It is highly likely the Louisiana legislature will hold its first-ever veto session starting July 20, according to capitol insider Jeremy Alford, publisher of LaPolitics.com.
Alford says lawmakers have until July 15 to vote to cancel the veto session, but many legislators want to override two controversial vetoes made by the governor.
“I’ve spoken to key lawmakers on both sides of Memorial Hall over the last couple of days and all of them use the same phrase which is …highly likely,” said Alford.
Governor John Bel Edwards has vetoed two bills that many lawmakers strongly support, a bill prohibiting transgender athletes from competing in girls’ sports and a measure that does away with a requirement to have a permit to carry a concealed handgun.
Alford says an intense lobbying effort is underway to make sure legislators do not cancel the veto session.
“Republican senators are being buried underneath emails, phone calls, direct messages from across the political spectrum, from the leadership of the Republican party to the rank-and-file voters,” said Alford.
If a veto session is called, it will take a two-thirds vote in the house and senate to override the veto. Alford says based on his discussions with legislators, there is enough support to override the veto of the anti-transgender legislation.
“Overriding the transgender-related bill is something we can expect in the house and senate, overriding the gun bill and everything else is going to make some more effort,” said Alford.
The governor has also issued eight line-item vetoes in the budget.
