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2019 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 187
BY SENATOR ALARIO
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Senator Daniel R. Martiny on his distinguished public
service to the people of Louisiana.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To commend the Honorable Daniel R. "Danny" Martiny on his distinguished public service
3 to the people of this state as a member of the Legislature of Louisiana and
4 particularly to the citizens of Senate District No. 10.
5 WHEREAS, Danny Martiny is a born leader, and because of his deep-rooted faith
6 that can be evidenced daily, he is successful in enacting meaningful public policy for the
7 benefit of all Louisianans; and
8 WHEREAS, a graduate of Archbishop Rummel High School class of 1969, Senator
9 Martiny went on to receive a bachelor of arts degree from Louisiana State University and
10 a Juris Doctor from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law; and
11 WHEREAS, Senator Martiny has practiced law since 1976, including eighteen years
12 as an assistant parish attorney for Jefferson Parish; and
13 WHEREAS, while in law school, he married his longtime sweetheart, the former
14 Maureen "Nina" McCarthy; their family expanded with the additions of their three sons,
15 Ryan, Jeffrey, and Steven; and continues to expand with the addition of their daughters-in-
16 law, Catherine, Amanda, and Peyton; and grandchildren, Miles and Jack; and
17 WHEREAS, Senator Martiny's first venture into public service came with his victory
18 in a special election in 1994 to represent the people of District No. 79 in the Louisiana House
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1 of Representatives; while he had opposition for his election to his first full-term, he ran
2 unopposed for reelection in 1999 and 2003; and
3 WHEREAS, during his tenure in the House of Representatives, Senator Martiny
4 emerged as a leader in legislation regarding criminal justice reform, particularly juvenile
5 justice and Louisiana's indigent defense system, and also for legislation relative to court
6 sessions during times of a disaster or emergency when the courthouse is unaccessible; and
7 WHEREAS, in recognition of his efforts, he was named a recipient of the 2007
8 President's Award from the Louisiana State Bar Association and the 2007 Public Defender's
9 Gideon Award from the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and he also
10 received a resolution of appreciation from the New Orleans Bar Association, among many
11 other awards and honors; and
12 WHEREAS, in 2007, Senator Martiny ran for Senate District No. 10 and similar to
13 his experience for his House seat, he was elected against opposition in 2007, but ran
14 unopposed for his reelections in 2011 and 2015; and
15 WHEREAS, Senator Martiny is one of a select few members who have spent their
16 entire career in the Senate as a chairman, under both Republican and Democrat
17 administrations and two different Senate presidents; specifically, he served as the chairman
18 of the Senate Committee on Judiciary B in his first term and as chairman of the Senate
19 Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs in his second and
20 third terms; and
21 WHEREAS, he also served as a member of the Senate committees on Judiciary A,
22 Labor and Industrial Relations, and Local and Municipal Affairs, and he was appointed by
23 the Senate President to be parliamentarian of the Senate in his last two terms; and
24 WHEREAS, during his tenure in the Senate, he has continued his role as a leader in
25 criminal justice reform, considered by many of his colleagues to be the voice of reason in
26 balancing public safety and the serious problem with inmate overcrowding and the cost of
27 incarceration; and
28 WHEREAS, while he authored many instruments toughening criminal sentences and
29 holding offenders accountable, he also authored targeted instruments based on data-driven
30 analysis that increased opportunities for probation and parole eligibility and reinvested
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1 savings in evidence-based strategies to decrease crime and strengthen neighborhoods; and
2 WHEREAS, he has also become known as a strong advocate for consumer and small
3 business concerns; he diligently works to find innovative solutions to address the root of a
4 problem without causing unintended consequences and was honored for his work with the
5 Champion of Small Business Award from the National Coalition for Capital which is given
6 to individuals demonstrating leadership in supporting policies and initiatives designed to
7 promote access to capital for small businesses and entrepreneurs, especially those in
8 economically distressed communities; and
9 WHEREAS, Senator Martiny is most proud of his advocacy: on behalf of motor
10 carriers and contractors to prohibit the practice of being required to sign indemnity
11 agreements for insurance coverage for any damages over which the motor carrier or
12 contractor has no control and would otherwise have no liability; on behalf of adoptees
13 regarding their biological parents; and on behalf of levee districts for the right to pursue a
14 cause of action for negligent work within the coastal zone relative to a state or federal
15 permit; and
16 WHEREAS, for the people of Senate District No. 10, he has gotten the support of his
17 colleagues to approve funding for the parish line pumping stations, the Jefferson Performing
18 Arts Center, GARVEE bonds for the flyover ramp to the Louis Armstrong International
19 Airport, and tax-free bonds for the building of the new high school for the Kenner Discovery
20 Health Sciences Academy, among many other projects; and
21 WHEREAS, known by colleagues and Senate staff for his leadership in hospitality
22 in the later days of session, his commitment to the notion that "pasta is a vegetable", and his
23 insight into the phrase "with all due respect", Danny's quick wit and sense of humor has
24 diffused many spirited debates, settled the nerves of witnesses before his committees, made
25 him the perfect grand marshal of the Irish-Italian Parade and the Metairie Road St. Patrick's
26 Day Parade, and as his staff said, "makes him fun to just hang out with"; and
27 WHEREAS, Senator Martiny, as House and now Senate Chair of the Legislative
28 Republican Delegation, has been one of the primary organizers of their annual Elephant
29 Stomp event for most of its thirty-five year history and has been rumored to take the longest
30 divot of any legislator at the golf tournament and to shut down the gala event with his
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1 rendition, many times with his "House of Blues" pals, of "Get Up, Get Down, Get Funky,
2 Get Loose" originally recorded by Teddy Pendergrass … although this is just a rumor; and
3 WHEREAS, as Senator Martiny moves forward to the next chapter of his life, he
4 leaves behind a distinct impression on his colleagues, legislative staff, and stakeholders of
5 a man devoted to his family and his faith that he demonstrates daily in his words, in his
6 actions, and in the manner in which he shows respect and decency to all who crossed his
7 path; and
8 WHEREAS, it is the level of respect and decency he routinely shows toward others
9 that makes him a mentor to his colleagues and earns him the admiration of legislative staff
10 as it elevates the public debate and allows him to develop the diverse relationships necessary
11 to accomplish sweeping public policy changes, making a positive difference for all
12 Louisianans.
13 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
14 does hereby commend Senator Daniel R. Martiny and does hereby offer its gratitude for his
15 exceptional contributions as a member of the legislature, particularly during his incumbency
16 with the Senate.
17 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana does
18 hereby extend to Senator Martiny its sincere wishes for success and happiness in all his
19 future endeavors.
20 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
21 Senator Danny Martiny.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Dawn Romero Watson.
DIGEST
SR 187 Original 2019 Regular Session Alario
Commends Senator Daniel R. Martiny for his distinguished public service to the people of
Louisiana.
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