The Louisiana legislature has finished its first week of the regular session. Gov. John Bel Edwards laid out his legislative priorities in an address to the chamber on Monday. Edwards also appeared before the Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations to support bills that would raise the state minimum wage and require state contractors to abide by the Equal Pay for Women Act.Meanwhile, Commissioner Jay Dardenne warned lawmakers that severe budget cuts would negatively impact state partnerships with safety net hospitals and members considered legislation to hold a constitutional convention to ease budget restrictions.
Capitol Access reporter Wallis Watkins and editor Jessica Rosgaard sat down to review the week in Baton Rouge.