“House Bill 45 is sponsored by state Rep. Kirk Talbot, R-River Ridge. The bill would block any future hires of four organizations from being able to become, or remain, members of the Teachers Retirement System of Louisiana (TRSL). The four organizations are Louisiana Association of Educators, Louisiana Federation of Teachers (both teachers unions), Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana and Louisiana Resource Center for Educators.” – NOLA.com

“There are many reasons why Baton Rouge is not Atlanta, but one way is that what has so far been uncovered doesn’t constitute an Atlanta-style scandal in which widespread school cheating was found.” – Baton Rouge Advocate

“Where did the Audubon Nature Institute get the money it spent trying to get New Orleans voters to approve a property tax increase on Saturday? How did Audubon spend its money? Who worked for the campaign?Voters won’t know the answers to these questions until April 24, when Audubon files its first campaign finance report for the ballot proposition with the Louisiana Ethics Administration. That date is 40 days after the March 15 election.” – The Lens

“Being sanctioned by President Putin is a badge of honor,” Sen. Landrieu said. “It will not stop me from using my power as chair of the Energy Committee to promote America as an energy superpower and help increase energy exports around the world. We must minimize Russia’s influence over Europe, the former Soviet states—especially Ukraine that has fought so long for freedom—and our allies. And it most certainly will not stop me from advocating for orphans in Russia and around the world.” – WWL-TV

“Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will highlight on Thursday local ObamaCare enrollment efforts in Louisiana, a deep red state with major 2014 midterm implications.” – The Hill

“Louisiana state legislators, who recently kicked off their 2014 session, are also considering a bill to end the practice of the state government serving as the political money bagman for union bosses. The House Labor Committee will soon take up House Bill 172, legislation that would stop government collection of union dues from worker paychecks.” – Forbes

“As the Louisiana Legislature debates the Common Core set of national K-12 academic standards, other states’ support of it could be wavering. ChalkBeat reports that Indiana might soon become the first state to pull out.” – NOLA.com

“Oil and gas companies put up more than $800 million in winning bids for about 1.7 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico, signaling interest in the future of local offshore oil as onshore plays continue to boom elsewhere.” – Houma Courier

“Alas, as with almost all things in the past few decades from Edwin Edwards, the reports confirmed that he had dealt us yet another losing hand.  As I put it in a piece on the subject I wrote last month, Edwin Edwards just isn’t through hurting us.” – Elliot Stonecipher/Forward-Now

“A Louisiana House committee approved without opposition Wednesday legislation that, when passed in other states, helped shut down abortion clinics.” – Baton Rouge Advocate