State Rep. Jack McFarland said that given time, state education officials could find budget cuts that would provide money for teacher pay raises. (Photo by Cross Harris / LSU Manship School News Service) BATON ROUGE — Voter rejection of constitutional amendments, including one that would have freed up money for teacher pay raises, complicated this spring’s legislative session and raised questions about whether the public is being asked to vote on too many amendments that are hard to...

State Sen. Gary Carter, who has criticized the new maps, talked before Friday’s vote with state Sen. Jay Morris, one of the main creators of the maps. (Photo by Avery White / LSU Manship School News Service) BATON ROUGE — The Louisiana Senate passed the final version of a new congressional map in a 28-10 vote down party lines Friday, eliminating one majority-black district. Senate Bill 121, authored by state Sen. Jay Morris, R-West Monroe, creates five majority-Republican districts and one...

A bill sponsored by Rep. Beau Beaullieu would require the Louisiana secretary of state to submit the information of every registered voter to a federal database to verify voter eligibility. (Photo by Cross Harris / LSU Manship School News Service) BATON ROUGE — A House bill that would require the Louisiana secretary of state to submit details on every registered voter to a national database for investigation into their eligibility passed 73-29 Tuesday following extensive debate. House Bill...