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Gov. Landry fails to remove civil service protections from 900 state jobs • Louisiana Illuminator

Published

4 months ago

February 10, 2025

Staff Editor

lailluminator.com – Wesley Muller – 2025-02-10 16:50:00

Gov. Landry fails to remove civil service protections from 900 state jobs

by Wesley Muller, Louisiana Illuminator
February 10, 2025

Gov. Jeff Landry has yet to explain or defend his recent attempt to revoke civil service classifications from 900 state job positions, a move some fear would inject politics into the state government’s workforce.

The Louisiana State Civil Service Commission has denied a request from Landry to remove its protected status from any future hirings for 394 attorney and 506 engineer positions in state government, many of them within the Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD). The proposal would not have affected anyone currently employed in those positions.

Conditions for terminating a classified civil servant are multilayered and stringent, requiring due process and the right to an appeal if the employee feels they were unjustifiably let go.

The commission’s 4-2 decision Wednesday followed a lengthy discussion when some of the commissioners were skeptical about what they saw as an unusual, short-notice request with potentially far-reaching consequences.

Commissioner D. Scott Hughes addressed two high-ranking members of the Landry administration in attendance: special counsel Emily Andrews and Deputy Commissioner of Administration Patrick Goldsmith.

“Why today?” Hughes asked. “Why are we here today? Why is this an emergency? Why did I get something last week to change 900 job titles, job descriptions, in some cases, whole job departments?”

Goldsmith argued the request is not about politics but about recruitment and employee turnover.

“We’re trying to move at the speed of business,” Goldsmith said. “We’re trying to get things done.”

The state is having trouble finding and keeping qualified employees, particularly engineers, and the governor’s office believes it would be easier to recruit for those positions if they were unclassified, Goldsmith said. Unclassified state employees do not have Civil Service protections and can be fired “at-will” for no reason.

Removing classified Civil Service status from the 900 attorneys and engineers would eliminate the state pay schedule that determines their compensation. Goldsmith said these salary caps, largely based on working experience in state government, have hindered the administration’s ability to hire qualified professionals.

“I’m tired of making offers, and they just laugh at us,” Goldsmith said.

The governor’s office did not respond to multiple requests for comment for this report.

It’s unclear whether the state’s many agency heads were in support of or even aware of Landry’s request. The DOTD did not respond to multiple requests for comment sent to spokesman Rodney Mallett.

Ahead of last week’s commission meeting, the governor’s only communication about his plans was a one-page letter he submitted to the Civil Service Commission with his request. Dated Jan. 29, the letter offered no reasons or explanations for a proposal that came on the heels of President Donald Trump’s executive order revoking civil service protections from tens of thousands of federal employees. The U.S. Office of Personnel and Management issued guidelines on Jan. 27 to carry out Trump’s directive.

Hughes said the commission might not be able to protect the classified civil service system for much longer, explaining that he believes Louisiana voters may ultimately be asked whether to preserve it or convert it into some new system.

By suggesting that “the people” might have to decide, Hughes was referring to a state constitutional amendment, which would need the support of two-thirds of the Louisiana Legislature to appear on an election ballot for voter consideration.

In a phone interview last week, state Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, expressed support for the governor’s request and said it has become too difficult for an agency to fire a classified civil servant even when the termination is justified. He agreed that a constitutional amendment will probably be necessary.

Landry tried unsuccessfully to gain legislative support for a constitutional amendment last year that proposed similar changes. That amendment would have given state lawmakers more control over state employee classifications and would have given Landry more power to decide the make-up of the Civil Service Commission.

The modern civil service is based on reforms that began at the federal level in the late 1800s to correct the abuses of what was then called the “spoils system,” according to a 1946 government publication. Under the spoils system, whichever political party was in power controlled all the government jobs and handed them out in exchange for kickbacks and political loyalty.

“Whenever a different party or administration came into control, it fired at will the government employees appointed during the preceding regime,” the publication states. “Then it distributed their jobs to its own loyal supporters in accordance with the value of their services to the party.”

In Louisiana, the State Civil Service Commission is composed of seven commissioners who serve overlapping six-year terms. The governor appoints six of the members from a list of nominees chosen by the presidents of the state’s major private universities. The seventh commissioner is elected from among the state’s civil service employees.

Codi Plaisance, a DOTD engineer who is the elected state employee on the commission, spoke against the governor’s request, sharing written concerns she received from her fellow employees.

Because unclassified workers can be subject to political punishment and coercion, removing such a large number of engineers from the classified service could create ethical conflicts and unnecessary risks to the public, she said.

“Adding political influence to engineering decisions is dangerous and may very likely result in harm to life and property,” Plaisance said, citing one state employee’s concerns.

Administration officials pushed back against that premise, noting the change would apply only to future hires and not affect any current employees.

Andrews, the governor’s special counsel, cited state statutes she said protect employees by allowing them to file a lawsuit if they are subjected to illegal political coercion or retaliation.

Hughes countered by saying he found that argument unconvincing. Simply allowing an employee to file a lawsuit when their rights are violated, he said, is not a form of protection.

Andrews said the governor’s request was limited to lawyers and engineers because those jobs require professional licenses from their own regulatory oversight boards. State licensing boards for engineers and lawyers already exist to handle ethical matters involving those professionals, and those boards would be sufficient in preventing state lawyers and engineers from engaging in any unethical conduct, she said.

However, those boards cannot protect their licensees in ways the Civil Service Commission can protect classified employees. For example, a licensing board could not reverse the politically-motivated termination of a lawyer from a state agency.

Also, politics plays a role in determining the membership on one of the professional oversight boards; the governor appoints every member of the Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board.

Hughes, whom former Gov. John Bel Edwards appointed to the Civil Service Commission, questioned the timing and manner of Landry’s request. Reclassification requests typically come from individual agencies, not the governor’s office, he said, and they also come on a case-by-case basis specific to one or a few positions.

“I can’t imagine doing it one at a time,” Goldsmith said. “That would just be a bureaucratic nightmare

Ultimately, the governor’s plan is to have a state workforce of fewer, higher paid and better qualified employees, Goldsmith said.

A state agency can offer higher salaries to unclassified employees, but only if it has the money in its budget.

“Working for DOTD for so long, I always heard that we have budget issues,” Plaisance said. “Where is this [money] coming from? … If we make them unclassified, the budget just magically appears?”

Hughes offered to do a “test case” in which the commission reclassifies some of the positions to see if it solves the turnover problem. Andrews and Goldsmith declined, saying their current request involving 900 employees was the test case.

GET THE MORNING HEADLINES.

Louisiana Illuminator is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Louisiana Illuminator maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Greg LaRose for questions: info@lailluminator.com.

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News from the South - Louisiana News Feed

Roads, OMV upgrades, voting machines: Louisiana lawmakers plan to spend $1.2 billion from savings

Published

33 minutes ago

June 16, 2025

Staff Editor

lailluminator.com – Julie O’Donoghue – 2025-06-10 06:40:00

by Julie O’Donoghue, Louisiana Illuminator
June 10, 2025

The Louisiana Legislature’s leaders want to spend $1.2 billion that would typically be deposited into a state savings account on infrastructure, economic development and technology upgrades.

State lawmakers expect to send Gov. Jeff Landry a $48 billion budget plan for the fiscal year that starts July 1 by the time their legislative session concludes Thursday. The current plan includes additional money for roadways and bridges ($709 million), economic development site upgrades ($150 million), state government technology improvements ($59.8 million) and public university maintenance projects ($28 million).

The money comes from a state savings account called the Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund, which takes in corporate taxes as well as energy production taxes in excess of $600 million each per year. Established by voters in 2016, the fund was set up to provide an additional source of funding to Louisiana during economic downturns when the state faces budget crises.

Lawmakers gave themselves a significant amount of latitude in the law to access the fund at any time, so long as they can get two-thirds of the House and Senate to vote to draw down the money.

GET THE MORNING HEADLINES.

The Senate voted unanimously Monday through House Bill 461 to withdraw $1.2 billion. The House is expected to approve the same plan Wednesday or Thursday.

Louisiana is not in the midst of a budget crisis but legislators feel confident about using the money anyway because the state’s two major savings accounts are flush with cash. They also took $717 million out of the account just last year, mostly for transportation and youth prison projects.

Even after the withdrawal, the Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund will have $2.7 billion left. There’s also more than $1.1 billion in the Budget Stabilization Trust Fund, a separate account often referred to as the state “rainy day” fund used to cover budget shortfalls.

Here are some highlights of how the money will be spent:

$280 million: Transportation funding to attract federal money

Rep. Jack McFarland, R-Jonesboro, said this allocation will be used to draw down $1.3 billion in federal funding for transportation projects that could include both new construction and maintenance of existing infrastructure. A list of specific items that would be funded was not provided.

$240 million: Transportation preservation projects

This money would be used to fix and upgrade existing transportation infrastructure, according to McFarland. On top of this money, an additional $63 million is going directly to state transportation districts, where it can also be used for that purpose.

$150 million: Louisiana economic development site investment

The Louisiana Economic Development agency requested this funding in order to pay for physical upgrades and infrastructure at specific sites where the state hopes to attract private sector investment.

For example, the state has already committed to spending millions of dollars to build new roads around the site of the anticipated Hyundai steel mill in Ascension Parish. It will also reimburse Hyundai for some of the construction the company undertakes to build its facility at that location, according to The Times-Picayune. It’s unclear whether any of this funding is committed to the Hyundai project or others recently announced.

On top of this allocation, the economic development agency will also receive an additional $74 million for its “debt service and commitments program” from the $1.2 billion. The department will also get $5 million to launch a marketing campaign for the state.

$101 million: Bridge upgrades

McFarland said Louisiana intends to “bundle up” bridge maintenance projects – around 20 at a time – and put them out to bid as a collective in order to get a better price on the construction work. This money would be used to pay for that work.

$75 million: Water system upgrades

This money is supposed to be used to improve local drinking water and sewerage systems in Louisiana. The state has put hundreds of millions of dollars toward similar projects since 2021, but the repairs needed are estimated to cost billions of dollars.

$29 million: College campus deferred maintenance

The funding will support delayed construction projects and repairs at public universities and colleges. It includes $3 million for work at the University of New Orleans, which is being transferred to the LSU System later this year.

$24.1 million: OMV technology upgrades

The state Office of Motor Vehicles experienced outages of its system this spring, leading Gov. Jeff Landry to declare a state of emergency and waive driver’s license fees as members of the public struggled to access the system. The technology motor vehicle offices rely on is approximately 50 years old.

$10 million: LIV Golf and other ‘major’ events

Lawmakers will combine this money with other state funds in the Major Events Incentive Fund for a total of $16.4 million in spending for tourist-heavy events that are expected to generate revenue.

These include $7 million for a LIV Golf League event in New Orleans; $3.5 million for the months-long U.S. Bowling Congress Tournament in Baton Rouge; $1.2 million for Essence Festival in New Orleans and $1.5 million for an Ultimate Fighting Championship event in New Orleans.

$10 million: New voting machines

For years, Louisiana has been trying to purchase new voting machines to replace ones that are more than three decades old. This allocation comes as lawmakers passed legislation to change the bid process for purchasing a voting system earlier this month.

$5 million: Upgrade to Medicaid eligibility system

This money is supposed to allow Louisiana to upgrade the technology it uses to make sure Medicaid recipients are eligible for the public health insurance benefit. The Louisiana Department of Health recently announced its intention to start cross-checking its Medicaid rolls with other state databases, including those used by the Office of Motor Vehicles.

$4 million: More grass cutting on state roads

This allocation will be used to pay for additional cycles of mowing along state roads over the next fiscal cycle.

$3 million: AI tool for monitoring state prisoner phone calls

Louisiana’s prison system will receive $3 million to help pay for an artificial intelligence tool that monitors and collects data on phone calls from state prisoners. The program Verus, made by the company LeoTech, is used to detect criminal activity, prevent self-harm and assist with public safety, according to the LeoTech’s website.

The company says it does not monitor communication between incarcerated people and their attorneys, spiritual advisors or doctors.

$3 million: Louisiana Supreme Court building security

The court is receiving a blanket $1.8 million to upgrade security at its facility in the French Quarter in New Orleans. Another $1.1 million has been allocated specifically for additional fencing around the building.

$1.8 million: State police payment for the ‘recapture of fugitives’

The state’s top law enforcement agency is receiving $1.8 million for “expenses related to the recapture of fugitives.”

It’s not stated explicitly, but this money may be going to reimburse state police for assisting with the 10-person jailbreak that occurred at the New Orleans jail in May.

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The post Roads, OMV upgrades, voting machines: Louisiana lawmakers plan to spend $1.2 billion from savings appeared first on lailluminator.com

Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Centrist

The content presents a detailed and factual account of Louisiana’s legislative budget decisions without any overt editorializing or partisan language. It describes how funds are being allocated across various sectors such as infrastructure, economic development, technology upgrades, and public safety, reflecting a pragmatic approach to governance. The emphasis on bipartisan legislative approval and the inclusion of multiple perspectives and facts suggests a neutral stance aimed at informing readers rather than advocating a particular political viewpoint.

News from the South - Louisiana News Feed

Five Mile Eatery move, library access to be discussed

Published

5 hours ago

June 16, 2025

Staff Editor

thecurrentla.com – Camden Doherty – 2025-06-16 16:17:00

SUMMARY: This week’s Lafayette City and Parish Council agendas include proposed measures to allow UL Lafayette and SLCC student IDs as library cards to boost library use, and a \$100,000 increase for waterproofing the parish jail, where five undocumented workers were recently detained. The City Council will discuss drainage improvements after repeated flooding this spring. Other city matters include rezoning Ramsgate Townhouses and a permit for Five Mile Eatery’s new location, which faces some neighborhood opposition. Joint council items involve donating properties for affordable housing and a pocket park, as well as selecting The Daily Advertiser as the official journal of record.

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The post Five Mile Eatery move, library access to be discussed appeared first on thecurrentla.com

News from the South - Louisiana News Feed

Tropical Update: Monday, June 16

Published

11 hours ago

June 16, 2025

Staff Editor

www.youtube.com – WWLTV – 2025-06-16 10:28:42

SUMMARY: Tropical weather is quiet in the Atlantic, with disturbed weather centered over Central America and scattered storms in the Gulf and Caribbean. The Bermuda High remains strong, limiting activity in the Caribbean. In the Pacific, a new storm south of Mexico, Invest 94, is likely to become a named storm and could reach hurricane strength as it moves toward southern Mexico, possibly making landfall midweek near Acapulco. Warm waters and low wind shear support potential intensification. The Atlantic season remains delayed, with peak activity expected in August and September. Meanwhile, a significant heatwave will impact much of the eastern and central U.S. heading into summer’s start Friday.