Tag Archives: John Bel Edwards

Republican Judge Strikes Down Louisiana Governor’s Executive Order Protecting LGBT State Workers

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Judge Todd Hernandez, a Republican, ruled Wednesday that Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards’ anti-discrimination order is unconstitutional. The order prohibited discrimination in government and state contracts based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Hernandez ruled that Edwards’ order attempts to create new law, which is a power given only to the legislative branch. To read the judge’s ruling for yourself, scroll down. 
    
The decision delivered a victory to anti-LGBT Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry, who filed the lawsuit challenging the LGBT-rights order.

The governor said he will appeal. 

“We are disappointed in the court’s ruling today. However, we fully intend to appeal this issue, which is how the parties knew that this matter would ultimately be resolved,” Edwards said. “In his ruling, the judge declared that Louisiana law recognizes the governor as the constitutionally superior officer to the attorney general, but did not agree that the executive order is within the authority of the governor to implement. With great respect for the role of the Louisiana legislature, we continue to believe that discrimination is not a Louisiana value and that we are best served as a state when employment decisions are based solely on an individual’s qualifications and job performance. We respect the trial court’s decision and will abide by it while we vigorously pursue an appeal.”

Landry who has has blocked dozens of legal services contracts that contain the anti-discrimination stated::

I applaud Judge Hernandez for basing his ruling on the law, not politics,” said General Landry. “My challenge has always been about upholding the checks and balances on executive authority as established in our State Constitution.” 

“In the last eight years, outgoing President Barack Obama has used a phone and a pen to advance an unpopular agenda that he could not get Congress to support,” continued General Landry. “Repeatedly, courts have struck down his actions noting the President cannot simply sidestep the people’s elected Representatives in Congress. Now, John Bel Edwards is using the same Washington-style politics and games here in Louisiana.”

Edwards issued the order, which provided exemptions for religiously affiliated organizations, in April.

The Republican party of Louisianan endorsed Hernandez in his 2014 re-election bid and Hernandez describes himself as  a family man, a volunteer youth coach, and is a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.

 

Louisiana Governor Sues GOP Attorney General For Blocking Language To Protect LGBT’s In State Contracts

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Democratic Governor vs. GOP Attorney General Smackdown!

The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports:

Gov. John Bel Edwards is suing Attorney General Jeff Landry for blocking state legal contracts over language meant to protect gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people from discrimination in the workplace.

Edwards filed the lawsuit in a Baton Rouge state court Friday (Sept. 30), following a meeting with Landry in which the two officials were unable to reach agreement on whether state contracts should include language that protects LGBT workers.

“He basically told me that if I wanted him to approve those contracts that I would have to sue him,” Edwards said at a Friday press conference. “So I’m obliging him on that.”

Landry has rejected at least three dozen legal contracts for a variety of state government agencies because they include language preventing discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. “I believe he is on the wrong side of the law and the wrong side of history,” Edwards said.

The contracts affect legal issues surrounding the state’s ports, potential medical malpractice awards for patients and oversight of state bonds, among others. “It’s becoming a real problem because we have to move forward,” Edwards said.

The governor issued an executive order last spring requiring language be included in all state contracts to protect LGBT people from firing and harrassment. Similar language preventing discrimination based on race, religious creed and political affiliation is also included in all contracts.

Edwards believes he has the authority to require such nondiscrimination language in state contracts as the chief executive officer of the state. Two previous governors, Kathleen Blanco and Edwin Edwards, had issued similar executive orders protecting gay people.

Landry said he was rejecting the contracts because the state Legislature had declined several times to pass laws extending those protections to lesbian and gay people. The attorney general said he is protecting the will of the Legislature in rejecting contracts with LGBT protections.

When Landry was a member of the US House  from 2007 – 2012  he joined the Tea Party caucus and backed every wingnut policy imaginable.

And this is why it’s important to elect Democrats because there obviously IS a difference.

Louisiana Picks Democrat as Next Governor, Throws GOP David Vitter Into The Used Diaper Bin

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Vitter Loses Election

With Republican Piyush “Bobby” Jindal term limiting out of his job as Louisiana Governor, Democrat John Bel Edwards won the runoff election for Louisiana governor last night, defeating , Republican “Diaper” David Vitter, and handing the Democrats their first statewide victory since 2008.

Each runoff contender sought to tie his opponent to an unpopular figure in Louisiana: Edwards claimed Vitter would represent a “Jindal third term,” while Vitter tagged Edwards as an “Obama liberal.”

But the rabidly anti-gay Vitter was also hit with repeated attacks for a 2007 prostitution scandal in which he apologized for a “serious sin” after he was linked through phone records to Washington’s “D.C. Madam.”  Also Vitter had  been conducting a lengthy affair with a New Orleans prostitute.  (It was later revealed by one of his call girls that Vitter liked to be dressed in diapers during his sessions. (See diaper story here). In typical hypocritical Republican “Family Values” fashion however, Vitter failed to resign his seat after having called upon to do so.) Vitter also had trouble uniting Republicans after a blistering primary competition in which Vitter trashed two GOP rivals and received heavy criticism for his scorched-earth political style. And his campaign was accused of ethical improprieties after allegations it secretly recorded political opponents.

Edwards’ win offered a rare pick-up of a governor’s seat for Democrats in the conservative Deep South. After his loss, Vitter immediately announced that he wouldn’t seek re-election to the U.S. Senate next year, creating a new competition for what had been a safe GOP seat.

Vitter also announced he will  began looking for a Nanny.