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→Cockfighting
===Cockfighting===
===Cockfighting===
Forster was an early vigorous advocate of a ban on cockfighting in Louisiana. In 1990, with the support of animal rights activists, he proposed two bills, one to ban the practice outright and the other to reclassify fowl as “animals” so that they could gain protection through laws banning animal cruelty. "We've been trying to get this thing passed for years, and we'll probably try again ...," Forster said.<ref name=fowl>{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1990-06-14/news/mn-233_1|author=Garry Boulard|title=Regional Report: Custom Survives: Cockfighting Dies Slow Death in Tradition-Bound Louisiana|publisher=''[[The Los Angeles Times]]'|date=June 14, 1990|accessdate=October 17, 2009}}</ref>
Forster was an early vigorous advocate of a ban on cockfighting in Louisiana. In 1990, with the support of animal rights activists, he proposed two bills, one to ban the practice outright and the other to reclassify fowl as “animals” so that they could gain protection through laws banning animal cruelty. "We've been trying to get this thing passed for years, and we'll probably try again ...," Forster said.<ref name=fowl>{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1990-06-14/news/mn-233_1|author=Garry Boulard|title=Regional Report: Custom Survives: Cockfighting Dies Slow Death in Tradition-Bound Louisiana|publisher=''[[The Los Angeles Times]]'|date=June 14, 1990|accessdate=October 17, 2009}}</ref>
A defender of cockfighting, then Representative Raymond "La La" Lalonde, then a Democrat from Sunset in St. Landry Parish, but who later switched parties, said that the practice is ingrained in [[Cajun]] heritage: “This is part of their culture and heritage, and they're not going to give up on this issue without a fight."<ref name=fowl/>
A defender of cockfighting, then Representative Raymond "La La" Lalonde, then a Democrat from Sunset in St. Landry Parish, but who later switched parties, said that the practice is ingrained in [[Cajun]] heritage: “This is part of their culture and heritage, and they're not going to give up on this issue without a fight."<ref name=fowl/>
Cockfighting started in ancient [[Persia]] and was introduced into [[North America]] in the 18th century. In 1836, [[Massachusetts]] became the first state to ban the breeding and training of such birds.<ref name=fowl/> Louisiana was ultimately the last state in the Union to ban the practice, and the measure did not take effect until 2008. Only one House member dissented on the 2007 vote to ban cockfighting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=6493974|title=Louisiana State House Passes Cockfighting Ban|publisher=WAFB-TV|accessdate=October 17, 2009}}</ref> The first raid in Louisiana against an alleged cockfighting operation occurred in March 2009 in Sulphur in Calcasieu Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hsus.org/acf/news/louisiana_cockfighting_bust_031809.html|title=Louisiana Cockfighting Bust Makes History"|date=March 18, 2009|publisher=hsus.org|accessdate=October 17, 2009}}</ref>
Cockfighting started in ancient [[Persia]] and was introduced into [[North America]] in the 18th century. In 1836, [[Massachusetts]] became the first state to ban the breeding and training of such birds.<ref name=fowl/> Louisiana was ultimately the last state in the Union to ban the practice, and the measure did not take effect until 2008. Only one House member dissented on the 2007 vote to ban cockfighting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=6493974|title=Louisiana State House Passes Cockfighting Ban|publisher=WAFB-TV|accessdate=October 17, 2009}}</ref> The first raid in Louisiana against an alleged cockfighting operation occurred in March 2009 in Sulphur in Calcasieu Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hsus.org/acf/news/louisiana_cockfighting_bust_031809.html|title=Louisiana Cockfighting Bust Makes History"|date=March 18, 2009|publisher=hsus.org|accessdate=October 17, 2009}}</ref>
===Successor===
===Successor===
On leaving the legislature, Forster was succeeded by another Democrat, who later turned Republican, but one more liberal than most Louisiana Republicans, Melinda Schwegmann, who in 1991 was elected to a single term as lieutenant governor. Schwegmann thereafter lost a bid for governor in 1995 and an attempt to return to the office of lieutenant governor in 2003.
On leaving the legislature, Forster was succeeded by another Democrat who later turned [[Moderate Republican]], Melinda Schwegmann, who in 1991 was elected to a single term as lieutenant governor. Schwegmann thereafter lost a bid for governor in 1995 and an attempt to return to the office of lieutenant governor in 2003.
==As labor secretary==
==As labor secretary==
As secretary of labor, Forster’s assistant was Raj Jindal, mother of former Louisiana Governor [[Bobby Jindal]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.laworks.net/Downloads/LMI/1999laempwage.pdf|title=1999 Louisiana Employment and Wages|publisher=laworks.net|accessdate=October 17, 2009}}</ref> Forster worked with Governor Foster to pursue the “one-stop” concept; that is, having different government offices in a centralized location to accelerate access by those needing services. A prototype of the concept was unveiledin 2001 in Slidell in [[suburb]]an St. Tammany Parish. Forster explained, accordingly: "All of the services that we offer in our regular offices, like computer training, placement services and Internet access, will now be available at the East St. Tammany Job Center. This is just another way that we are making things as easy as possible for anyone needing assistance."<ref name=labor>{{cite web|url= http://www.workforceatm.org/articles/template.cfm?results_art_filename=laslidell.htm|title=Louisiana Department of Labor Opens On-Stop in Slidell|publisher=workforceatm.org|accessdate=October 17, 2009}}</ref>
As secretary of labor, Forster’s assistant was Raj Jindal, mother of former Louisiana Governor [[Bobby Jindal]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.laworks.net/Downloads/LMI/1999laempwage.pdf|title=1999 Louisiana Employment and Wages|publisher=laworks.net|accessdate=October 17, 2009}}</ref> Forster worked with Governor Foster to pursue the “one-stop” concept; that is, having different government offices in a centralized location to accelerate access by those needing services. A prototype of the concept was unveiledin 2001 in Slidell in [[suburb]]an St. Tammany Parish. Forster explained, accordingly: "All of the services that we offer in our regular offices, like computer training, placement services and Internet access, will now be available at the East St. Tammany Job Center. This is just another way that we are making things as easy as possible for anyone needing assistance."<ref name=labor>{{cite web|url= http://www.workforceatm.org/articles/template.cfm?results_art_filename=laslidell.htm|title=Louisiana Department of Labor Opens On-Stop in Slidell|publisher=workforceatm.org|accessdate=October 17, 2009}}</ref>
Employers visiting the location can list job openings, recruit and interview applicants, and receive tax credits. They can also gain knowledge about subsidized training programs.<ref name=labor/>
Employers visiting the location can list job openings, recruit and interview applicants, and receive tax credits. They can also gain knowledge about subsidized training programs.<ref name=labor/>
Forster and Foster came under fire from [[organized labor]] for having allegedly selected judges for the workers compensation program who were inclined to favor business over employees. The pair denied the charge. Governor Foster said: “All I've ever asked the department to do – as far as anybody we appointed – was just to get good, fair judges, not biased on either side.”<ref name=workers>{{cite web|url=http://www.injuredworker.org/forums/injuredworker/posts/36.html|title=The Politics of Workers’ Compensation|publisher=injuredworker.org|accessdate=October 17, 2009}}</ref>
Forster and Foster came under fire from [[organized labor]] for having allegedly selected judges for the workers compensation program who were inclined to favor business over employees. The pair denied the charge. Governor Foster said: “All I've ever asked the department to do – as far as anybody we appointed – was just to get good, fair judges, not biased on either side.”<ref name=workers>{{cite web|url=http://www.injuredworker.org/forums/injuredworker/posts/36.html|title=The Politics of Workers’ Compensation|publisher=injuredworker.org|accessdate=October 17, 2009}}</ref>
In a typical year at the time, Louisiana had some six thousand disputes over whether employees merit worker’s compensation. Forster portrayed the dispute as the result of labor’s opposition to changes that he launched when he became secretary: “Wake up and smell the coffee... This place is no longer run by the [[AFL-CIO]]. It's no longer 'just cut the check.'"<ref name=workers/>
In a typical year at the time, Louisiana had some six thousand disputes over whether employees merit worker’s compensation. Forster portrayed the dispute as the result of labor’s opposition to changes that he launched when he became secretary: “Wake up and smell the coffee... This place is no longer run by the [[AFL-CIO]]. It's no longer 'just cut the check.'"<ref name=workers/>
Forster said that he had quickly filled vacant worker’s compensation judgeships without regard to the political views of the candidates. Under Louisiana law, employers must pay all necessary medical costs for injuries sustained while at work. The injured can also obtain two-thirds of their regular salary but with a limit which changes over time. In order to pay such claims, employers either purchase [[insurance]] or pool resources with other companies to create a special fund.<ref name=workers/>
Forster said that he had quickly filled vacant worker’s compensation judgeships without regard to the political views of the candidates. Under Louisiana law, employers must pay all necessary medical costs for injuries sustained while at work. The injured can also obtain two-thirds of their regular salary but with a limit which changes over time. In order to pay such claims, employers either purchase [[insurance]] or pool resources with other companies to create a special fund.<ref name=workers/>