While former Gov. Edwin Edwards will not be attending the inauguration of Gov. Bobby Jindal on Monday, Edwards’ wife says the couple plans to make it to the inaugural ball at the invitation of the governor. Will someone please get a picture? In a state where everything takes a backseat to football, the governor’s inauguration is no exception, as only the state constitution keeps the swearing-in from being rescheduled. The ceremony itself, including oath-taking by the other statewide officials, is tightly planned for 70 minutes, with lunch with legislators to follow before they head for New Orleans to get in some tailgating before the 7:30 p.m. kickoff of the BCS championship game. Moving the inaugural ball from its traditional Monday night slot to Sunday night bumped up the Republican legislative party to Saturday night, where most of the attention will be on the big-screen TV showing the Saints’ playoff game. The Democrats wisely avoided all conflicts by not scheduling any celebrations around the inauguration. “We will get together later,” says caucus chairman Rep. John Bel Edwards.
—Citizens can learn how issues are advocated and legislation is passed from top lobbyists and state officials at a seminar beginning next week in Baton Rouge. The Louisiana Institute of Public Policy and Politics will offer four evening sessions on Tuesdays in January. Attendees will learn basic and advanced strategies on affecting legislation and administrative policy “from a dynamic and unique perspective,” according to Director Pat Bergeron. Speakers at the Tuesday session will include incoming House Speaker Chuck Kleckley; Senate President Pro Tem Sharon Broome; the governor’s legislative director, Scott Angelle; and Sen. David Vitter’s chief of staff, Kyle Ruckert. Major lobbyists and association directors will speak in following weeks. The seminar will be held 6-9 p.m. on Tuesdays, Jan. 10-31, in the boardroom of Business First Bank. Refreshments will be served. For information, email Bergeron at cpbmsb@msn.com or call 405-6296.
They said it: “I almost have enough votes in Iowa to start a bowling league.” —Tweet from former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer on his last-place finish in the Iowa caucuses
(John Maginnis publishes LaPolitics Weekly, a newsletter on Louisiana politics, at LaPolitics.com.)
