John Bel Edwards announced Tuesday, Oct. 27 he vetoed two bills authored by republican lawmakers during the second special legislative session of 2020.

The governor said he vetoed HB 4 authored by Rep. Mark Wright (R-Covington) and HB 51 authored by Rep. Blake Miguez (R-Erath). 

HB-4 would have given the Louisiana Legislature power to overturn emergency declarations declared by the governor. 

HB-4 is different than the petition signed by 64 republican legislators Friday, Oct. 27 that lawmakers claim overturns Gov. Edwards’ COVID-19 restrictions. Gov. Edwards’ administration filed a lawsuit Monday, Oct. 26 contesting the legality of the petition. Edwards called the petition “reckless, irresponsible, and unconscionable” during a news conference Friday, Oct. 23. He also questioned the constitutionality of the petition and credited his restrictions for the plateau in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations since July. A judge in the state’s 19th Judicial District Court will determine if the petition is constitutional.

HB 51 prohibited the use of private funds for any part of the State of Louisiana’s election system. Edward’s veto letter to Speaker Schexnayder stated, “House Bill 51 is an unnecessary political ploy that only serves to threaten the safety of polling places during a pandemic and increase the costs to taxpayers to administer safe elections.”