Calcasieu School Board to join lawsuit challenging vouchers, charter schools
Last Modified: Sunday, July 08, 2012 11:22 PM
By Eric Cormier / American Press
Calcasieu Parish School Board members on Tuesday are expected to approve a measure to join more than 30 other parishes in a lawsuit challenging the way Gov. Bobby Jindal and lawmakers enacted a measure to fund vouchers and charter schools.
Fourteen of the board’s 15 members voted to join the suit during a recent budget committee meeting. The administrative staff informed the committee of the legal battle.
Karl Bruchhaus, the school system’s chief financial officer, said the board will address the issue during Tuesday’s regular meeting at 3310 Broad St.
“This is a challenge of legislative procedure,” he said. “The school boards feel the bill should have passed with a majority of the Legislature.”
In a news release announcing the lawsuit, the Louisiana School Boards Association said the Minimum Foundation Program resolution passed 51-49, with five House members not voting. Passage requires a majority assent, or 53 votes, the group said.
“House Speaker Chuck Kleckley, R-Lake Charles, ruled that the resolution had been approved,” reads the LSBA news release.
“When he was questioned by other representatives about how it could have passed since it did not get majority vote of the 105 member House of Representatives, he stated that the House had a ‘long history’ of violating the Constitution.”
Kleckley was contacted about the association’s characterization of his comments.
Through a text message, he provided what he said was his exact statement: “There is a history that supports that the Legislature has not consistently followed constitutional procedure on this issue.”
He continued: “I have been advised not to comment on ongoing litigation, but I will say that I will support and uphold the constitution and I have full faith in the judiciary.”
Posted By: Doug On: 7/12/2012
Title: Shameful, Lake Charles, Shameful!
"Concern", Rosalind, and Dwight, doesn't it make one wonder if there are any real live working brains in charge of ANYTHING at all in Louisiana in general, or in Lake Charles in particular? Damned shame that Louisiana is ALWAYS at the very bottom of "every conceivable index", except crime and death. And even with all the industry and all the casino business LCH has not grown one iota, neither in population nor in stature. Where in hell is all the casino revenue going? It surely has done nothing to help education, as was promised.
Posted By: concern On: 7/9/2012
Title: vote him out
With the barber field turf mess and this guy trying to shift money away from the certain schools. It's time to vote him out.
Posted By: Rosalind On: 7/9/2012
Title: A Rougue State
A fugue..A rogue...a sham...a pity...you guys don't even pretend to be serious anymore. just blatantly ridiculous. and an asleep electorate allowing this to happen. shame. shame. shame. quite comfortable you are being at the bottom of EVERY conceivable index. dang. five will get you 20 the American Press endorses Gov Jindal.
Posted By: Dwight On: 7/8/2012
Title: The Constitution be d**ned, full speed a head.
What other laws have been passed by the House that violating the constitution? The house has "‘long history’ of violating the Constitution.” Then the people of Louisiana need to change a lot.
Get Social With Us!
+Share