State Office of Group Benefits to be privatized - KNOE 8 News; KNOE-TV; KNOE.com |

BATON ROUGE, La., (KNOE 8 News) -  The Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committee have approved the contract to privatize the Office of Group Benefits to privatize the Office of Group Benefits (OGB).  Earlier in the week, there had been talk and ultimately some testimony in hearings, indicating that the contract would actually cost  despite testimony that it would cost the state millions in additional dollars.

The Governor's office, however, disputes this, a spokesman saying that any additional costs are because of estimates of higher claim figures, not because of added administrative costs.

This is how the vote went in Baton Rouge:

Those voting in favor of the proposed legislation included: Senators Jack Donahue, Norby Chabert, Bret Allain, Dan Claitor, Ronnie Johns, Bodi White, Gerald Long, Francis Thompson, and Mike Walsworth. Representatives Jim Fannin, Simone Champagne, Bryan Adams, John Berthelot, Robert Billiot, Henry Burns, Charles Chaney, Patrick Connick,, Lance Harris, Bob Hensgens, Anthony Ligi, Jack Montoucet, John Schroder, Alan Seabaugh and Chris Broadwater.

Those voting against the proposal included: Senators Sherri Smith Buffington, Fred Mills, and Edwin Murray. Representatives James Armes, Jared Brossett, Roy Burrell, Katrina Jackson, Edward James, Walt Leger, Helena Moreno Patricia Haynes Smith and Ledricka Thierry.