

Independence, LA

Post #: 8 user 63755222

SB1 does one thing: change the name of the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts (LSMSA) to honor the late Rep. Jimmy D Long Sr. The Education Committee had a hearing on the bill today. Alumni, faculty and parent supporters turned out to send a unified message: The LSMSA community does not want this name change and has its own plans for honoring Rep. Long. The committee approved the bill on a voice vote.



This bill appears to serve one purpose and one purpose only: to stroke the ego of Sen. Gerald Long, the brother of Rep. Jimmy Long. Before the vote, Sen. Long took the podium and basically dismissed all of the concerns expressed by the opposition. The bill's sponsor, a Sen. Thompson, also showed no interest in the concerns voiced. One would think that the fact that the LSMSA community demonstrated a unified front, behind the president of the alumni association and a former director, would convince any reasonable person not to proceed with such a ceremonial measure. But the committee wasted no time in approving the bill, which will go to the full Senate and to the House.



We have a general belief that our legislatures are filled with politicians who care only for themselves and their own power. We believe that there is a good-old-boy network where buddies cut deals and vote for each other's pork. Today's Education Committee hearing not only presented evidence that this belief is true. It happened in front of some of the best and brightest students to come out of Louisiana. Sens. Long and Thomson basically told the alumni, students, faculty and backers of one of Louisiana's top schools--a school ranked among the top in the entire nation--that their opinions didn't matter. They're going to make this name change, regardless of whether the people actually involved with the school want it or not, regardless of the costs associated with the change ($200,000 for physical materials and potential intangible costs to the reputation of the school and the benefits it renders to its students).



A state legislature that tells its best and brightest, "Thanks for your opinion but we're going to do what we want anyway," is a state legislature that tells its best and brightest, "We don't care about you." As an LSMSA alumnus, I have personally seen the devastating effects of this attitude. I know dozens of alumni who have left Louisiana with no interest in returning. I see and work in a regulatory climate that creates no incentives, only disincentives, for staying in Louisiana over going to other states. I personally struggle with anxiety over the prospect that I will not fully monetize my career because I live in Louisiana--my home, where I was born, where I grew up, where I was educated, and where I would prefer to live even without the things that force me to live here.



I would appreciate the support of GNOTP against SB1 and against the arrogance of legislators like Senators Thompson and Long. Thanks for all that you do and keep up the good work.



Jay Bienvenu

Independence

