Louisiana lawmakers at the state capitol in Baton Rouge on Tuesday.Emily Kask for The New York Times
In a bold display of political maneuvering, the Republican supermajority in the Louisiana State Legislature attempted to push through a conservative social policy agenda, including banning gender-transition care for minors, Covid vaccine requirements in schools, and discussions of gender identity and sexual orientation in classrooms. Their efforts, however, were met with resistance from the state’s lone Democratic governor, John Bel Edwards, who effectively used his veto power to halt several bills.
Unlike previous years when governors’ vetoes were left unchallenged, Republican lawmakers this time decided to test the strength of their power by attempting to override more than two dozen of Edwards’s vetoes. Despite their tight grip on the legislature, they struggled to gather enough votes to overturn most of the vetoes, signaling the governor’s successful efforts in checking conservative legislation.
As the session concluded, it became evident that Edwards’s departure next year could shift the state’s political landscape even further to the right. With a strong possibility of a Republican successor, the conservative agenda might advance more easily without the check of the Democratic governor.
Throughout his tenure, Edwards, despite being an anti-abortion, pro-gun rights moderate, has been seen as a barrier against the more extreme conservative policies in neighboring states. His use of vetoes has been a crucial tool in offsetting the influence of the evangelical right in Louisiana.
One bill related to banning gender-transition care for minors managed to be revived and passed despite the governor’s veto. However, the majority of the vetoes, including measures denying parole for dangerous offenders and restricting foreign ownership of agricultural land, remained intact.
In the upcoming gubernatorial race, the state has the potential to veer further right, with a leading conservative candidate, Jeff Landry, likely to replace Edwards. Such a shift could embolden conservative lawmakers, potentially leading to the passage of more restrictive bills without the threat of veto.
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