Free Republic

The mayors of both New Orleans and Baton Rouge take serious issue with a U.S. census report issued Tuesday night estimating how many people have moved out of, or around, Louisiana since Hurricane Katrina. As WAFB's Jim Shannon reports, neither mayor believes the information is accurate. If you buy what's on the census data reports, the cities of New Orleans and Baton Rouge could be in for the short end of the stick when it comes to federal dollars. "My reaction is virtually one of shock," said Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden. "I mean anybody that says that roughly we've...

Holden adds business endorsements By SCOTT DYER sdyer@theadvocate.com Advocate staff writer Beneath a banner proclaiming that "Kip Means Business," a group of about 80 mostly Democratic business leaders and officials turned out Monday to endorse state Sen. Kip Holden, D-Baton Rouge, in his bid to unseat Republican incumbent Mayor-President Bobby Simpson. The only high-profile Republican to publicly speak in support of Holden at Monday's press conference was former Gov. Buddy Roemer, who now serves as president of the Business Bank of Baton Rouge. "I do not know a man who can bring us together faster, cutting across party lines, racial...

Clean campaign vowed BRNEXT to continue ad plan By SCOTT DYER Advocate staff writer Mayor-President Bobby Simpson, a Republican, and state Sen. Kip Holden, D-Baton Rouge, are pledging to steer clear of negative campaigning as they battle in the upcoming runoff election. Simpson, however, said he has little hope the race will stay positive because a political action committee called BRNEXT plans to continue its attacks against him. "As long as BRNEXT stays in this race, it (a positive campaign) probably won't happen," Simpson said. Simpson said he expects BRNEXT to continue its "anybody but Bobby" campaign through the Nov....

Same-sex proposal falls short in Senate By MARSHA SHULER mshuler@theadvocate.com Capitol news bureau A proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages in Louisiana fell one vote shy of passage Wednesday in the state Senate.Six senators were missing in action for the vote. Proponents said the loss was a setback but they expect to win Senate passage when the legislation comes up for another vote later. Some pro-amendment senators were absent Wednesday. The Senate voted 25 to 8. But 26 yeas -- a two-thirds majority of the 39-member body --- is required to pass any proposed constitutional amendment. If the measure passes...