Members of the state legislature have until Monday to return their votes on a possible veto override session. State law makes one automatic, unless a majority vote not to. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat said lawmakers are on vacation or just comfortable in their home districts, and not enough may vote to go back to Baton Rouge.
“Even if you got there do you have the 70 votes to override the Governor or the super majority in the senate which at this point it doesn’t look like they have it,” Pinsonat said.
Governor Edwards vetoed 28 bills passed this session, some that Republican lawmakers may have strong feelings about. However, Pinsonat said the success of a veto session is not a sure thing, and many members may not feel it’s necessary to inject more work into their summer.
“Cancel your plans, come to Baton Rouge, come sit in and wait until they go through the process and then the money question is do they have the votes to override the Governors veto so why would you come to Baton Rouge unless you’re absolutely certain,” Pinsonat said.
Pinsonat thinks odds are high there will NOT be a veto session, and any bills the GOP majority lost on this year can always be reintroduced in the 2023 Legislature. He says that may be a better idea.
“That’s the only thing you can do if there’s no veto session. Prioritize it next year and try to do it during a lame duck session while, by the way, they’re all running for reelection,” Pinsonat said.
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