All of the major candidates for governor have emphatically promised to call a special session next year to address the state’s budget predicament. But columnist Jeremy Alford says it’s a misconception to assume they would all do so immediately upon taking their oath, if elected, and moving into the Baton Rouge mansion.
“When asked separately what their first official act would be in office, each gubernatorial candidate provided a different answer,” Alford writes in his latest column. “While their replies cover only a single day in what would be a four-year term, they still present us with early insight into what these hypothetical administrations might come to resemble.”
State Rep. John Bel Edwards, the lone Democrat, said he’ll be looking for a pen during his first few hours on the job to rewrite part of Gov. Bobby Jindal’s political legacy.
“On my first day I will sign the necessary paperwork to enact the Medicaid expansion,” Edwards said.
Alford says Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne “is clearly angling to be the do-good, good-government candidate,” and his answer reflects that strategy.
“I’ll cancel the inaugural ball,” said Dardenne of his first day on the job. “We’ll save that for later when our fiscal house is in order and we truly have something to celebrate.”
Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle said he would use his executive powers immediately upon taking office.
“As governor, I will sign an executive order on my first day in office requiring all state departments to provide a justification each time they promulgate regulations on businesses,” he said, adding impact reviews would be required as well.
And then there’s U.S. Sen. David Vitter, who has said unequivocally that his first act as governor would be to call a special legislative session on “fundamental spending and tax reform.”
“If that’s truly Vitter’s sole early focus, with no plans for executive orders, then he’ll surely be heavily involved in the spring session,” says Alford. “After all, the senator has never been shy about butting into previous sessions.”
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.
