The House signs a petition ordering the governor to end the COVID public health emergency, cease all pandemic public health restrictions, such as the mask mandate, and blocks him from issuing a new order for seven days. Governor Edwards will challenge the petition in court and announced at an afternoon press conference that restrictions remain in place and will be enforced while the issue is settled in court.
House GOP leaders have long chaffed at the Governor’s public health authority and unilateral power to implement business restrictions like capacity limits and bar closures. They believe the restrictions are doing more harm than good and should be settled at the local level instead of through state-level mandates.
Governor Edwards and Democrats slammed the petition calling it reckless and dangerous, a threat to public safety. House Democratic Caucus Chair Sam Jenkins says the reality of the pandemic has not sunk in for many of his Republican colleagues.
Attorney General Jeff Landry has advised the House GOP Caucus that the petition should hold up in court and he is prepared to defend it.
LSU Freshman Quarterback TJ Finley will start against South Carolina on Saturday in Tiger Stadium. The Ponchatoula native earned the starting nod after beating out fellow freshman Max Johnson. This is a tough spot for a freshman to be in but his father David Finley says TJ has been preparing for this moment and will be ready to go.
Amendment Five on the statewide ballot provides new options for manufacturers and local governments to schedule payments instead of property taxes for industrial expansions. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scotts says the new formula can be used as an economic development incentive.
Scott says assessors generally oppose the amendment.