A task force created by the Senate president and House speaker will soon convene a series of meetings with virtual and in-person elements to help guide the Legislature as it tackles issues related to COVID-19 in its upcoming sessions.
With lawmakers currently hunkering down in their respective districts during Louisiana’s stay-at-home order, the task force could emerge as the temporary policy body to watch, bringing to mind the Louisiana Recovery Authority, which was created in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita to oversee spending and prioritize needs, writes Jeremy Alford in his new opinion piece.
Lawmakers may not remain hunkered down for long, however, with anticipation building for an early May return to the Capitol. It was announced last week that the Louisiana Legislative Advisory Task Force on Economic Recovery will present its recommendations to the House and Senate by July 1, but some members are pushing to get something on paper sooner.
The urgency is being fueled by the ongoing regular session, which is scheduled for a June 1 adjournment. The task force, meanwhile, will have its initial organizational meeting on Thursday (April 23). “Our first phase will have to be done pretty quickly,” says task force chairman Jason DeCuir of Ryan, an international tax services firm.
As reported recently in LaPolitics Weekly, many lawmakers envision three sessions for 2020, including the ongoing regular session, a follow-up special session to address budgetary and health care needs, and another special session, possibly in the fall, that will carry an economic development banner. Read Alford’s full column about the decisions facing Louisiana lawmakers.
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.
