Blanco Wants a Democrat to Lead LA State Senate

Shreveport, LA, Times ^ | 11-22-03 | Hasten, Mike

[Theodore R.]

BATON ROUGE - Despite reports that she has decided whom she will back for legislative leadership positions, Gov.-elect Kathleen Blanco said Friday she's still meeting with lawmakers to get their input and won't announce anything before Monday.

"I'd like to make the decision in the next few days, but I do reserve the time I think is necessary. These are important decisions," said Blanco, who just returned from a three-day "not long enough" vacation to Austin, where she visited a spa.

[Theodore R.]

I don't think Bush would have made mcuh difference at all had he campaigned actively for Jindal. I really don't. The Jindal "supporters" who might have elected him have already voted with their feet -- they have left LA.!

[Kuksool]

Ping!

[Thor_Hammar]

Asked whether she would get involved in selecting leaders of the state Senate and House of Representatives, Blanco said "I'm weighing in. I think it's important for the governor to have a good relationship with the leadership. It's important that the governor have a team."</>

Blankbrain is a typical Democrap! She has missed several important points. First, she either missed the concept of separation of powers -- or she rejects that concept. It's the job of each house of the legislature to elect their own leaders. And she has completely missed the point that her job as chief executive of the state of LousyAnna is to lead, not to meddle into the affairs of the legislature.

[kms61]

That's the way it's done in Louisiana. Foster handpicked his own Senate president too, a Republican despite the Senate being majority Democrat.

[deport]

Blanco should be able to get who she wants assuming the democrats go along with her choice since they currently have a 23 - 15 majority. I don't know what the last election may have done to that number but the majority will still be democrat.

[Galactic Overlord-In-Chief]

Some quotes by Hainkel in today's Times Picyune:

"Maybe I'll be (a) Democrat. The Senate is more important to me than that (party affiliation). If that is the biggest freakin' thing . . . to her, I'd change my party affiliation. It doesn't make any difference to me. I could be an independent or a Libertarian or a Tory."

"I am not going to turn it over to people who are unacceptable to me. There are people who are unacceptable to me."

"The biggest thing I want to do is convince Kathleen Blanco that I want her to succeed. I am not the biggest egomaniac in the world. I am concerned about the dignity of the Senate."

[Theodore R.]

In LA, it has long been traditional for the governor to have a hand in the naming of both the House Speaker and the Senate president. This may go back to Huey Pierce Long, Jr., or even earlier. LA's Constitution sets up a powerful chief executive on paper -- it's part of the Napoleonic tradition.

[Theodore R.]

Moon Griffon, a Monroe-based LA news commentator, reported Monday that LA State Senate President John Hainkel, a Democrat-turned-Republican, has reportedly told Gov.-elect Kathleen Babineaux Blanco that he will return to the Democrat fold if he can remain Senate President.

Blanco has said that a Republican is unacceptable as state senate president.

[CajunConservative]

Sen. Willie Mount, D-Lake Charles, who supported Blanco in the primary and general elections, said she is helping Blanco work with senators but the selection of a leader "remains to be seen."

Willie Mount is someone who is able to get things done and she has a way of getting people to work together. She was an excellent mayor in Lake Charles. She got things done.