Post by pavel on Jan 12, 2016 5:28:23 GMT -6
BATON ROUGE — New Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards continued to bask in the "breeze of hope" that swept him into office during his inauguration here Monday and reiterated his promises to expand Medicaid, raise the minimum wage and level pay for women.
"We're here because the people of Louisiana believe we can do better and we're not going to let you down," said Edwards, who was a little known state representative from Amite before becoming the only Democratic governor in the Deep South.
The first pledge — expanding Medicaid through Obamacare — can be done with the stroke of the new governor's pen. "As promised, tomorrow I will expand Medicaid so working families can get access to health care," Edwards said, drawing the biggest cheer of the day.
But the other two promises will take a cooperative Legislature dominated by Republicans. Earlier in the day Republicans handed Edwards his first defeat by electing state Rep. Taylor Barras, R-New Iberia, as House speaker. Edwards had lobbied for New Orleans Democrat Walt Leger to get the post.
Read more: www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2016/01/11/edwards-takes-office-pledges-unity/78620486/
"We're here because the people of Louisiana believe we can do better and we're not going to let you down," said Edwards, who was a little known state representative from Amite before becoming the only Democratic governor in the Deep South.
The first pledge — expanding Medicaid through Obamacare — can be done with the stroke of the new governor's pen. "As promised, tomorrow I will expand Medicaid so working families can get access to health care," Edwards said, drawing the biggest cheer of the day.
But the other two promises will take a cooperative Legislature dominated by Republicans. Earlier in the day Republicans handed Edwards his first defeat by electing state Rep. Taylor Barras, R-New Iberia, as House speaker. Edwards had lobbied for New Orleans Democrat Walt Leger to get the post.
Read more: www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2016/01/11/edwards-takes-office-pledges-unity/78620486/