Much has been made in the mainstream media about the supermajority Republicans hold in the Louisiana Senate and the near supermajority they enjoy in the House—possibly at the cost of having a broader conversation regarding the priorities of their Democratic counterparts.
Yes, there are still Democrats in the Legislature: 35 seats in the 105-member House and 12 out of 39 spots in the Senate, writes Jeremy Alford in his new opinion piece. A Democrat also controls the governorship, and with it veto authority.
The two chambers’ Democratic caucuses have held retreats in recent weeks to hear from Gov. John Bel Edwards, iron out their priorities and get to know new members.
“We’re already establishing more effective lines of communication with the administration to make sure we accomplish our shared goals during session, and we’re doing that with the House as well,” says Sen. Troy Carter, Senate Democratic Caucus chairman. Democrats may not have enviable numbers at the Capitol, but they are not short on issues that mean something to their collective base, Alford writes. In the House, at least, Democrats have already shown an ability to unite with Republicans to make a difference, particularly in electing the speaker.
Read Alford’s full column looking ahead at the legislative session, which starts next Monday, March. 9.
Jeremy Alford publishes LaPolitics Weekly, a newsletter on Louisiana politics, at LaPolitics.com. Follow him on Twitter, or on Facebook. He can be reached at JJA@LaPolitics.com.
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