LOUISIANA, USA — Voting in the capitol adjourned early on day three of Governor Landry’s special session on crime after Louisiana lawmakers got some unexpected news.
“Y’all don’t see the consequences from this,” Norris Henderson, VOTE Founder said. “You can’t take hope away from people.”
Norris Henderson is one of three activists who filed a restraining order against State Representative Debby Villio and Speaker Phillip DeVillier.
Norris says he and over 150 witnesses went to the state capitol to speak out against some of the bills but never got the chance.
“For citizens to show up at the capitol and say, ‘I want to be heard,’ and then for them to say ‘Oh no you can’t be heard because we have to manage time,’ where you going?” Henderson said.
For each bill under review, the House Criminal Justice Committee is allowing one hour per side for public comment, and three minutes per witness, which Norris says isn’t enough.
“If this is going to be par for the course, it don’t make sense that nobody even going up there,” Norris said.
He isn’t the only person concerned over the timeline. All 24 items on the governor’s agenda have already been reviewed and will go to the House and Senate floor.
“The speed of this session is a huge concern for me,” Representative Mat Willard said. “We’ve been suspending rules left and right, which means the bills can move through the process at an accelerated pace. I don’t like that”.
Some lawmakers say life-altering decisions are being made too quickly.
“You need time to debate, revise, and discuss these matters,” State Representative Mandie Landry said. “And the decisions that we’re making right now could change our criminal justice system for decades.”
Landry also said she anticipates the petition hearing to be scheduled this week. Voting will pick back up tomorrow at 9 a.m. in the morning.
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