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Louisiana’s U.S. Senators joined fellow Republicans on Tuesday in using a filibuster to block debate on a Democrat-led elections bill.
The controversial bill, titled the “For the People Act,” would have federalized several aspects of elections, including making procedures such as mail-in voting and same-day voter registration for federal elections available nationwide. The bill also sought to take away the power of state governments to determine their congressional redistricting and give that power to independent commissions.
“This bill’s goal is not to improve election integrity but to improve the chances of a Democrat winning public office,” said U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La, in a press release. “This bill allows ballot harvesting, forces taxpayers to fund political campaigns, and bars common-sense voter I.D. laws. We should all support election security, this does not do that.”
In April, Cassidy penned an op-ed in The Advocate highlighting major issues with H.R. 1 calling it “a recipe for election disaster and fraud.” Cassidy wrote about the need to make voting more convenient and elections more safe and secure to ensure all eligible voters are able to vote.
A vote to move the measure forward to debate had the support of all 50 Democratic senators, including Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., who decided just on Tuesday that he would join his party’s colleagues. But no Republicans supported the bill, which needed 60 votes to prevent a filibuster.
Manchin and Sen. Krysten Sinema, D-Ariz., previously expressed hesitancy over supporting the bill. Both senators have also stated repeatedly they would be opposed to getting rid of the filibuster, which would allow a bill to pass through the Senate with a simple majority instead of the current 60-vote threshold.
Senator Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., announced Manchin’s support for the bill in a press conference Tuesday afternoon.
“I’m pleased to report that Senator Manchin and I have come to an agreement,” Schumer said. “He came to my office about two hours ago and we worked it out.”
Schumer had negotiated amendments to S.1 with Manchin in exchange for his support of the bill. Manchin expressed confidence in the amendments, such as provisions for voter identification.
“Unfortunately, my Republican colleagues refused to allow debate of this legislation despite the reasonable changes made to focus the bill on the core issues facing our democracy,” Manchin said.
Republicans and conservative groups blasted the bill, and its House counterpart HR.1, as an attempt to take away the rights of local governments to determine their election procedures. Despite amendments proposed by Manchin, Republicans and conservative groups remain strongly opposed to the bill.
In a press release opposing the bill, Heritage Action for America attacked the overreach of the federal government with the proposed provisions in the act.
“This massive bill is filled with unconstitutional policies that would make our elections less secure, hijack America’s election processes, and destroy Americans’ faith in voting,” said Jessica Anderson, Executive Director of Heritage Action.
In a statement, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., expressed his opposition to the revised version of the “For the People Act” with amendments by Manchin.
“We’re talking about fundamentally the same bill,” McConnell said. “And one thing’s for certain: ‘major overhaul’ doesn’t even begin to describe it. The same awful guts are all in there: There’s the plan to forcibly rewrite large portions of the 50 states’ respective election laws.”
The White House supports the bill and has said it will not back down from the fight over voting laws.
“This fight is not over, no matter the outcome,” said Jen Psaki, White House press secretary at a press briefing Tuesday.

(Editor’s note: The charges listed here and the narratives that go with them are provided by the police agencies that made the arrests. Guilt or innocence has not been determined in court.)

Stops for traffic violations, two in Berwick and one in Bayou L’Ourse, resulted Tuesday in heroin possession charges, arrest reports say. One of the drug arrests followed a stop for driving 90 mph on westbound U.S. 90 in Berwick.

Berwick
Police Chief David Leonard reported these arrests:
—Kelsey D. Ventura, 33, Arc Road, Covington, was arrested at 6:18 a.m. Tuesday on charges of possession of heroin, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
At 5:19 a.m. Tuesday, officers stopped a vehicle for speeding 90 mph in a 55 mph speed zone on westbound U.S. 90. Officers requested and were granted consent to search the vehicle.
Officers located methamphetamine, heroin and drug paraphernalia during the search and the passenger, identified as Ventura, said the drugs belonged to her.
During her arrest, she was found to be in possession of more methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Ventura was placed under arrest and booked into the Berwick Jail, where she remains with no bond set.
—Jessica L. Brasseaux, 36, Blythe Avenue, Alexandria, was arrested at 8:09 p.m. Tuesday on charges of driving while intoxicated (first offense), three counts of possession of Xanax, possession of heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia.
At 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, officers responded to a call of an intoxicated driver who pulled into a business parking lot on U.S. 90. Officers arrived and met with the driver of the vehicle, identified as Brasseaux, and spoke with her about the complaint.
Brasseaux exhibited signs of impairment on narcotics, and she subsequently performed poorly on standardized field sobriety testing. She admitted to having heroin inside of the vehicle and a search of the car was conducted.
Officers located heroin, a pill bottle that contained Xanax and drug paraphernalia inside the car. Brasseaux could not produce a prescription for the medication.
She was placed under arrest and transported to the Berwick Police Department, where she submitted a proper breath sample of .000g%BAC. She provided another sample, and those results are pending at the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab. Brasseaux remains in the Berwick Jail with no bond set.

Assumption
Sheriff Leland Falcon reported these arrests:
—Gary Don Martin, 65, Bayou Boeuf Road, Amelia, was arrested Tuesday on charges of possession of heroin, possession of methamphetamine, driving under suspension and driving on roadway laned for traffic.
The charges followed a Tuesday evening traffic stop on Cecelia Street in Bayou L’Ourse.
An I.C.E. Unit deputy observed a vehicle commit a traffic violation and executed a stop of the vehicle. The deputy made contact with the driver, identified as Martin, and one passenger John Lucas Jr., 40, First Lane, Vacherie.
The deputy noted a strong odor of suspected marijuana emitting from the vehicle. After interviewing both occupants, the deputy decided that additional investigation was warranted.
A check of Martin’s driver’s license indicated that he was operating a vehicle with a suspended driver’s license.
A consent to search the vehicle was obtained. During the search process, quantities of heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana were seized.
Martin was arrested and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Facility pending a bond hearing.
Lucas was issued a misdemeanor summons for possession of marijuana and released.
—Three juveniles were charged in connection with two auto theft cases.
Sheriff’s deputies responded May 15 to an auto theft complaint in Labadieville. The vehicle was later recovered and returned to the victim. During the investigation, deputies learned that a monetary instrument belonging to the victim had been used to conduct a transaction that was not authorized by the victim.
On June 6, deputies responded to a location on La. 308 near Napoleonville in reference to an auto theft. That vehicle was recovered and returned to the victim.
During the ensuing investigation, three male juveniles were identified as suspects in the first case. A 16-year-old from Thibodaux, a 14-year-old from Gray and a 14-year-old from Thibodaux were charged by verified complaint. The 14-year-old from Gray was also charged with felony identify theft.
They were arrested June 16 and released to their guardians.
As a result of the investigation into the June auto theft, the 14-year-old juvenile from Thibodaux was charged by verified complaint with one count of felony theft of a motor vehicle June 15. The juvenile was released to a guardian.

Morgan City
Police Chief James F. Blair reported that over the last 24-hour period, the Morgan City Police Department responded to 48 calls for service and made these arrests beginning Tuesday.
—Tyrone F. Thomas, 57, Sixth Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:34 a.m. Tuesday on charges of driving under suspension and brake equipment required and on a warrant alleging failure to pay fine.
St. Mary
Sheriff Blaise Smith advised that over the last 24-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 38 complaints and made these arrests:
—Raymond Williams, 76, Bertrandville, was arrested at 12:37 p.m. Tuesday on charges of turning movements and required signals and driving under suspension. Williams was released on a summons to appear Sept. 1.
—Juvenile male, 14, Lafayette, was arrested at 2:37 p.m. Tuesday on charges of off-road vehicles/authorization of use, reckless operation (no accident) and resisting an officer by flight. The boy was released into the custody of a guardian pending juvenile court proceedings.
—Curtis Paul Gaudet Jr., 28, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:46 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on the charge of domestic abuse battery (strangulation). Bail has not been set.
—Sylvester Francois Jr., 23, Patterson, was arrested at 5:53 p.m. Tuesday by the Narcotics Section on Morgan City Police Department warrants alleging failure to appear on the charges of driving while intoxicated, resisting an officer, contempt of court, probation fees and fine. Francois was transferred to another agency.

St. Martin
Sheriff Becket Breaux reported these arrests:
—Corey Boudreaux, 48, Moon Street, Henderson, was arrested Tuesday on warrants alleging failure to appear.
—Aryn Drake, 54, Chawee, Breaux Bridge, was arrested Tuesday on a warrant alleging failure to appear.
—Logan Hyatt, 33, Grand Anse Highway, Breaux Bridge, was arrested Tuesday on charges of stalking and telephone communications/improper language/harassment.
—Blaize McGee, 25, Range Road, Lafayette, was arrested Tuesday by the Henderson Police Department on a warrant alleging failure to appear.

The following are the radio dispatch logs from the Morgan City Police Department. To report unlawful or suspicious activity, call the Police Department at 985-380-4605.
Tuesday, June 22
6:24 a.m. 200 block of Brashear Avenue; Welfare check.
7:25 a.m. 900 block of Belanger Street; Medical.
8:13 a.m. 1100 block of Victor II Boulevard; Alarm.
8:18 a.m. 300 block of Wren Street; Alarm.
8:33 a.m. Songe Street and Federal Avenue; Accident.
9:13 a.m. Martin Luther King and Victor II boulevards; Stalled vehicle.
9:17 a.m. 800 block of Railroad Avenue; Theft.
10:02 a.m. 1400 block of North Third Street; Theft.
10:29 a.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Medical.
10:49 a.m. 200 block of Wren Street; Accident.
12:09 p.m. 300 block of Wren Street; Disturbance.
12:39 p.m. 1000 block of Walnut Drive; Alarm.
2:46 p.m. 800 block of Hilda Street; Alarm.
3:58 p.m. 3000 block of Lizabeth Drive; Officer stand by.
4:23 p.m. Ninth and Clothilde streets; Accident.
4:34 p.m. 1400 block of North Third Street; Trespassing.
4:40 p.m. Eighth Street and Brashear Avenue; Accident.
4:43 p.m. 1400 block of Second Street; Theft.
5:47 p.m. 1000 block of McDermott Drive; Complaint.
5:47 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Warrant/arrest.
6:06 p.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Stand by.
6:28 p.m. 500 block of Brashear Avenue; Theft.
6:48 p.m. 1400 block of North Third Street; Animal complaint.
7:08 p.m. 1200 block of Clothilde Street; Alarm.
7:14 p.m. 1000 block of David Drive ; Alarm.
8:06 p.m. 1700 block of Youngs Road; Open line.
8:15 p.m. 800 block of Poplar Street; Alarm.
8:35 p.m. 600 block of Kentucky Street; Complaint.
10:27 p.m. Before Martin Luther King Boulevard high rise westbound; Medical emergency.
Wednesday, June 23
12:01 a.m. 800 block of Onstead Street; Assist Sheriff’s Office.
1:45 a.m. 6000 block of La. 182; Suspicious subject.
2:10 a.m. 700 block of Fifth Street; Vehicle theft/no charges.

Liza Danyelle Robinson, 41, a resident and native of Berwick, La., passed away peacefully on Saturday June 12, 2021 at University Medical Center in New Orleans, La.
Visitation will observed on Saturday June 26, 2021 from at 9 a.m. until funeral services beginning at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Berwick 109 Gilmore Drive, Berwick, La. 70342, with Pastor Karen Carr, Officiating. Burial will follow funeral services in the Berwick Cemetery in Berwick, La.
Memories of Liza will forever remain in the hearts of her mother, Gloria Minor (Joseph) of Berwick, La.; father, Danny Ray Robinson Sr. (Audrey) of Verdunville, La.; fiancé, Robert Grimm; sisters, Martine Minor all of Berwick, La., Raven Minor (Tim) of Sulphur, La. and Payton Bailey of Morgan City, La.; ; brother, Danny Ray Robinson, Jr (Monica) of Houma, La.; step sisters, Jessica Smith and Samantha Snyder both of Norfolk, VA; nieces, nephews, god-parents, Kelly Minor and Kenneth Allridge; god-children, great aunt, and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins and dear friends.
Liza was preceded in death by her: maternal grandparents, paternal grandmother, an aunt, and uncles.
Arrangements entrusted to Jones Funeral Home of Morgan City-Franklin-Jeanerette and Houma. Visit www.jones-funeral-home.com to send condolences to family.