Lawmakers will create precedent Tuesday when the historic veto-override session kicks off at noon. It’s the first override session since the “new” constitution was adopted in the 70s, and LaPolitcs.com publisher Jeremy Alford warned this won’t be like any session we’ve seen before.
Since the session was confirmed last week analysts have been predicting the next few days will be full of spectacle due to the truncated timeframe; lawmakers only have until close of business Saturday to address the 28 vetoes issued by Governor Edwards. Alford said the action will basically be contained to two locations, both of which will be streamed live on the Legislative website.
“There aren’t going to be any committee hearings, I like to think of this as a kind of arena politics, it’s all one big stage it’s all confined to the House and Senate,” said Alford who added that legislation involving transgender athletes will be the canary that indicates whether there is enough Legislative support to address other bills. If that override fails Alford said the session could be over within hours.
Bills will begin in the chamber where they were first introduced, meaning both the transgender athlete ban and the concealed carry bill will open the session in the Senate.
Alford said to override a veto first a motion will be made to present a bill. That motion can pass on a simple majority. Then a motion will be made for final passage, that motion needs two-thirds support.
“That is going to work just like a two-thirds vote would on the House and Senate floor normally,” said Alford. “Lawmakers can come to the microphone to argue for or against the issue and then there will be a final vote.”
House Speaker Clay Shexnayder, speaking at Press Club Monday, said procedure dictates that there be a one-day “laying over” of legislation once it clears the Senate before it can be taken up in the House.
Alford said there are a few major questions about veto session procedure that don’t appear to have easy answers. He pointed to a few outstanding questions like whether lawmakers can override bills vetoed during the regular session, or whether lawmakers can attempt to override a veto a second time if a first vote fails.
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