While state Sens. Mike Michot, R-Lafayette, and Nick Gautreaux, D-Meaux, received failing marks overall — with
60 percent and 67 percent, respectively — they came through on the two bills most favored by the chamber.
One of the high-priority measures introduced in the House would change the makeup of the board of directors and jurisdictional boundaries of the Lafayette Metropolitan Expressway Commission. It passed the House and the Senate, with amendments, but the session ended before a final vote could be cast.
The other was a proposal create the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Revolving Loan Fund Program to provide financial assistance for costs to purchase or convert vehicle fleets to those using clean or alternative fuels. Introduced in the Senate, the bill passed and was signed into law by Gov. Bobby Jindal.
However, not all delegation members saw eye to eye with the chamber on all proposals.
"The one thing you have to realize is that some represent Lafayette Parish's smaller, more rural constituencies, so they have to split their votes," said Bruce Conque, the chamber's vice president of marketing and governmental relations.
Of the six state legislators from Lafayette Parish, state Rep. Nancy Landry, a Republican whose district includes part of Vermilion Parish, received the highest business-friendly grade — 100 percent.
Unlike many chambers across the country that shy away from taking sides on political issues because they don't want to offend members of either stripe, the local organization is outspoken on matters it thinks will benefit the area's commerce.
"The chamber's public policy process involves taking positions on pending legislation, communicating those positions to elected officials, and then holding those officials accountable," chamber President Rob Guidry said in a statement.
The report card was published on the chamber's website, http://www.lafchamber.org/.
