According to reports, Jay Dardenne has been named Jon Bel Edwards's Commissioner of Administration.  Also, Governor-Elect John Bel Edwards announced a fourth transition committee the Healthcare Committee.  This committee will develop a plan to accept $16 billion in federal funds back into Louisiana to expand Medicaid, will also be tasked with reexamining the public-private partnerships of Louisiana's hospitals and continuous improvement of Bayou Health. 

by Jim W. Miller

One of labor’s endearing clichés is the bumbling employee – we’ll call him Bob - who can’t stay out of his own way. Bob knocks over his coffee cup, soaking the new proposal five minutes before the big presentation. Bob parks in the boss’ spot because the nearest open space is three blocks down the street and around the corner in the auxiliary lot. Bob misreads a newspaper story about a fellow employee and goes around the office whispering that Alice was indicted when the true story said Alice was inducted into an honor society. Safe to say that Bob is the last guy who should go nose-to-nose when the boss calls attention to his latest peccadillo.

On Sunday evening, President Barack Obama addressed the nation concerning the ISIS problem and recent terror attacks.

Here is the text of his speech in the Oval office.  Also below are recent social media posts including those from House Whip, Republican Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise .

Good evening. On Wednesday, 14 Americans were killed as they came together to celebrate the holidays. They were taken from family and friends who loved them deeply. They were white and black; Latino and Asian; immigrants and American-born; moms and dads; daughters and sons. Each of them served their fellow citizens and all of them were part of our American family.

by Stephen Waguespack, President and CEO of Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI)

Much has been written about Louisiana’s chronic state budget deficit. It seems the $25 billion state governmental budget is short once again; and the upcoming special legislative session is being hyped as the solution we have long been promised to stop this recurring cycle of shortfalls.