State lawmakers will hold a veto session as there will be an effort to override the governor’s veto of the Congressional District map approved in the redistricting session. House Speaker Clay Schexnayder says the override session will begin at noon on Wednesday.
“Go in on Wednesday, vote on bills, possibly be done by Thursday and be back in the regular session,” said Schexnayder who was a guest on Talk 107.3 FM in Baton Rouge “Mornings with Brian Haldane.”
Governor John Bel Edwards vetoed two new congressional maps approved by lawmakers. The maps maintain one majority-minority district while Edwards believes the maps should have two Black majority districts because of an increase in the Black population. Schexnayder expects the first vote will take place in the House.
“We won’t necessarily take two votes unless we have to, but we’ll vote on one, and then if we get votes on that one then we don’t have to do the other,” said Schexnayder.
The Louisaina House will need 70 votes from its 105 members to override a veto and it will take 26 votes in the 39-member Senate. There are some Republican lawmakers who might not go along with the override veto effort. Schexnayder says legislators should vote based on the wishes of their district.
“You know I set down with legislators and I tell them, guys this is a vote not for you, but for the state and your district back home,” said Schexnayder.
There are 68 Republicans in the House, so it will also take votes from Independents and possibly Democrats for the override veto effort to be successful. Delhi Representative Francis Thompson is expected to vote for the override. The Democrat said he would like to keep Julia Letlow as the Congresswoman of the 5th District.
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