Changes

==Political life==

==Political life==

​Downs won a [[special election]] to the state House held in January 2003 created by the resignation of [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] Representative Jay McCallum, who became a judge. Downs won the contest by 36 votes over fellow Republican Chuck Earle, 3,838 to 3,802.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, January 18, 2003.</ref>​

Downs won a [[special election]] to the state House held in January 2003 created by the resignation of [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] Representative Jay McCallum, who became a judge. Downs won the contest by 36 votes over fellow Republican Chuck Earle, 3,838 to 3,802.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, January 18, 2003.</ref>​

Downs then won four-year terms in the elections of 2003 and 2007 without opposition.<ref name="ReferenceA">Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 4, 2003.</ref> However, Downs did not seek a third full term in the primary election held on October 22, 2011.<ref name=beder>{{cite web|url=http://www.fgazette.com/news.php?id=1534|author=Scott Beder|title=Downs won't run for third term; Russell to seek open House seat|date= April 28, 2011|publisher=''The Farmerville Gazette''|accessdate=July 7, 2011}}</ref>  

Downs then won four-year terms in the elections of 2003 and 2007 without opposition.<ref name="ReferenceA">Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 4, 2003.</ref> However, Downs did not seek a third full term in the primary election held on October 22, 2011.<ref name=beder>{{cite web|url=http://www.fgazette.com/news.php?id=1534|author=Scott Beder|title=Downs won't run for third term; Russell to seek open House seat|date= April 28, 2011|publisher=''The Farmerville Gazette''|accessdate=July 7, 2011}}</ref>  

In 2011, Downs sponsored House Bill 448 which would have charged college students for fifteen credit hours, rather than the current twelve semester hours. According to the Legislative Fiscal Office, the change would raise about $74 million a year. Downs said that previous policy in which students pay only for twelve hours encourages them to enroll in additional courses that they frequently drop by the time of withdrawal day. Therefore, colleges must hire more faculty and staff than they would otherwise need. Downs said that the 15-hour requirement would encourage students to take more classes and to graduate earlier. The additional funds raised would compensate too, he said, for other budget cuts in higher education.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/06/tuition-raising_measures_clear.html|author=Jan Moller|title=Tuition-raising measures clear first committee hurdle|publisher=''New Orleans Times-Picayune''|date=June 1, 2011|accessdate=July 7, 2011}}</ref> However, the full House overwhelmingly rejected Downs' bill and a similar measure by Republican Representative Frank Albert Hoffmann (born 1944) of West Monroe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/06/2_bills_designed_to_raise_coll.html|title=Two bills designed to raise Louisiana college costs derailed|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|date=June 7, 2011|accessdate=July 7, 2011}}</ref> ​

In 2011, Downs sponsored House Bill 448 which would have charged college students for fifteen credit hours, rather than the current twelve semester hours. According to the Legislative Fiscal Office, the change would raise about $74 million a year. Downs said that previous policy in which students pay only for twelve hours encourages them to enroll in additional courses that they frequently drop by the time of withdrawal day. Therefore, colleges must hire more faculty and staff than they would otherwise need. Downs said that the 15-hour requirement would encourage students to take more classes and to graduate earlier. The additional funds raised would compensate too, he said, for other budget cuts in higher education.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/06/tuition-raising_measures_clear.html|author=Jan Moller|title=Tuition-raising measures clear first committee hurdle|publisher=''New Orleans Times-Picayune''|date=June 1, 2011|accessdate=July 7, 2011}}</ref> However, the full House overwhelmingly rejected Downs' bill and a similar measure by Republican Representative [[Frank A. Hoffmann]] of West Monroe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/06/2_bills_designed_to_raise_coll.html|title=Two bills designed to raise Louisiana college costs derailed|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|date=June 7, 2011|accessdate=July 7, 2011}}</ref> ​

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In his last legislative session, Downs broke with his party and joined a House minority in supporting an [[Bullying|"anti-bullying" bill]] that would seek to halt physical abuses in public schools. Critics, including the Louisiana Family Forum, said that the legislation would be misconstrued and used to promote [[homosexual]] life-styles.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.schoolbullyingcouncil.com/anti-bullying-bill-killed-by-la-house-2/|title=Anti-bullying killed by La. House|publisher=schoolbullyingcouncil.com|accessdate=July 16, 2011; no longer on-line.}}</ref>​

In his last legislative session, Downs broke with his party and joined a House minority in supporting an [[Bullying|"anti-bullying" bill]] that would seek to halt physical abuses in public schools. Critics, including the Louisiana Family Forum, said that the legislation would be misconstrued and used to promote [[homosexual]] life-styles.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.schoolbullyingcouncil.com/anti-bullying-bill-killed-by-la-house-2/|title=Anti-bullying killed by La. House|publisher=schoolbullyingcouncil.com|accessdate=July 16, 2011; no longer on-line.}}</ref>​

Ruston insurance agent R. G. "Skip" Russell, a District 8 Republican member and past president of the Lincoln Parish Police Jury, the parish governing body, had also announced for the House seat Hollis vacated but never filed  his candidacy papers.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Lincoln Parish returns, October 20, 2007.</ref> Russell is a former aide to Democratic former [[U.S. Representative]] [[Jerry Huckaby] of Louisiana's 5th congressional district.<ref name=beder/>

Ruston insurance agent R. G. "Skip" Russell, a District 8 Republican member and past president of the Lincoln Parish Police Jury, the parish governing body, had also announced for the House seat Hollis vacated but never filed  his candidacy papers.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Lincoln Parish returns, October 20, 2007.</ref> Russell is a former aide to Democratic former [[U.S. Representative]] [[Jerry Huckaby] of Louisiana's 5th congressional district.<ref name=beder/>

==References==

==References==