Changes

Early in 2011, a [[television]] station, WDSU, disclosed that Hutter was living in Metairie, a large unincorporated area in Jefferson Parish outside the boundaries of House District 104. When confronted, Hutter explained that she has temporarily left St. Bernard Parish temporarily after [[Hurricane Katrina]] struck and was helping to care for her elderly mother at the Metairie address. She still maintains her legal residence in a house on Golden Drive in Chalmette. The structure was damaged by Katrina and has not been restored.<ref name=metairie>"I-Team: State Rep. Lives Outside District: Nita Hutter, of St. Bernard, now lives in Metairie," WDSU-TV, February 10, 2011.</ref> The legislature passed a bill requiring members to be in continuous residence in their districts; Hutter was the lone dissenter on the measure, which was signed into law by Republican Governor [[Bobby Jindal]].​ In 2020, the Louisiana Secretary of State's office does not show that Hutter-Meins is a registered voter in either Chalmette or Metairie.  

Early in 2011, a [[television]] station, WDSU, disclosed that Hutter was living in Metairie, a large unincorporated area in Jefferson Parish outside the boundaries of House District 104. When confronted, Hutter explained that she has temporarily left St. Bernard Parish temporarily after [[Hurricane Katrina]] struck and was helping to care for her elderly mother at the Metairie address. She still maintains her legal residence in a house on Golden Drive in Chalmette. The structure was damaged by Katrina and has not been restored.<ref name=metairie>"I-Team: State Rep. Lives Outside District: Nita Hutter, of St. Bernard, now lives in Metairie," WDSU-TV, February 10, 2011.</ref> The legislature passed a bill requiring members to be in continuous residence in their districts; Hutter was the lone dissenter on the measure, which was signed into law by Republican Governor [[Bobby Jindal]].​ In 2020, the Louisiana Secretary of State's office does not show that Hutter-Meins is a registered voter in either Chalmette or Metairie.  

In her last legislative session, Hutter chaired the House Transportation Committee. She served on special committees regarding Coastal Restoration, Flood Control, and Disaster Planning, topics of great important to her district. In 2006, she was named chair of the Legislative Women's Caucus.<ref name=hutter/> In 2010, Hutter received a 38 percent rating by the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, low for a Republican lawmaker, 78 percent from the [[conservative]] Louisiana Family Forum. In 2009, she was ranked 100 percent by the Louisiana [[Right to Life]] Federation. In 2011, she voted against an increase in the state [[tobacco]] tax.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/summary.php?can_id=54284|title=Rep. Nita Rusich Hutter|publisher=votesmart.org|accessdate=April 3, 2020}}</ref>

In her last legislative session, Hutter chaired the House Transportation Committee. She served on special committees regarding Coastal Restoration, Flood Control, and Disaster Planning, topics of great important to her district. In 2006, she was named chair of the Legislative Women's Caucus.<ref name=hutter/> In 2010, Hutter received a 38 percent rating by the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, low for a Republican lawmaker, 78 percent from the [[conservative]] Louisiana Family Forum. In 2009, she was ranked 100 percent by the Louisiana [[Right to Life]] Federation. In 2011, she voted against an increase in the state [[tobacco]] tax.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/summary.php?can_id=54284|title=Nita Hutter's Political Summary|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=April 3, 2020}}</ref>

Term-limited in the House, Hutter was defeated in a race for the District 1 seat in the state Senate in the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] held on October 22, 2011. The Senate district includes all of Plaquemines and parts of St. Bernard,|St. Tammany, and Orleans parishes. She lost to the incumbent Republican senator, Almond Gaston "A. G." Crowe of Pearl River in St. Tammany Parish, who received 15,717 votes (69.1 percent), compared to her 7,025 ballots (30.9 percent).<ref name=hutter>"Rep. Nita Hutter will seek Louisiana Senate seat in October elections," ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune,'' accessed August 29, 2011; article no longer on-line.</ref><ref name=returns>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 22, 2011.</ref> ​The seat is now held by the conservative Republican, Sharon Hewitt, who was elected in 2015, when Crowe did not seek a third term in the Senate.

Term-limited in the House, Hutter was defeated in a race for the District 1 seat in the state Senate in the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] held on October 22, 2011. The Senate district includes all of Plaquemines and parts of St. Bernard,|St. Tammany, and Orleans parishes. She lost to the incumbent Republican senator, Almond Gaston "A. G." Crowe of Pearl River in St. Tammany Parish, who received 15,717 votes (69.1 percent), compared to her 7,025 ballots (30.9 percent).<ref name=hutter>"Rep. Nita Hutter will seek Louisiana Senate seat in October elections," ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune,'' accessed August 29, 2011; article no longer on-line.</ref><ref name=returns>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, October 22, 2011.</ref> ​The seat is now held by the conservative Republican, Sharon Hewitt, who was elected in 2015, when Crowe did not seek a third term in the Senate.