A proposed constitutional amendment that seeks to limit a governor to no more than two elected terms receives approval from the House after failing to get the necessary 70 votes on the first two tries. Jeff Palermo has more.
Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”
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Cleco says it has started the largest grid resiliency investment in the power company’s history. Joe Gallinaro has the story.
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”
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A proposal to limit the number of total terms a governor can serve to two; finally receives House approval. Chalmette Representative Michael Bayham’s proposed constitutional amendment failed to secure the necessary 70 votes on the first two tries. Yesterday, it got 73 votes as Bayham made the case a Louisiana governor should not be able to come back if he or she has already served eight years…
Cut 3 (10) “…in the United States.”
Covington Representative Mark Wright is one of 25 House members who voted against the amendment that needs a two-thirds vote in each house. Wright questioned why this proposal is only directed towards the governor.
Bayham says voters support term limits. He says term limits went into effect for state lawmakers starting in 2007, and it’s resulted in a better state legislative body.
Only two governors in Louisiana’s history have served more than two elected terms — Edwin Edwards and Earl K Long. Wright does not see how capping a governor to no more than two terms will actually help the state.
The measure heads to the Senate for further debate. It will also need a two-thirds vote to pass there, and then it will head to the voters for their approval.
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Cleco says work is underway on the largest grid resiliency investment in the power company’s history. Cleco spokeswoman Brooke Buford says this is a five-year plan that includes over 550 projects.
Buford says these projects will reduce storm-related costs, and also result in fewer outages and faster restoration times. She says they have crews replacing electric equipment, moving certain segments of the system underground and reinforcing utility poles.
Cut 8 (09) “…need replacement.”
Buford says they’ve identified more than 700 utility poles for maintenance or replacement in St. Tammany Parish, Eunice, Jeanerette, New Iberia and Pineville. She says customers can keep track of their resiliency efforts.
Buford says Cleco is the only Louisiana utility to meet or exceed the Public Service Commission standards for each of the last 27 years.
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A tornado watch is in effect for much of central Louisiana until 11 tonight. National Weather Service Meteorologist Brandon Thorne says the threat will increase later this afternoon in central and south Louisiana.
Cut 10 (09) “…start to develop.”
Thorne says it will be a little later in the day before the severe weather reaches areas near New Orleans.
Cut 11 (08) “…as tomorrow morning.”
Thorne says tornadoes, damaging winds and large hail are among the threats – however, he says this won’t exactly be a super-soaker.
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A ULM political science professor says the newly-launched recall effort against Governor Landry has almost no chance in succeeding. Pearson Cross says first of all, the bar is set way too high, with verified signatures from 20-percent of all registered voters statewide needed by October 31st. He says that’s why of all the recall efforts launched through the years, the only ones which have made it onto the ballot have been much more local in nature.
Cut 13 (08) “…seeing that statewide.”
Cross says in his view, there are valid reasons to recall an elected official, and nothing that Landry has done rises to that level.
Cut 14 (10) “…apply to Landry.”
Cross says even if you use unpopular actions or policies as a reason to launch a recall effort, recent history will suggest that like all other prior efforts to recall governors, this one will go nowhere.
Cut 15 (06) “…petition went nowhere.”