Today is the deadline for lawmakers to turn in ballots to cancel the upcoming veto override session.
LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford said it appears likely that less than half of both the House and Senate will turn in ballots, meaning the override session will begin July 20th.
“Every key member of the leadership of the House and Senate are in favor of a veto session fundraisers have been scheduled in Baton Rouge by a half dozen different legislators,” Alford said.
Alford said the Senate is showing the most hesitance at the moment towards holding a veto override session. Once those ballots are submitted Alford also said residents will know which lawmakers voted to not hold a session.
Alford said we’ve started to see some powerful out-of-state interest groups get involved in the lobbying process in favor of a session, particularly the NRA and the National Association for Gun Rights.
“Any second amendment issue is going to draw a lot of attention from around the country and I think that was an early tip of the hat to suggest that this veto session could become somewhat of a media circus,” Alford said.
Both of those groups are in favor of overriding the Governor’s veto of Constitutional Carry legislation that would eliminate the need for those over the age of 21 to get a concealed carry permit to carry a concealed firearm.
Alford said right now there only seems to be clear support for overriding one of the Governor’s 28 vetoes once lawmakers head into session.
“Lawmakers might be in the position to override the transgender bill once they get into a veto session but anything else is going to take some real lifting; that’s including the gun legislation,” Alford said.
Governor Edwards vetoed legislation barring transgender athletes from participating in K-12 and college girls’ and women’s sports.