Governor John Bel Edwards has filed a lawsuit defending his authority to issue and enforce public health restrictions against a legislative petition signed by Republicans in the state House of Representatives that claims to have stripped him of those powers.
Edwards says the Louisiana Constitution does not allow for one chamber of the Legislature to terminate a public health emergency issued by the Governor.
“That petition is reckless, it is dangerous, it is irresponsible, and I will also say it is unconstitutional,” said Edwards.
The Governor also says state law requires the petition organizers to consult with state health officials before filing the petition, which Edwards says they did not do.
Republican House Speaker Clay Schexnayder said Attorney General Jeff Landry is prepared to defend the petition in court.
“Eight months later the people of Louisiana and the businesses of Louisiana have learned how to protect themselves,” said Schexnayder.
65 GOP lawmakers in the House signed the petition Friday. The Senate President says a similar petition was not floated in the Upper Chamber due to concerns that they did not have data supporting a repeal.
The Speaker hopes the petition will force Edwards to the table to negotiate over giving lawmakers more of a say-so in the pandemic policy. Edwards called it dangerous politics.
“Many of the people who put their names on that petition know that both the petition is a bad idea and also that it is unconstitutional, and I know that because they told me,” said Edwards.
Many Republicans support ending the statewide blanket COVID restrictions and have parish officials decide what restrictions should be put in place.
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