Louisiana looks at possible port consolidation

Louisiana looks at possible port consolidation    One Louisiana state legislator is proposing consolidating several ports on the Lower Mississippi River, while another is proposing creation of a cabinet-level post to oversee the state's ports.
   House Speaker Jim Tucker, R-Terrytown, has introduced two bills dealing with consolidation. HB 1086 would consolidate the ports in Jefferson, Orleans, St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes and create the Lower Mississippi River Port Authority with an 11-member gubernatorial-appointed commission. HB 782 is a constitutional amendment allowing the Legislature to abolish, for consolidation purposes, deepwater port, harbor and terminal districts.
   Sen. A.G. Crowe, R-Slidell, has introduced SB 658, which would create a Department of Ports, Maritime and International Trade as one of the departments in the executive branch of state government.