DeVillier pleased with House leader vote

The first week on a new job is always a whirlwind, especially when the new desk is in the state’s House of Representatives.
Rep. Phillip DeVillier, who was sworn in on Monday, said, “It was exciting. I really enjoyed meeting everyone and seeing how the state is run. I just want to be part of the solution.”
DeVillier was sworn in at the House of Representatives in Baton Rouge as his wife, Lisa Savoy Devillier, and children, Savannah, Jillian and Cooper stood by his side, and his first task as a new representative was to help elect a House speaker, which was Taylor Barras.
“That was the first thing we did, and it was historic in itself,” DeVillier said. “Historically, speakers have been chosen more or less by the governor-elect. I think what we did showed that the House should be independent and that people of each district elect representatives who represent their values. The speaker is going to be putting people on committees, and it is important that it be done independently.”
“The good thing about Taylor is that he was elected without any promises or committee deals before hand.”
While some may have seen the election of Barras as a torpedoing of Edwards’ administration, DeVillier did not see it that way.
“John Bel Edwards has an agenda and his own motives,” he said. “We will do what we have to do to work together and move this state in a positive direction. I don’t think his plan is to tax us out of our deficit. We need to put everything on the table and make comparisons across the board.”
“I certainly think we did not ‘go against the governor’ (by electing Barras). We just did not select who the governor wanted. In my opinion, the election of the speaker was selecting someone who reflects our values. In time, I think it will play a very important role in how the speaker is elected. It will take the politics out of it.”
Following the house speaker election, the state’s representative attended an organizational session, and on Tuesday and Wednesday, the representatives attended physical briefings.
“Members of the house staff explained the different challenges with the budget,” DeVillier said. “We also took an ethics course and looked at a full agenda.”
In addition to his seat at the capitol, DeVillier will also man a desk at his office in City Hall. DeVillier will retain Rebel Manuel as his legislative assistant. She has served as assistant to DeVillier’s predecessor Mickey Guillory. DeVillier’s office number is 337-457-0194, and his email address is devillierp@la.gov.
Next on DeVillier’s agenda is the special session, which he anticipates will begin Feb. 14.
“I think we need to pay close attention to what our governor is going to push across as far as taxation,” Devillier said. “People are already struggling enough day to day with the economy that we are in and we surely can’t afford to be paying any more in taxes. We need to take a common sense approach and be fair across the board. We need to get the state on the right path.”
DeVillier plans to set up a website in the next 60 days that will help residents see where money in the state’s budget is going.
“The more transparent I can be, the more people will understand what is going on in Baton Rouge,” he said. “I think this is something we really need. People can already see and hear committee meetings online and see what is going on.”
In the short term, DeVillier said he will work to set up an office that is transparent and that he will work for the people of the district. He also plans to visit all the schools in his district, be present in the communities in the district and build on the needs in the district.
“Every community has needs,” DeVillier said. “Eunice has LSUE. We need to make sure to keep it properly funded. We also need to see about the kids and schools and the infrastructure of schools. In Basile and Iota, I would like to see some sort of Big Brothers, Big Sisters type organization.”
DeVillier also plans to focus on area infrastructure, and he pointed out La. 35 in the Church Point area as just one particular roadway that needs attention.
In the long term, the state representative said he will work hand in hand with everyone in Baton Rouge in the House of Representatives to get the budget structure to work the way it is supposed to. DeVillier pointed to the low price of oil as having the biggest effect on the state’s budget.