Legislative
GOP witnesses at Biden impeachment hearing see insufficient evidence of wrongdoing so far
WASHINGTON — With two days before a partial government shutdown, House Republicans held their first impeachment inquiry hearing Thursday over unproven allegations that President Joe Biden benefited from his son’s business dealings overseas. Witnesses tapped by Republicans for the House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing acknowledged that there was no evidence showing that the president […]
Work begins early for Louisiana’s new ombudsperson on child abuse response
Retired Baton Rouge juvenile Judge Kathleen Richey begins her new job Monday as Louisiana’s first state child ombudsperson, leading an office that will review policy to promote the best interests of children and handle complaints when public and private agencies fall short. Even before she starts officially, Richey has already made appointments to meet with […]
Task force looks into Louisiana’s inability to enforce its own seafood labeling laws
Louisiana’s failure to enforce its own seafood labeling laws has prompted one state lawmaker to revive a long-dormant panel. It met Wednesday for the first time in years to address a struggling domestic fishery and the increasing health threats from imported foreign catch. The Louisiana Legislature created the Seafood Safety Task Force in 2009. The […]
Four more Louisiana Constitution amendments are on the Oct. 14 ballot
Louisiana voters will be asked, yet again, to decide on a number of amendments to the state constitution in the upcoming fall elections. The constitution, ratified in 1974 as a framing document to define the basic principles and structure of state government, has consistently been changed through amendments. Items normally placed in state statute, where […]
Anti-democratic moves by state lawmakers raise fears for 2024 election
In Wisconsin, Republican lawmakers are threatening to impeach both the state’s election administrator, who is highly regarded nationally, and a state Supreme Court justice despite a ruling by the state’s judicial commission that the justice had done nothing wrong — effectively nullifying a recent statewide election she won, Democrats say. In North Carolina, a bill […]
Pointe Coupee residents want to hear from Louisiana House candidates
Pointe Coupee Parish residents have invited the three candidates vying to represent them in the upcoming Louisiana House District 18 race to a town hall convention on Monday to discuss issues of affordable housing, broadband expansion and public schools. The Westside Sponsoring Committee, a nonpartisan political group, is hosting the meeting in an effort to […]
‘If we don’t get the aid, we will lose the war’: Zelenskyy asks Congress to help Ukraine
WASHINGTON — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday traveled to Capitol Hill to meet with lawmakers to reiterate the need for continued aid to support his country’s fight against the Russian invasion, even as the U.S. faces a partial government shutdown as soon as the end of the month. “If we don’t get the aid, […]
Americans sickened by radioactive waste press Congress for action on assistance
WASHINGTON — Victims of nuclear contamination rallied in the nation’s capital on Wednesday in support of bipartisan legislation that would extend compensation for those harmed by radioactive waste. U.S. Sens. Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican, and Ben Ray Luján, a New Mexico Democrat, held a rally and press conference outside the U.S. Capitol as part […]
Louisiana lawmakers want say over Medicaid contract worth hundreds of millions of dollars
Louisiana legislators want the state to revisit — or at very least delay — the award of a Medicaid technology contract worth hundreds of millions of dollars after hearing complaints from one company not selected to do the work. Republican lawmakers criticized Gov. John Bel Edwards’ administration for excluding Gainwell Technologies from a final round […]
U.S. attorney general defends Hunter Biden investigation under questioning by House GOP
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans led by Ohio’s Jim Jordan on Wednesday grilled U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland about how the Justice Department has handled its investigation and prosecution of Hunter Biden on felony gun charges. The questions about the president’s son came after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week asked several committees, including the […]
Violent Crime Task Force offers glimpse of future showdowns over criminal justice reform
The newly seated Violent Crime Task Force met for the first time Tuesday. Its members convened for an introductory organizational session that lasted less than 30 minutes, but still provided a preview of the anticipated conservative push to unravel changes Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards has made to Louisiana’s criminal justice system since taking office. […]
With two weeks until the money runs out, Congress grinds to halt on spending bills
WASHINGTON — Amid rising tensions and an approaching hard deadline, the U.S. House and Senate ended their work week on Thursday without a deal to fund the federal government past the end of the month. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who has been struggling to build consensus among the members of his Republican Conference, pledged that […]