Gov. John Bel Edwards

Governor wraps work on session bills

A $1.8 million Maple Avenue paving project escaped a veto by Gov. John Bel Edwards as happened in previous years. Edwards signed the 2019 Capital Outlay Bill — Act 20 — on Monday, providing nearly $1.5 billion in new funding for construction and infrastructure improvements throughout the state.

Governor touts state’s progress to press

Gov. John Bel Edwards cited the state’s progress across a broad front in a luncheon speech Tuesday to members of the Louisiana Press Association.

Governor’s Medicaid expansion claims rebutted

Gov. John Bel Edwards just released an editorial titled “Louisiana is Making Progress,” and states in part that “by every metric, Medicaid Expansion was the right choice for Louisiana” as it has saved the state over $300 million, grown the economy by generating $3.

Republican says filbuster ‘was worth it’

When Republican Rep. Alan Seabaugh of Shreveport filibustered in the final minutes of the legislative session Monday, (June 4) he was not sure whether a last-ditch effort to vote on a revenue-raising bill he deemed disastrous would have succeeded.

Edwards still pitching for half-penny tax

Gov. John Bel Edwards on Wednesday outlined cuts to higher education, criminal justice and assistance to needy families in a budget passed by the Legislature and made a pitch for renewing a half-penny of sales taxes to avert most of them.

Maple Avenue overlay falls to veto pen

Number one on Gov. John Bel Edwards’ veto list was a $1.7 million overlay project for Maple Avenue, La. 91, in Eunice. The vetoes were announced Wednesday. State Rep. Phillip DeVillier, R-Eunice, pointed to partisan politics for the governor’s veto.

As time escapes from session, outside politics creep in

Time has officially become a factor for the Louisiana Legislature, especially as lawmakers proceed with four weeks of regular session work under their belts and another eight weeks to go. The pressure ratchets up further when you consider Gov.

House leaders bicker over fiscal filibuster

House leadership bickered Monday over who is to blame for a new stall in budget negotiations instead of voting on several key bills that could raise revenue and solve the state’s looming budget crisis.

House panel hits stump on budget shortfall

Discussion heated up at Tuesday’s House Ways and Means Committee hearing, as legislators expressed frustration over the inability of their colleagues to reach an agreement on how to deal with the state’s projected $1 billion budget shortfall.

Governor to steer clear of special elections Governor

The first major Louisiana election of 2018 takes place on Saturday and it doesn’t appear as if Gov. John Bel Edwards is going to get involved — even though the contest is taking place in his backyard, literally and figuratively.