A committee of Louisiana House members handily approved a bill that would authorize the New Orleans city government to exercise more control over the Sewerage and Water Board.
Metairie Republican Stephanie Hilferty's bill would give the city council more power to monitor the utility's operations, including hiring an executive director and other employees.
"For decades, the people of New Orleans have grown increasingly frustrated with the problems at Sewerage and Water Board. Today, we finally have light at the end of the tunnel and a pathway to significant reform through local control and massively enhanced transparency and accountability,"said New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno.
The committee voted unanimously Wednesday to advance the bill to the state house floor.
