RELEASE: Louisiana Democrats on HCR58

Louisiana Democratic Party on HCR58

BATON ROUGE, LA – Wednesday, the House and Governmental Affairs Committee advanced HCR58, a resolution to suspend Gov. Edwards’ authority to declare and enforce a public health emergency. If passed, this resolution undermines a stay at home order put in place under guidance from the White House, the CDC, and state public health experts.

“Even as health experts and the White House agree that Louisiana’s current order is necessary, Republicans in the legislature continue to throw data and science out the window. This reckless resolution is just the latest example of putting political partisanship over the health and wellbeing of our state,” Stephen Handwerk, Executive Director of the Louisiana Democratic Party said.

“I’d like to remind Republicans that over 2,000 Louisianians died within sixty days of our first confirmed case of COVID-19. A measured statewide approach is the difference between saving lives or seeing another deadly outbreak. No corner of our state has been untouched by this crisis and it’s critical that we listen to public health experts, not legislators with a political agenda.

The majority of Louisianians agree with and trust the state’s response to this crisis – including Gov. Edwards’ stay at home order. As Republicans try to suspend the state’s ability to apply that order, it couldn’t be clearer: neither the data nor Louisianians want their reckless resolution to continue. It’s time to stop the political games and put public health first.”