Capitol Access

For the second time in as many weeks, Republican leaders in the House have rejected guidance from state economists who estimate Louisiana’s income will be higher than expected this fiscal year and next. 

For the second time, the state Revenue Estimating Conference has rejected an increased budget forecast for this fiscal year and next.

Republican Speaker of the House Taylor Barras was the only member of the four person panel to reject economists' projections to increase the state's budget by $125 million for the current fiscal year.

Governor John Bel Edwards now has two Republican challengers in the 2019 gubernatorial campaign.

Congressman Ralph Abraham became the second Republican to announce his candidacy for the job. Abraham’s formal campaign won’t launch until the beginning of the year, but in a brief statement Thursday, the Congressman said “I’m running for Governor and I intend to win.”

Primary elections work differently in Louisiana than most other states. In Louisiana's jungle primary system, all candidates - no matter their party - compete against each other. If no one gets more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two finishers move on to a run off, even if they both belong to the same political party. 

The November midterm election has come and gone, but Louisiana voters still have one more decision to make. The Secretary of State’s race won’t be decided until December 8th.