We will know next week which bills passed by the Louisiana legislature will be vetoed by Governor John Bel Edwards. Several of the vetoes are expected, but will lawmakers choose to convene a special session to override any of them?
Rep. Valarie Hodges (R-Denahm Springs) says lawmakers need to come back if Edwards vetoes bills that would ban gender affirmation care for minors, regulate pronoun use for school students, and forbidding discussion with students of gender identity or sexual orientation.
“I know people don’t like that. I don’t really like it, but I don’t like fact that he said he’s going to veto those very, very important bills,” said Hodges.
The bills drew controversy and stiff opposition, but were approved by GOP super-majorities in both the house and senate.
Veto override sessions are automatically scheduled, unless enough lawmakers vote not to have one. Rep. Paula Davis (R-Baton Rouge) said there is a real possibility that lawmakers are not interested in holding an override session.
“Many members are not coming back (for another term),” said Davis. Are those members going to want to come back to override a veto on these three bills? When it’s not things like health care, infrastructure, education et cetera?”
Davis says a number of lawmakers may feel the vetoed bills can easily be revisited next spring, when they will quite likely face the approval of a conservative Republican governor.