R-West Monroe)—(318) 340-6453, walsworthm@legis.la.gov
- Rick Ward (R-Port Allen)—(225) 246-8838, wardr@legis.la.gov
- Mack “Bodi” White (R-Central)—(225) 272-1324, whitem@legis.la.gov
You now have the contact information to make your opinion(s) known to your elected officials.
Oh, wait. We almost forgot:
- Gov. Bobby Jindal: 225-342-7015 http://www.gov.la.gov/index.cfm?md=form&tmp=email_governor (He has one of those special email forms you are required to fill out because he doesn’t want to give out his email address which we believe to be bobby.jindal@la.gov)
great job on the list it will be used
Thanks, good idea.
Thanks for the list of emails…….just the list I needed. So often I’ve wanted to comment to particular individuals, but by the time I found the address, the mood had passed! This list will be posted by my computer. We appreciate all your update information on “what’s going on.” You may not win any medals but you do a real service for Louisiana voters!
Your article is very informative. We, as citizens, are not holding our representatives accountable. If we become more active, we will see the changes we desire.
[…] Contact your rep.: Let your voice be heard this legislative session: LouisianaVoice’s handy dandy legislative guide […]
Thank you Tom! Excellent idea due to the the past difficulties in locating these phone numbers and emails. Two years ago the legislative website made it impossible to access the members contact information. I called the website contact information line and I was told they were unaware of it.
I have a request and not sure how large a task it is but getting the voting records of each legislator. I can usually access it easily at the end of the legislative session but I would like to see beforehand important bills that didn’t pass because of not having the votes in the house and senate.
I encourage citizens to call and email and if you have not received a response then go to their office and leave a handwritten message asking to please contact you, one of their constituents, unless their position is to represent someone other than you the voter. Persistency pays off. The squeaky wheel gets oiled and your best efforts are difficult for them to ignore. Make sure you educate yourself on the facts beforehand because they discount emails the second they think the writer doesn’t have the facts of the proposed bill.
When I hear people complain about our legislators and new laws I have only one thing to say to that person, “Did you put forth the time and energy to reach out to your legislators with persistency and discuss with your peers about your concerns and encourage them to do the same and if not then you were for the very bill and law of which you are complaining about”” No voice is equal to acceptance if they don’t hear otherwise. May God be with us and the leaders to be good stewards of the people in Louisiana and preserving the land and it’s resources.
Just wanted to let you know the area code to reach members of House & Senate in Baton Rouge is 225 not 504. THanks for all your work.
Sent from my iPhone
Allyson is absolutely correct. Please make the correction if you’re pasting this post or saving it somewhere. I apologize for the error.
Wasn’t Nancy Landry the rep who wanted teachers to tell if they had taken a sick or vacation day to attend the legislative session.
Is there a list of reps and senators who are members of Alec.
I made the observation about Nancy Landry in the first few paragraphs of this post and I have previously published the names of legislators who are members of ALEC.
FYI
Gov. Jindal’s recent comments at Ronald Reagan Presidential Library:
“It’s a war against the propositions in the Declaration of Independence. It is a war against the spirit that motivated abolitionism. It is a war against the faith that motivated the Civil Rights struggle: It is a war against the soul of countless acts of charity. It is a war against the conscience that drives social change: It is a war against the heart that binds our neighborhoods together: It is a war against America’s best self, at America’s best moment. It’s a war – a silent war – against religious liberty.”
Now check out these comments:
“The Government, being resolved to undertake the political and moral purification of our public life, are creating and securing the conditions necessary for a really profound revival of religious life…. The National Government regard the two Christian Confessions as the weightiest factors for the maintenance of our nationality. They will respect the agreements concluded between them and the federal States. Their rights are not to be infringed…. It will be the Government’s care to maintain honest co-operation between Church and State; the struggle against materialistic views and for a real national community is just as much in the interest of the German nation as in that of the welfare of our Christian faith. The Government of the Reich, who regard Christianity as the unshakable foundation of the morals and moral code of the nation, attach the greatest value to friendly relations with the Holy See and are endeavouring to develop them.”
Adolph Hitler made this March 23, 1933 speech to the Reichstag on the same day it adopted the Enabling Act of 1933 that assured he could constitutionally exercise dictatorial power without legal objection. Hitler and his Nazi party then ruled four years by emergency decree – based on a fire they started – and immediately set out to abolish civil liberties, powers of the states and political parties to ensure his absolute rule.
By 1934, he took over as dictator of Germany and we all know how that worked out. Anna
thank you Ms. Anna Thibodeaux for the comparison of jindals speech and hitler’s what a scary comparison and Tom thank you for bringing it all to our attention and giving us an avenue to do something about it, God Bless America and Louisiana, we definitely need it!!!
“When fascism comes to America, it will be draped in the flag and carry a cross.” — Sinclair Lewis
Many of us have lost our way these past 13 years. It started under Bush, with all the fear mongering and hatred. When he said that if one didn’t support him, one was a terrorist. That put me on a blacklist automatically. Republicans went on to do some pretty horrendous things, like pass the Patriot Act, which opened the door for the government to spy on anyone, start two illegal wars, violate civil rights, cheat during elections, etc.
Now Republican tactics are just to say no to anything President Obama or a Democrat introduces. No to unemployment benefits , no to food stamps, cutting Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid, no to early childhood education, and regulation of women’s health.
This is precisely what Hitler did…he started wiping out the untermenschen, then the mentally Ill, then the intelligentsia, then the opposition, and then, the Jews and POWs. Then he sacrificed an entire generation of young men in battle, for nothing…
Be wary, folks…the language is the same…the worst part is the actions are the same…
Tom: Before I forwarded this article, I changed the area code (504) for both the House and Senate contact numbers to 225.