The House and Governmental Affairs Committee advanced a measure Wednesday that would suspend Gov. John Bel Edwards’ ability to enforce his statewide stay-at-home order, indicating the widening divide between conservative state lawmakers and the Democratic governor over when to reopen the economy.
The House and Governmental Affairs Committee advanced a measure Wednesday that would undercut the statewide stay-at-home order Gov. John Bel Edwards put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Governor John Bel Edwards and top Republican lawmakers will start the 2020 legislative session locked in a familiar standoff.
On Friday, the Revenue Estimating Conference, or REC, couldn’t agree to update the state's official revenue projections. That means the governor’s executive budget would have to be based on last year’s estimate — about $100 million less than economists expect the state to have in the coming fiscal year.
Tort reform, was a huge issue in last year's elections, and is a key policy goal Republicans now that they have strengthened their majorities in the Louisiana Legislature.
The GOP pitches tort reform as a silver bullet to reduce Louisiana's car insurance rates-- the second highest in the nation. Critics say it wouldn't.
The debate is playing out as a political tug-of-war between trial lawyers and the business lobby, two of the state's most influential special interests.
Last week, the 72nd Louisiana Legislature convened for the first time, electing new leaders in a brief organizational session.
After months of backroom negotiations, they settled on Clay Schexnayder, R-Gonzales, for Speaker of the House and Page Cortez, R-Lafayette, as Senate President.
Both positions were hotly contested behind closed doors, but things boiled over in the Speaker's race.
Today, we're taking a look back at the year in Louisiana politics.
In 2019, we saw some things change and others stay the same.
Democrat John Bel Edwards earned another four years in the governor's mansion, but it was a lonely victory. Republicans won every other statewide race and have unprecedented control in the House and Senate.
And there were some changes on this program as well. Wallis Watkins has left Capitol Access, but she was kind enough to come back and talk through some of the big stories of 2019.
