Five out of six Louisiana Congressmen now find themselves out of power as Democrats take control of the lower chamber. LSU Poli Sci Professor Dr. Robert Hogan says that means less political capital in the Capitol for Bayou State flood protection projects.
“A lot of the members of congress who have been working on these projects to try to get them through the House are going to be stymied, because if you are not in the majority in the House, you don’t have hardly any power.”
The Bayou State only has one Democrat in the Congressional delegation, Cedric Richmond, whose recently been named Assistant Majority Whip.
But with Democrats in control of the House, there is a chance the state could find some of its climate change rooted interests, such as flood and storm protection, taken up the new party in charge…
“Louisiana is particularly vulnerable to the problems associated with climate change. The fact that Democrats have made this a priority may mean more help along those lines.”
The increased partisanship in Congress is unlikely to make that a reality though. Hogan says The House and Senate couldn’t even agree on a budget when both were controlled by Republicans, so you should probably get ready for two years of hardcore gridlock.
“It’s going to be very difficult doing what even used to be routine in congress, like you’re seeing right now. The split is certainly going to have an effect on the ability to get anything done.”
