House Republicans push through another legislative instrument designed to limit the Governor’s public health authority.

Erath Representative Blake Miguez brought a resolution that would suspend the Fire Marshal’s ability to enforce things like business capacity limits, mask-wearing requirements, and other pandemic restrictions on commerce. Miguez says it’s the Fire Marshal who is enforcing the limitations on fan attendance at Tiger Stadium.

Cut 3 (11)  “…Texas A-and-M fan”   

But Metairie Representative Stephanie Hilferty the Fire Marshal has been kind and courteous to business owners and doing his best to make sure people are safe.

Cut 5 (10) “…nefarious actor”

The resolution heads to the Senate.

The House Democratic Caucus blasted legislative Republicans outside the Capitol, hitting their colleagues on everything from rejecting efforts to protect renters to refusing to increase unemployment benefits while fixating on the Governor’s public health authority. Caucus Chair Sam Jenkins says they’re all frustrated but may agree to back a Senate effort that would increase Legislative oversight of the Governor’s public health decisions.

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New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell testified in front of the Legislature about the 150 million dollar budget shortfall her city is facing, and her frustration that they were only given 60 million in CARES Act money from the state to address it. She says they’ve had to partially furlough all 4,000 city workers…

Cut 10 (09) “…table”

GOP legislators told the Mayor her revenue issues wouldn’t be as bad if she loosened her city’s pandemic health limits on businesses.

LSU’s football game at Florida on Saturday might not happen, because the Gators have suspended football activities because of a COVID-19 outbreak within the team. And the Saints say they have spoken with LSU about playing their home games in Tiger Stadium since the city will not allow them to have partial attendance in the Dome.

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell was at the capitol today telling lawmakers that steep cuts in local government services are likely due to pandemic revenue losses…
cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

There are about 25-thousand Entergy customers who are still without power as a result of Hurricane Delta. Entergy spokesperson David Freese says they anticipate most of their customers will have power back by Thursday. He says the hardest-hit areas from Lake Charles to the east of Lafayette may have to wait until Saturday
Cut 14 (13) “…backyards”

Governor John Bel Edwards along with the Secretaries for the Department of Health and DCFS went to Our Lady of the Lake’s North Baton Rouge clinic today to get their flu shot. O-L-O-L Family Medicine Specialist Doctor Joshua Clark the best way to avoid a flu outbreak is if everyone gets the vaccine….
cut 8 (06) “….community”
The flu causes about 500 deaths and nearly three-thousand hospitalizations each year in Louisiana.

The Saints say they have talked with LSU about playing their home games in Tiger Stadium since the City of New Orleans will not allow them to have fans in the Superdome. The team says it’s their overwhelming preference to play in the Dome with partial fan attendance, but there has been no indication from the city on if this will happen.

Earlier today, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell went before the House Appropriations Committee asking for a greater share of federal coronavirus aid because the city is facing a 150-million dollar deficit…
cut 9 (10) “….feeling it”
Republican legislators told the mayor she would see more tax revenue if she loosened the restrictions on restaurants and bars.

Governor Edwards got his flu shot today and he encourages Louisianans to do the same….
cut 6 (10) “…soon”

The Louisiana House has approved a resolution that would suspend the state Fire Marshal’s ability to enforce Governor Edwards coronavirus restrictions. Erath Representative Blake Miguez says his legislation is part of an overall effort from Republican lawmakers to rein in the coronavirus emergency orders established by the Edwards administration…
Cut 4 (10) “…allows that to happen”
The measure still needs Senate approval and it can not be vetoed by the governor since it’s a resolution.

Entergy says they still have about 25-thousand customers who are without power as a result of Hurricane Delta. That’s down from a peak of 320-thousand customers. After Hurricane Laura roared through, it took weeks in some cases for the power to come back on. But Entergy spokesperson David Freese says Delta was not as destructive
Cut 13 (11) “…electric grid”

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell went before the House Appropriations Committee expressing the need for some sort of financial assistance as the city is looking at a 150-million dollar budget gap because of the coronavirus pandemic. Cantrell says she’s furloughing city employees to save money…
cut 11 (11) “…can”
Republican lawmakers told Cantrell she would see an increase in tax revenues if more of the city’s economy was opened up.

Governor Edwards along with the Secretaries for the Department of Health and Children and Family Services got their flu shots today at Our Lady of the Lake. O-L-O-L Family Medicine Specialist Doctor Joshua Clark says the vaccine is the best way to protect yourself from getting the flu, which could lead to other complications…
cut 7 (07) “…ventillation”

The Louisiana House gives approval to a resolution that would suspend the state Fire Marshal’s ability to enforce Governor Edwards coronavirus orders on businesses. Jim Shannon has the story….
Cut 1 (33) “ I’m Jim Shannon”

As of Tuesday afternoon, the number of customers in Louisiana without power as a result of Hurricane Delta has dropped to 95-thousand. About a third of the outages involve Entergy Louisiana customers. Entergy spokesperson David Freese says their crews are making steady process…
cut 12 (06) “….major hurricanes”
Freese says they anticipate most of their customers will have power back by Thursday.

New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell warns lawmakers steep cuts in local government services are likely due to pandemic revenue losses. Matt Doyle has the story.
cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Republicans on the Appropriations committee told the mayor that the city could start to see more tax revenue if she loosened the restrictions on bars and restaurants. The mayor says bars will open to outside patio services this Friday as the city will move to Phase 3.2 this Friday.

The Louisiana House votes for a resolution that would suspend the Fire Marshal’s authority to enforce coronavirus restrictions. Erath Representative Blake Miguez says fire marshal deputies are checking businesses to make sure they are following capacity restrictions and it’s the fire marshal who helped develop the capacity limits at high school and college football games
Cut 3 (11) “…Texas A-and-M fan”
The measure heads to the Senate for more consideration and since it’s a resolution the governor can not veto it.

Today is the last day to register to vote for the November third election. You can do so online at geaux-vote-dot-com, spelled the Cajun way. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says in order to submit electronically…
cut 14 (11) “…as possible’
Early voting for the November election begins Friday.

The House backs a resolution that would suspend the State Fire Marshal’s ability to enforce COVID public heath restrictions, the latest in a series of House supported efforts that would limit or eliminate the Governor’s ability to unilaterally enforce pandemic limitations on businesses.

The resolution was brought by Erath Representative Blake Miguez who says the Governor is hurting the state’s ability to recover economically from the pandemic by implementing overly harmful restrictions on commerce.

Cut 4 (10)   “…allows that to happen” 

The state Fire Marshal is not the agency that issues penalties. The state Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control and the state Health Department handle those duties. Metairie Representative Stephanie Hilferty argued her interactions with State Fire Marshal Butch Browning have all been positive…

Cut 5 (10) “…nefarious actor”

The Resolution heads to the Senate for more discussion.

The City of New Orleans has seen a 150 million dollar budet shortfall due to the pandemic and Mayor Latoya Cantrell warns that while New Orleans may be uniquely harmed due to its tourism economy local governments across the state are also feeling the pain. The city is furloughing its entire 4,000 person workforce for one day per pay period through the end of the year to save an estimated six million dollars. Cantrell says they had no choice.

Cut 10 (09) “…table”

The Legislative Budget Office anticipates a 714 million dollar decline in local government revenue for the 2020 and 2021 fiscal years due to the pandemic.