Gov. John Bel Edwards said Wednesday that he won’t change his order requiring LGBT rights protection language in most state contracts, despite a loss in court in his dispute with the state’s attorney general over the anti-discrimination clause.
As The Associated Press reports, Edwards said on his radio call-in show that he “cannot imagine any circumstance under which I’m going to rescind the executive order.”
“Of course, I hope to be able to work it out with the attorney general. At the present, it doesn’t seem that that’s going to be possible,” the Democratic governor said.
Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry has blocked dozens of contracts that contain the anti-discrimination language, saying the governor’s executive order exceeds his authority.
Edwards sued, trying to force Landry to sign off on the contracts, which would enable state agencies and boards to hire outside lawyers.
Judge Donald Johnson in Baton Rouge ruled against the governor this week, but didn’t weigh in on whether Edwards’ executive order was legal. Instead, he sided with Landry on a technicality, suggesting the attorney general has discretion in how his office reviews the legal contracts.
The governor said he and his lawyers will soon “announce a course of action” in response to the decision.
Edwards said more than 40 state agencies, boards and commissions have been unable to hire outside attorneys amid the dispute, but added he won’t budge, because “bigotry and discrimination are not Louisiana values.”
The attorney general’s office isn’t shifting its stance, either.
“We’ll approve contracts that are consistent with state law. That’s what we have done, and that’s what we’ll continue to do,” said Landry spokeswoman Ruth Wisher.
