(photo: Wikimedia Commons)
With one more month left to go in the legislative session, state lawmakers suddenly have a lot more work to do. With the U.S. Supreme Court striking down Louisiana’s Congressional map, legislative leaders say they will approve a new map before the session is required to end on June 1st. LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says a session that was coasting along, could experience some turbulence over the next few weeks.
“Lawmakers still have the regular work of this session to do. The budget bills are still in play, although they are ahead of schedule. Legislative leaders did have the forethought to try and get those on a fast track,” Alford explained.
Four Republicans and two Democrats currently make up Louisiana’s U.S. House delegation. Alford says Wednesday’s historic Supreme Court ruling gives legislative leaders a chance to pass a map that would add to the number of Republicans in the U.S. House.
“There are many Republican lawmakers that want to take that four two map and go to a five one map,” Alford noted.
On Thursday, Governor Landry announced the suspension of the U.S. House races. But absentee ballots have already been sent out and early voting begins Saturday. Alford says the late delay to the Congressional primaries is also adding more work for the Secretary of State’s office and the local Clerks of Court.
“I don’t know if those votes are just not going to be counted, or if there’s going to be a system by which poll workers can take them off the ballot,” Alford said.
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