Gov. John Bel Edwards (The Center Square) – Louisiana’s governor should be required to seek legislative approval before extending a state of emergency beyond 30 days, an attorney for a conservative think tank argues. Under current law, the governor can declare or renew an emergency declaration by executive order, though a majority of either chamber of the Legislature can cancel a state of emergency at any time. Instead, the legislature should be involved on the front end in the discussion of whether a state of emergency should be extended or not, said Sarah Harbison, general counsel for the Pelican Institute for Public Policy, which on Wednesday issued a paper about legal issues raised during a public health emergency. The Pelican Institute previously has argued that Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards should lift restrictions meant to control the spread of COVID-19, citing the economic damage the restrictions cause. Edwards has said he’s following White House guidance in issuing the orders. 300×250 image ad Individual rights should be taken into account during the public health crisis, Harbison said Wednesday. “The constitution doesn’t go away just because there’s a pandemic,” she said. However, the courts have not provided much clear guidance about […]
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