The House backs a resolution that would suspend the State Fire Marshal’s ability to enforce COVID public heath restrictions, the latest in a series of House supported efforts that would limit or eliminate the Governor’s ability to unilaterally enforce pandemic limitations on businesses.
The resolution was brought by Erath Representative Blake Miguez who says the Governor is hurting the state’s ability to recover economically from the pandemic by implementing overly harmful restrictions on commerce.
Cut 4 (10) “…allows that to happen”
The state Fire Marshal is not the agency that issues penalties. The state Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control and the state Health Department handle those duties. Metairie Representative Stephanie Hilferty argued her interactions with State Fire Marshal Butch Browning have all been positive…
The Resolution heads to the Senate for more discussion.
The City of New Orleans has seen a 150 million dollar budet shortfall due to the pandemic and Mayor Latoya Cantrell warns that while New Orleans may be uniquely harmed due to its tourism economy local governments across the state are also feeling the pain. The city is furloughing its entire 4,000 person workforce for one day per pay period through the end of the year to save an estimated six million dollars. Cantrell says they had no choice.
The Legislative Budget Office anticipates a 714 million dollar decline in local government revenue for the 2020 and 2021 fiscal years due to the pandemic.