The US House has passed the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, which could mean up to $15 million annually for wildlife preservation in Louisiana. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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Leaders in the state House and Senate will appear in a federal court seeking more time to comply with a judge’ order to redraw Louisiana’s Congressional district map. Kevin Gallagher asks a legal expert what this means…:
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”
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With the special legislative redistricting session underway, Governor John Bel Edwards says he expects the legislature to do its duty. David Grubb has more…
Cut 3 (39) “…I’m David Grubb.”
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The US House of Representatives has passed the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, which dedicates $1.4 billion annually to prevent wildlife extinction. Executive Director of the Louisiana Wildlife Federation Rebecca Triche says the legislation will greatly help supplement funding to help preserve wildlife in Louisiana.
Cut 4 (11) “…greatest concern.”
Triche says this would mean a significant boost to help endangered wildlife and the state’s ecosystem. Current support for such preservation is funded by hunting and fishing license fees that are collected annually.
Cut 5 (09) “…recovery work.”
The bill now heads to the US Senate and in addition to bipartisan support and it also has strong support from Louisiana hunting, fishing, and wildlife groups. Triche says the bill is expected to be voted on next month.
Cut 6 (12) “…additional funding.”
Triche says three-fourths of voters in Louisiana agree that more needs to be done to conserve land and wildlife in the state.
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State legislative leaders go before a federal judge in Baton Rouge today to request more time to redraw a rejected Congressional district map. 5th federal Circuit Court Judge Shelly Dick ordered the map redrawn because it does not reflect the state’s one-third Black voter population, by having two majority-minority districts. Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says he doesn’t see this as anything that will alter the job of lawmakers to pass that new map…:
Cut 7 (11) “…or weeks later.”
GOP House Speaker Clay Schexnayder and Senate President Page Cortez will appear before Judge Dick this morning to make their argument that the June 20th deadline should be extended. Ciolino says, with or without the requested extension, lawmakers are still under orders to draw a new map. He says only a reversal – on the merits of the case – by the federal appeals court will change that…:
Cut 8 (11) “…would be off again.”
Many House & Senate Republicans feel there’s insufficient time with the six days allotted to get a map passed in both chambers. Ciolino feels, in the bigger scheme of things, today’s court appearance by legislative leaders is…:
Cut 9 (14) “…in mid-July.”
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During his monthly appearance on “Ask the Governor” Tuesday afternoon, John Bel Edwards reiterated his support for a second majority-Black congressional district as the legislature faces a June 20th deadline to redraw the state’s congressional maps following the rejection of the previous map by a federal judge.
Cut 10 (11) “…redistricting principles.”
Though the Republican majority and its leadership have said the six-day window to redraw the map is insufficient, Edwards says major legislation has been passed in similar time frames.
Cut 11 (12) “…was passed.”
Even with an appeal for more time, Edwards says the legislature is in session to complete a task right now and is optimistic that all sides will come to the table in good faith.
Cut 12 (08) “…hopefully they will.”
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Senate Governmental Affairs will meet at nine this morning to discuss two potential Congressional district maps. And the senate president and house speaker will be in court asking for more time. One map submitted by Baton Rouge Senator and Democrat Cleo Fields contains two majority-Black districts which would meet the stipulations handed down by a federal judge.
Cut 13 (14) “…right thing.”
The other map to be considered is by Slidell Republican Sharon Hewitt. It’s the map that passed in the redistricting session that a Federal court has rejected because it only has one majority Black district. Hewitt who also chairs the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee says the June 20th court-imposed deadline is not realistic.
Cut 14 (13) “…public input.”
Fields called out Hewitt who believes the map with only one majority-Black district that passed in the majority Republican legislature in February is legal. Fields says Hewitt, who attended town hall meetings heard from voters across the state.
Cut 15 (12) “…black district.”
Hewitt however feels the Congressional map that lawmakers gave final passage to during the redistricting session is lawful.
Cut 16 (12) “…here we are.”
Senate President Page Cortez and House Speaker Clay Schexnayder are scheduled to appear in court today to request a deadline extension to at least June 30th.
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Another day of Saints minicamp is in the books. Jameis Winston has been setting the tone as one of the first in the building and the last to leave the practice field. Wednesday he told reporters that it’s been hard to keep himself from going all out as he continues to recover from ACL surgery, though he is staying on the program the team has for him.
Cut 17 (15) “ …trust them.”
With only three preseason games along with a revamped offensive lineup and philosophy, Winston would love to get as many reps as possible in game situations. However, just how many live snaps he takes is out of his hands, so Jameis is working on the mental side of the game and his leadership.
Cut 18 (15) “ …everybody again.”
Newly added receiver Jarvis Landry earned high marks during OTAs and that has continued during minicamp. Winston says that he and the former LSU standout have already started to develop a connection and that if there’s one thing he’s discovered about Landry, is that he knows how to get open.
Cut 19 (17) _“…get the ball.”
Another player back on the field is kicker Wil Lutz, who missed all of last season with a groin injury. Lutz said it was difficult watching while the Saints struggled mightily in the kicking game, going through four different placekickers in his absence.
Cut 20 (19) “ …made it hard.”