The  governor's  plan to overhaul the state Labor Department, making
it the chief coordinator  of  training  programs  and  services  for
workers.    won   easy  passage  with  the  House  Labor  Committee.
Supporters say the  big  change  will  help better connect employers
with a pool of skilled workers to fill thousands  of  job  vacancies
across  the  state.  The  proposal is at the heart of Governor Bobby
Jindal's work force development  efforts  in the regular legislative
session.