Jim Beam column: GOP critics become experts – American Press

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Some Republican leaders in the Louisiana Legislature and others in the GOP have apparently decided they are experts in public health and transportation. They personally attacked the state health ministry over the planned COVID-19 fire for students and berated the state transport and development ministry for slow road works.

Those who complain are simply key players in what is really just a continuing attack on the administration of Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards. State Attorney General Jeff Landry also continues to try to sue himself in the governor’s office.

At the head of the legislative opposition is State Senator Bodi White of Baton Rouge, chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee.

The Department of Health publicly notified lawmakers in September of its intention to add the coronavirus vaccine to its state-mandated vaccination schedule. The Senate and House health committees can block this effort with the governor’s agreement, but Edwards has made it clear that this will not happen.

“Usually when the FDA gives a full license or full approval to a vaccine, we put it on the schedule, and that’s what we do here through a formal rulemaking process,” he said. Edwards said.

The governor said it would be “inappropriate, unfortunate and dangerous” to keep students’ vaccines. And it comes at a time when a new variant is being unleashed.

Landry, who has filed a long list of lawsuits against things Edwards does that he doesn’t like, wrote to the Department of Health saying requiring those vaccinations is unconstitutional and may be worth another lawsuit.

Like others, Landry says the department would require an injection that does not prevent the disease. Yes it is, but are there really any vaccines that completely eliminate the disease?

Louisiana students in public and private schools should already be vaccinated against polio, diphtheria, tetanus, chickenpox, hepatitis B, whooping cough, measles, mumps and rubella.

This outcry from Landry and the legislative leaders is simply a political spectacle because Louisiana offers broad immunization exemptions. Students or parents can provide a written dissent or a letter from a doctor citing medical issues. The state’s Department of Education even provides an online share exemption form.

White called the vaccination plan a bullying tactic and immediately intimidated the health department. He said if the ministry goes ahead with the mandate, “we will take action that will seriously affect their budget.”

The senator also said COVID-19 is not a childhood illness and should not be required for school entry. However, the health department said 18 children under the age of 18 in Louisiana died from the disease.

Speaker of the House Clay Schexnayder de Gonzales did not raise his hand, but said, “This is a line in the sand that will not be crossed. ”

White also led the assault on the highway department. He said he was so dissatisfied with the ministry’s handling of road and bridge money that he was willing to “blow it all up and start over.”

“You are just dysfunctional,” he told an under-secretary in the department. Then he put an end to his bullying routine, saying he wanted lawmakers to consider restructuring the highways department.

White also didn’t miss an opportunity to reprimand President Biden. He called the new road and bridge money in Biden’s infrastructure bill a “stupid change.” US Senator Bill Cassidy, the senior senator from Louisiana, has worked closely on this bill, and he clearly disagrees with White.

Other lawmakers said the ministry’s selection of projects was too politicized. The deputy secretary said many of lawmakers’ projects criticized as being politicized had been selected by lawmakers themselves or involved decisions made by the governor, not the department.

The Department and Edwards last week heard kind words from another Republican, Representative Mike Huval of Breaux Bridge. Huval, Governor, and Department Secretary Shawn Wilson, celebrated the completion of the widening of Interstate 10 between Interstate 49 and La. 328.

Huval said, “Interstate 10 is a critical economic corridor as well as a major thoroughfare for hundreds of thousands of motorists. When completed, it will provide a more efficient commute, save lives and improve this economic corridor. ”

This project and a number of others around the state were completed thanks to Wilson’s ability to make the most of every highway dollar the state received. And he did not receive much.

Edwards is going to be our governor for another two years, and it is high time his Republican critics gave us all a break from their constant and meaningless personal and political attacks.

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