A third state lawmaker says he will file legislation to make public libraries more accountable for children possibly accessing adult materials. Mandeville Rep. Paul Hollis, Carencro Rep. Julie Emerson and Turkey Creek Senator Heather Cloud all plan to tackle the issue with bills and says it’s to protect the innocence of children. During his Monthly “Ask the Governor” radio show, Governor John Bel Edwards said it’s a hot issue for Republicans and conservatives, but not a real problem for Louisiana…:
“I have never had anyone in Louisiana tell me there is a problem with how our libraries work.”
Bills filed would give local government power to remove library control board members, if need be. Another bill would set up restricted, adults-only lending cards. Edwards says there is no known case of a child accessing adult materials in a Louisiana public library, but it’s an issue many candidates are making important…:
“This is an election year. You typically see some things that are meant to drive politics, not policy…and I think this is in that regard, because I don’t know a problem that needs to be corrected out there.”
The governor says this year is a two-month “fiscal only” session, wherein lawmakers are only allowed to file 5 non-fiscal bills. He feels lawmakers are jumping on a conservative “bandwagon” with the issue, when the state has other real problems to address…:
“If it’s being done elsewhere, you know, by God we’re going to do it here in Louisiana too, and I just find that unfortunate. We should make better use of our time.”
As for his potential veto of any such bills passed, Edwards says he’ll wait to see what they actually say and do before deciding.
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