A New Orleans-area lawmaker has offered up a proposed constitutional amendment for the upcoming legislative session that would place a lifetime limit of two terms on a person who has served as governor. St. Bernard Parish Republican Michael Bayham’s legislation would mean that former governors Bobby Jindal and John Bel Edwards could not serve as governor again.
“There’s no shortage of political talent and ability in this state. And I believe this will help try to encourage new leadership across the board,” Bayham said.
Bayham says this legislation is not targeting Jindal or Edwards — or possibly current Governor Jeff Landry, if he’s re-elected to a second term.
“This isn’t about going after any politician that may have served as governor two terms and looking to get back in. This is something I think, is a new standard we need to set going forward,” Bayham explained.
Bayham says Louisiana should not have to “recycle” its governors.
“We’ve got enough good people in this state, across the board, to choose from, rather than having them go back to a former governor,” Bayham noted.
The late Edwin Edwards served four terms — the Cajun Prince served two terms in the 1970s and was subsequently re-elected two more times after leaving office following his first two terms. Earl Long served three terms in the mid-1900s.
Comments