Larry Bagley Explained

Lawrence A. "Larry" Bagley, Jr.
Term Start:January 2016
Preceded:Richard Burford
Birth Date:4 January 1949
Birth Place:Longstreet, Louisiana, U.S.
Occupation:Businessman; insurance agent
retired educator
Residence:Logansport, Louisiana, U.S.
Children:7, including two foster sons
Party:Republican
Parents:Lawrence and Sally Bagley
Alma Mater:Baptist Christian College
Stephen F. Austin State University
Northwestern State University

Lawrence A. Bagley Jr. (born January 4, 1949),[1] known as Larry Bagley, is a Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for District 7, which encompasses Caddo, DeSoto, and Sabine parishes in northwestern Louisiana. In January 2016, he succeeded outgoing Republican Representative Richard Burford, an unsuccessful candidate against the Conservative Democrat John Milkovich for the District 38 seat in the Louisiana State Senate in the general election held on November 21, 2015.

Political life

In the primary election held on October 24, 2015, Bagley with 5,531 votes (52.8 percent) defeated two other Republicans, Robert S. "Steve" Casey, who received 2,775 votes (26.5 percent), and Perry D. McDaniel, who polled 2,170 votes (20.7 percent).[2]

In 2016, Bagley joined a House bipartisan majority to enact a one-cent increase in the state sales tax.[3]

Attempt to end automobile inspection stickers

In April 2017, Representative Bagley proposed legislation which would halt most automobile inspection stickers required annually since 1961 on all vehicles in Louisiana. Bagley's bill would limit inspections to student transportation and commercial vehicles and would not impact the parishes of Ascension, East Baton Rouge, Iberville, Livingston, and West Baton Rouge, which are required under the Clean Air Act of 1963 to conduct specialized inspections for vehicle emissions, Displayed on windshields, the stickers are considered proof that the inspections was conducted.[4]

On May 15, 2017, the House Transportation Committee, citing skepticism for Bagley's legislation by the Louisiana State Police, tabled the bill. Bagley claimed that the legislation would end what he called a $6 million per year industry in fraudulent stickers. Representative Terry Landry, a former state police superintendent from Lafayette Parish, said that he thought ending inspections would be "sacrificing safety. I just fundamentally disagree with your bill."[5]

As the issue played out, lobbyists representing those who perform the inspections also lined up against Bagley's proposal. These businesses make nearly half of their overall income from the inspections. Bagley favored adding the inspection fee to one's motor vehicle registration. However, the Louisiana Constitution of 1974 places a cap on the amount of that fee. Hence the proposed change would require a constitutional amendment to adjust the vehicle registration fee structure. Bagley vowed, assuming that he is reelected in 2019, to bring back the matter in the 2021 economic session of the legislature. Bagley said that he wants to hire 150 new state troopers with money that the state spends on the inspections.[6]

Louisiana hence remains one of thirteen states with motor vehicle inspection laws.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lawrence Bagley, January 1949. Louisiana Secretary of State. October 26, 2015.
  2. Web site: Results for Election Date: 10/24/2015. Louisiana Secretary of State. October 25, 2015.
  3. Web site: State House of Representatives Vote to Increase Sales Tax. February 25, 2016. KEEL. March 28, 2016.
  4. News: No more vehicle inspection stickers, Louisiana lawmaker proposes. New Orleans Times-Picayune. April 14, 2017. April 17, 2017.
  5. News: Bid to repeal Louisiana's motor vehicle inspection law killed by House committee. The Baton Rouge Advocate. Will Sentell. May 15, 2017. May 17, 2017.
  6. Web site: Inspection Stickers Not Going Away in Louisiana. KEEL Radio in Shreveport. May 23, 2019. Erin McCarty. May 26, 2019.