Breaking News

More () »

Politics

Edwards rejects 8 bills, including car insurance bill

The Democratic governor said the bill didn’t include a commitment to lower insurance rates as supporters promised.

Credit: AP

Gov. John Bel Edwards speaks Monday, May 11, 2020, at his media briefing on the state's COVID-19 response at the State Capitol in Baton Rouge, La., announcing that his stay-at-home directive will end with the Phase 1 reopening of the state on Friday, May 15. Dr. Alex Billioux, M.D., right, assistant secretary of health for the La. Dept. of Health's Office of Public Health, looks on. (Travis Spradling/The Advocate via AP, Pool)

BATON ROUGE, La. — Gov. John Bel Edwards has vetoed eight bills passed by Louisiana lawmakers in their regular session.

The vetoes issued Friday strike down the business lobby’s top priority, a measure to scale back damage claims against insurance companies in car accident lawsuits.

The Democratic governor said the bill didn’t include a commitment to lower insurance rates as supporters promised. GOP lawmakers are trying to pass a similar measure in the ongoing special session.

Edwards said he’s willing to continue negotiations.

Edwards also scrapped bills that would have given lawmakers more oversight of state contracts and would have enacted new restrictions on ads from lawyers promising big paydays by suing businesses.

More Stories:

RELATED: Louisiana misses goal on virus testing at nursing homes

RELATED: Man shot, killed in New Orleans East overnight, NOPD says

► Get breaking news from your neighborhood delivered directly to you by downloading the new FREE WWL-TV News app now in the IOS App Store or Google Play.

‎New Orleans News from WWL

‎Stay up-to-date with the latest news and weather in the New Orleans area on the all-new free WWL TV app. Our app features the latest breaking news that impacts you and your family, interactive weather and radar, and live video from our newscasts and local events. LOCAL & BREAKING NEWS * Receive r...