Smith, other new lawmakers form task force

Published 12:00 am Sunday, September 3, 2000

LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / September 3, 2000

NORCO – Rep. Gary Smith Jr. hit the ground running during the 2000legislative sessions, and he’s now involved in a task force to correct some of what he saw in state government.

Smith announced the organization of 21 first-term House members into a bipartisan task force to address issues in eight major categories.

“We need to make ourselves more informed to make government more fiscally responsible,” Smith said. “Most of us are pretty conservative.”The Freshman Task Force set up eight committees on health and hospitals, wildlife and fisheries, civil service, transportation, funding and structure of education, corrections and the possible consolidation of the Department of Elections into another department.

Smith said during his election campaign the word from the governor’s office was one of fiscal soundness in state government. Once he took office, Smithadded, that soundness had evaporated and the several sessions this year, including one where the session ended without an approved budget, further dismayed him.

“We got three years of sessions in four months,” Smith observed.

Toward this goal of fiscal responsibility, he joined with the other freshman House members, Democrat and Republican, in forming this task force. “Wethought at first all we had to do was cut spending, but we found out that’s not how it’s done. Most of the budget is statutorily dedicated.”The organization includes state representatives Ernie Alexander, Karen Carter, Don Cazayoux, A.G. Crowe, Carla Dartez, Emma Devillier, JeanDoerge, Dale Erdey, Rick Farrar, Lydia Jackson, Michael Jackson, Kay Katz, Eric Lafleur, Leonard Lucas, Ben Nevers, Loulan Pitre, Cedric Redmond, Jennifer Sneed, Mike Strain and Taylor Townsend, along with Smith.

“I’m impressed with the group that’s come in,” Smith said. “I didn’t see anyslackers.”One of the smallest freshman classes in 35 years, Smith sees this as an opportunity to develop in the job and grow quickly in the House organization.

With the new three-term limit, learning has to come quickly. The groupdecided on the eight key issues to examine and find cost-cutting measures to help bring the state’s budget under control. “We have a real active groupof freshman legislators,” Smith said, “driven and motivated.”Smith has joined with Alexander, Carter, Katz and Pitre on the civil service committee and with Erdey, Katz and Sneed on the transportation committee.

“We have been elected to make responsible choices for our constituents,” Smith added. “We’re not out to take heads. We just want some answers.”Smith was also appointed this year to the House Commerce and Insurance committees.

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