Jeremy Alford: House Republicans discuss coming term

The leadership in the Republican-led House of Representatives in Baton Rouge is taking shape quicker than usual.
That’s due largely to the October primary win of Gov.-elect Jeff Landry, who was allowed to start his transition from attorney general to the state’s CEO a little early. Normally gubernatorial races are decided in runoff elections, but Landry secured 52 percent in a crowded field, giving him a sort of political mandate to move fast.
In the state House, that meant allowing members to read the proverbial writing on the wall in regard to who should be the next speaker. The major candidates for the job dropped out before the Thanksgiving holiday and threw their collective support behind a Landry ally, Rep. Phillip DeVillier of Eunice. 
Across Memorial Hall in the upper chamber, Landry has outright endorsed Sen. Cameron Henry of Jefferson for the post of Senate president. That news, however, didn’t arrive in Capitoland with the same kind of thump as DeVillier’s rise to the gavel.
Internal elections in the House, with 105 members, are always messier than those hosted by the body with 39 senators. So politicos were able to breathe a sigh of relief with the DeVillier news, because competitive leadership elections have ways of dividing the House for full terms. 
House Republicans, as a delegation, will meet next on Monday, Dec. 4. The agenda was supposed to include a contested endorsement vote for speaker of the House, which will in turn officially be decided during a January organizational session of the new Legislature.
Members will also vote for the next delegation chair. That honor is expected to go to Rep. Mark Wright of St. Tammany Parish. Currently the chairman of the House Transportation Committee, Wright said the meeting will be used to elect other officers as well, along with board members for the delegation’s political action committee. 
Members may still nominate a speaker candidate, as a formality, and will start prepping for next year’s sessions “by identifying legislative priorities and how they match with the governor-elect’s,” Wright said. 
“We’ll also have a retreat in 2024 where we spend more time on these issues,” he added.
Next calendar year will indeed be busy, with the organizational session slated for Jan. 8 and the regular session scheduled for March 11. Before, in between and after, there could be other special sessions on redistricting, crime and insurance.
 “I think we’re looking at two special sessions in the first half of the year,” Wright said, “but we’ll need to get a better sense of the governor-elect’s priorities and which ones need to be done in a special, especially given the fact we start the regular session earlier in the calendar.”
 As for the regular session, Wright said, “Crime and insurance have clearly taken front seats, but I’m sure the budget surplus will provide opportunities to revisit priorities. I suspect transportation and jobs will get attention, too.”
A bigger question may involve how Republicans will govern in concert with Democrats, who will enjoy smaller numbers than ever in Baton Rouge. Despite the imbalance, Wright said a partnership of some fashion will be required.
“We’re always going to meet and talk with Democratic colleagues so they can address their district concerns,” said Wright. “Obviously we have disagreements about certain policies or principles, but I think most Republicans and Democrats are focused on how to best position Louisiana for the future. We’re only as strong as our weakest link.”
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