The U.S. Senate is scheduled to vote today on a bill to codify abortion rights in federal law, but it apparently lacks the needed votes to pass. Among the Republican Senate members who say they will down-vote the bill is Louisiana’s Senator Bill Cassidy. He says Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer is pushing for a vote, but he has concerns…:

CUT 12  (10)        “…the moment of birth.”

Cassidy and all his fellow Republicans intend to vote no, as does Democrat Joe Manchin, of West Virginia. Needing 60 votes to pass, the bill appears destined to fail.

Meanwhile a state bill that would make abortion a crime of murder draws fire from Governor John Bel Edwards. The bill by Caddo Parish Representative Danny McCormick would punish women who have one, and the doctor who performed the procedure, with prison time. The Governor calls the measure “problematic” and “patently unconstitutional” and takes Louisiana in a bad direction. McCormick’s bill is up for House floor debate Thursday.

A Monroe woman accused of killing two passengers – including her own child – after fleeing from police is now in custody. David Grubb has more…:

CUT 02(36)      “…David Grubb.”

Louisiana’s District 5 Congresswoman Julia Letlow has been tapped to fill a vacant seat on the prestigious U.S. House Appropriations Committee. That panel determines all discretionary spending and has oversight of almost all federal government expenditures. Letlow’s appointment could potentially mean more federal money coming Louisiana’s way.