NEW ORLEANS — House Speaker Mike Johnson, of Shreveport-Bossier, went from a back-bencher to second in line to the presidency in less than three weeks after Republicans ousted former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Maya Angelou famously said that people never forget how you made them feel. Newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson apparently agrees. He’s an ardent proponent of civility, which makes him a rarity in American politics. But will it make him an effective speaker? Only time will tell.
What’s already clear is that Johnson’s election as Speaker, along with Majority Leader Steve Scalise in the number 2 House position, makes this Louisiana delegation the strongest in generations. Earmarks, or special budget allocations, are frowned upon these days, especially by Republicans. But even without earmarks, the one-two team of Johnson and Scalise in the House, where budgets begin, should help Louisiana deal with some of our most pressing problems, like flood insurance and hurricane protection. There again, time will tell.
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