New Orleans Senator Gary Carter has stepped down from the Governmental Affairs Committee following his outburst towards Jay Morris during Friday’s racially-charged redistricting hearing. Yesterday on the Senate floor, Carter issued a public apology to Morris.
Carter is being replaced by another New Orleans Democrat, Royce Duplessis.
Morris, meanwhile, says he and his staff have received death threats amid allegations that he directed a racially insensitive word towards the state Democratic Party executive director. He says one voicemail threatened to carry out a mass shooting at his office.
Dadrius Lanus accuses Morris of telling him to, quote, “Shut up, boy.” Reporters present in the room say they never heard Morris use that word.
Monuments which are taken down may have new life, thanks to a bill advancing in the legislature. Chalmette Representative Mike Bayham’s bill would transfer any publicly-owned historical statue or monument removed from public display to the Office of State Parks for placement in a state park in a different parish. Bayham says it’s a good compromise.
Cut 3 (09) “…their land anymore.”
It hardly had any “yes” votes to spare; nonetheless, a bill that would increase the salaries of the governor and other statewide elected officials passes in the House and advances to the Senate. Harahan Representative John Illg says it’s been decades since the state addressed the pay of elected officials.
The bill needed 53 votes in the House to advance; it received 54.