Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.
A House committee approves a resolution that would suspend the Governor’s COVID public health emergency order for 30 days after the current special session ends.
The resolution was brought by House Speaker Clay Schexnayder who said it would eliminate all COVID public health restrictions established by the Governor, and give the Legislature time to craft their own.
“This is what we need to get it done and get out of here to make it better,” said Schexnayder.
The session is expected to end in late October.
Much of the discussion at the committee centered on the damage done to businesses by the ongoing orders. Sulphur Representative Les Farnum said the restrictions exacerbated Laura’s economic hit.
“The things that were put in place with mandates leading up to this handcuffed our people in the district and then when the storm came it was a knockout punch,” said Farnum.
The Governor has called previous attempts to suspend the order irresponsible and says they would lead to an immediate loss of a substantial amount of federal funding under the Stafford Act.
Haughton Representative Doddie Horton said the orders infringe on resident’s liberty and need to be eliminated quickly. She says that starts with the mask mandate in schools.
“I received pictures that I showed many of my colleagues last night from five different eight year olds who go to school with my granddaughter who have horrible, horrific infantile breakouts all over their face,” said Horton.
The resolution moves to the House floor.
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