John Bel Edwards in LA legislative records

On Abortion: Member of Democrats for Life, anti-choice group

In this environment, Ms. [Katrina] Jackson, the Democratic state senator, has bloomed into a star. She draws a hard line at abortion. To her, it's unequivocal: Abortion is murder, and murder goes against God's will. Over two terms as a state representative--she joined the Senate in 2019--Ms. Jackson put her name to a slew of laws that have made headlines and drawn furious protests from abortion rights activists in Louisiana and nationwide.

On Abortion: Abortion doctors must have hospital admitting privileges

Opposition by Jurist.org: The law would likely shut down three of the state's five abortion clinics. Proponents of the bill argue that admitting privileges requirements further the objective of promoting women's health. Critics contend that bills like HB 388 are thinly-veiled attempts to outlaw abortions entirely. A Planned Parenthood press release [says HB 388] was passed under the guise of protecting patient safety but it does the opposite. Data from the CDC shows that abortion has over a 99 percent safety record. For patients' safety, providers already have plans in place in case of an emergency.

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 34-3-2, Vote #988 on May/14/14; Passed House 88-5-11, Vote #1108 on May/21/14; State Rep. John Bel Edwards voted YES; Signed by Governor Bobby Jindal on Jun/12/14 [Note: this was the law overturned by the Supreme Court in June 2020.]

On Abortion: Favored fetal heartbeat bill banning early abortions

Analysis by ABC News (May 30, 2019): The bill itself is similar to some of the other so-called "heartbeat" bills that have been signed into law elsewhere in that it bans abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected, which is as early as six weeks into a pregnancy. Unlike some other bills and other existing abortion laws, the Louisiana bill does not include exceptions in cases of rape and incest.

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 31-5-3 on May/6/19; Passed House 79-23-3 on May/29/19; Signed by Governor John Bel Edwards on May/30/19.

On Civil Rights: Vetoed state policy on free expression at colleges

Analysis by the Baton Rouge Advocate: The legislation ensures the free speech of controversial speakers on state college campuses and penalizes students who disrupt it. The legislation would direct colleges to spell out policies that would prevent students, outside speakers or others from being shouted down because of unpopular views.

Veto message by Gov. John Bel Edwards: This bill is a solution in search of a problem that creates a long, detailed structure for the evaluation of the freedom of expression on college campuses. However, this bill is unnecessary and overly burdensome to our colleges and universities as the freedoms this bill attempts to protect are already well-established.

Legislative Outcome:Passed House 66-26-13 on May/24/17; Passed Senate 30-2-6 on Jun/7/17; Vetoed by Governor Edwards on Jun/26/17

On Civil Rights: Vetoed requiring only "biological females" in women's sports

Veto message: "Discrimination is not a Louisiana value, and this bill was a solution in search of a problem that simply does not exist in Louisiana. Further, it would make life more difficult for transgender children, who are some of the most vulnerable Louisianans when it comes to issues of mental health. And it does present real problems in that it makes it more likely that NCAA and professional championships would not happen in our state."

Legislative outcome: Passed Senate 29-6-4 on May/5/21; Passed House 78-19-8 on May/27/21; Vetoed by Governor John Bel Edwards on Jun/22/21.

On Government Reform: Favored sweeping tort reform making it harder to sue

• reduces the threshold for a jury trial,
• transfers cases to district courts,
• provides for evidence of medical expense payments, and
• repeals the limitation on presenting evidence of the failure to wear a safety belt.

Analysis by the Baton Rouge Advocate (Jun 30, 2020):Business and insurance interests and their mostly Republican supporters supported sweeping changes to evidence laws that would reduce the number of court cases and limit the awards of people who seek compensation for injuries caused by someone else. Lawyers, healthcare providers and their mostly Democratic allies who opposed sweeping tort reform counter that the changes would make court cases so difficult that injured people will be more likely to accept insurance companies' offers.

Legislative Outcome:Passed House 78-22-4 on Jun/15/20; Passed Senate 29-9-1 on Jun/22/20; Signed by Governor Jul/13/20

On Gun Control: Allow concealed carry in houses of worship

Analysis by WWL TV-4 (May 19, 2020): Louisiana lawmakers are set to discuss a series of gun bills, including one that would allow a person to bring a concealed handgun into a house of worship. HB 334 would allow a concealed handgun permit holder to carry a concealed handgun in a house of worship, if given permission from church leaders.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 72-24-9 on May/22/20; Passed Senate 23-9-7 on May/29/20; Signed by Governor John Bel Edwards on Jun/11/20.

On Health Care: No medical school needed for optometrist eye surgeries

Analysis by Times-Picayune: The Legislature agreed to make Louisiana the country's third state to authorize some eye doctors who did not attend medical school to perform certain surgeries. The controversial legislation authorizes optometrists to perform surgical procedures that are currently limited in this state and 47 others to the practice of ophthalmology. The bill's supporters say the move expands access to eye care, especially for residents in rural areas. Its opponents call it an effort by optometrists to sideline education and expand their practice to include surgery instead through legislation in order to charge more money.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House -32-6, Vote #775 66 on May/7/14; State Rep. John Bel Edwards voted YES; Passed Senate 25-12-2, Vote #1274 on May/21/14; Signed by Gov. Jindal on Jun/1/14

On Jobs: Equal Pay for Women, but only for state employees

Analysis by National Women's Law Center: The Act resembles the federal Equal Pay Act. It bans discriminatory pay based on sex, with exceptions for differences bases on seniority systems, merit systems, and systems that measure earnings by quantity or quality of production. Unfortunately, although the original bill covered all employers with 15 or more employees, the final bill that was enacted applies only to state employees.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 86-12-7, Vote #795 on Jun/3/13; State Rep. John Bel Edwards co-sponsored the bill and voted YES; Passed Senate 35-2-2, Vote #963 on Jun/4/13; Signed by Governor Bobby Jindal on Jun/18/13

On Tax Reform: Opposed empty tax credit to offset tax increases

Analysis by The Baton Rouge Advocate: Passage of the SAVE fund was crucial because Jindal was virtually certain to veto the budget if the Legislature hadn't approved the measure. The SAVE plan will impose a fee of almost $1,600 per student that the students won't actually pay because the plan will create tax credits--phantom tax credits in the eyes of critics--that offset the fee. The tax credits allow Jindal to offset all of the tax measures approved by legislators.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 59-44-2, Vote #1102 on Jun/11/15; State Rep. John Bel Edwards voted NO; Passed Senate 30-9-0, Vote #1107 on Jun/11/15; Signed by Governor Bobby Jindal on Jun/19/15