Liz Murrill, the texting attorney who advised Commissioner of Administration Kristy Nichols that the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) was not necessary because the changes in the state’s Office of Group Benefits (OGB) plans did not meet the legal definition of “rule,” is gone.
Murrill sparred verbally with legislators during the Sept. 25 hearing on the proposed changes to OGB coverage of state employees and retirees by the House Appropriations Committee, telling them the APA was unnecessary in order that the Division of Administration (DOA) might implement huge increases to co-pays and deductibles that OGB members would be required to pay.
Throughout emotional testimony by OGB members who said their health care expenses might exceed their monthly pensions and others who related problems experienced with MedImpact, the state’s $350 million pharmacy benefit manager, Murrill could be seen texting while seated immediately behind witnesses. One observer said virtually the entire DOA staff sitting in the audience was also texting during testimony but only Murrill was constantly visible on the video being streamed live via the Internet.
But as embarrassing as that should have been to the administration, it was probably her advice that the APA was legally unnecessary.
Even an attorney general’s opinion released on Sept. 23, two days before the Appropriations Committee hearing failed to convince Murrill of her shaky legal position.
The opinion said the Jindal administration simply ignored the APA which requires a certain amount of publicity, public comment and legislative review before policy changes can be adopted.
But Murrill was quick to voice her difference with Assistant Attorney General Emily Andrews who authored the opinion at the request of State Rep. John Bel Edwards (D-Amite).
“We fundamentally disagree that the schedule of benefits meets the legal definition of ‘rule’ in the APA,” she said, “because it does not apply to the general public or any subset of the regulated public.”
Both Nichols and Murrill were grilled by a procession of legislators at the hearing, many of whom were not members of the Appropriations Committee but nevertheless had questions they wanted to ask on behalf of constituents.
At the times the exchanges became tinged with poorly concealed animosity as Nichols and Murrill fielded questions from one legislator after another once OGB members were finished with their testimony. The pair allowed their contempt for legislators surface from time to time while Legislators let it be known that they were losing patience with Jindal and his minions.
Murrill, while at the witness table, adamantly refused to concede that APA was required to be adhered to but on Tuesday (Oct. 14), once DOA had been called out on the matter and Murrill was out of the picture, APA notices of intent began going out to legislators.
Once away from the table and back in the audience, she resumed her texting.
Now she has all the time she needs for texting.
Louisiana Voice 
Once again, great story. One down, many more to go.
About time Liz, the lying snake, was thrown under the bus! We all knew Jindal would throw someone, Kristy Kreme should be looking for another job, because she is next! Good riddance to all of them including the “boy” wonder! Thanks Tom for the outstanding reporting! This made my day!
Since OGB needed a quorum to have a meeting, someone should ask the question of when the board members were advised of the meeting. I’ve been told, they were advised the day before. Not enough time for the board members to make plans to attend…… Hmmmmmm?
I’m so glad to hear that the sarcastic and arrogant Ms. Murrill has met her Waterloo! Who does she think she is, anyway?!
Well now she’s someone who has been Teagued isn’t she?
I think there is a special category for those who followed His Dishonor’s will then were thrown under the bus to preserve His own hide. But what shall we call it? Being bused?
Can you elaborate on “gone?” Did she quit? Or was she forced out (thrown under the bus)?
The official version is she left “to pursue other opportunities.” That’s the reason generally given when someone is forced out but we can neither confirm nor deny that she was jettisoned in an effort at damage control.
Teagued.
And what I mean by Teagued is that anyone who make Piyush look bad is Teagued. This is a “good” Teague, though.
Another one bites the dust. The house of cards slowly collapses…..
Rule of Law: Batting 1000
Jindal and Minions: Batting -0-
Didn’t someone once explain stupidity as doing the same thing again expecting a different result?
Actually, it was insanity, not stupidity. The quote is widely attributed, most probably incorrectly, to Albert Einstein. No real evidence exists that links the quote to him.
Tom, I dont know if anyone has asked this, or what it would take to find out. Do we have figures for what the state part was in previous years for each plan, and what the state part is for the new ones?
The state pays 75 percent of the premiums for OGB members.
Is that still the case? If it is, what is the 75% amount from previous years, compared to the new ones? Got a feeling that it has dropped alot.
If you compare that cost, to the additional cost to the employee via sky high deductibles, and excluded treatments whats that look like then?
Indeed, it’s not the premiums. With high deductibles and exclusions, costs for the state will be less, and costs for the insured will rise. More flim-flammery in the hope that state employees and retirees won’t notice that though their premiums won’t rise, they will pay more.
Lil’ Bobby’s probably in a bad mood today. A new Iowa caucus poll released today has Jindal at 1%. I believe he was tied for thirteenth (!) place. Even with all his pandering there, it ain’t working. His campaign is going backwards. So his terrible, horrible, immoral stewardship of our state, ruined by his narcissism, phoniness and delusions, is all for naught. We already know it. He apparently doesn’t.
But we all know that in Political Speak, the leaders say the polls are indicative of the public’s mood while losers say polls are meaningless.
He just released an energy plan calling for a 100% phaseout of ethanol. He either opted to write Iowa off, or he’s politically stupid. My guess would be the latter based on all available evidence.
Yowsa! When you surround yourself with “Yes” women and men, they will not tell you truths that you need to hear, but that you do not want to hear. Will Murrill go quietly?
Jindal and his entire crew are contemptuous, not only of the legislature, but also of the people of Louisiana. We are just a stop along the way for Jindal to pursue his grand ambition to be president. If by some tragic combination of circumstances, he achieves his ambition, he will be contemptuous of the American people.
Ogb was taking actions without APA compliance well before Murrill came aboard. I think it is very possible she was given an ultimatum to continue to advocate for an indefensible position or move on. She moved on. Good for her.