Special Session Starts Next Week

Louisiana lawmakers will convene a special session next week to address the state unemployment trust fund, work on Hurricane Laura recovery and try to scale back the governor’s emergency powers in the latest battle over Gov. Edwards’ coronavirus response. Republican legislative leaders gathered a majority of signatures from House and Senate members to call the session on their own, keeping Edwards from controlling the agenda. Leaders released a broad, 70-item outline of what will be debated in the 30-day session that will begin Sept. 28 at 6 p.m. Edwards said he’s concerned about the length and timing of the session and the public’s access amid a pandemic. In their statements, leaders from both chambers focused on the need to shore up the unemployment trust fund and respond to Laura, but one of the largest debates is expected to involve a push to put new limits on the Louisiana governor’s powers to declare and respond to an emergency and to expand the scope of legislative authority in such situations. Republicans say Edwards has heavily damaged Louisiana’s economy and businesses in restrictions he’s enacted since mid-March, while the governor has said he’s trying to allow businesses to operate while also controlling an outbreak that has killed more than 5,200 people in the state.