State Legislative Tracker: Louisiana prepares for possible special sessions

June 25, 2012

Edited by Greg Janetka

Today’s tracker features a sessions update and look at the week ahead

Note: This is an abridged version of Ballotpedia’s weekly State Legislative Tracker report. For the full version click here.

Sessions

 This week 8 out of 50 state legislatures are meeting in regular session. As of May 16, all states had convened their 2012 sessions. Delaware is projected to adjourn this week.

Thirty-six states have adjourned for the year, while four states - Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, and Texas - will not hold regular sessions in 2012.

Sessions_capture_6.25.2012.png

Special sessions

Snapshot of State Legislatures:
Monday, June 25, 2012
There are 7,384 Total State Legislators
Total Democratic state legislators 3,306 (44.8%)
Total Republican state legislators 3,966 (53.7%)
There are 99 Total State Legislative Chambers
Total Democratic Party-controlled chambers 36
Total Republican Party-controlled chambers 58
Total tied or non-partisan chambers 5
2012 Session Information
Total Special Elections 25
Total Special Sessions 14

In 2011, special sessions were a widespread occurrence in state legislatures. This was largely due to states’ having to complete theredistricting process for legislative and congressional districts. Overall in 2011, there were 45 special sessions in 28 states.

Since the beginning of 2012, there have been 14 special sessions in 12 states. One is currently ongoing in South Carolina.

Louisiana

On June 15, some Republicans in the legislature said a special session might be necessary in order to change a law that could hurt the state’s budget. The law in question was an emergency declaration made by former Louisiana Department of Revenue Secretary Cynthia Bridges in April that has been interpreted as significantly widening the scope of a tax credit on vehicles. Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) rejected the ruling, arguing that Bridges did not follow the law properly. However, it could still go into effect and lawmakers want it clarified or rescinded and say the best way to do that is in a special session.[1]

Meanwhile, officials are preparing for a possible special veto session, which takes place automatically if the Governor vetoes items after the session has adjourned.[2] In order to prevent the veto session, a majority of legislators in either chamber must vote to cancel the session. If it is held, it would start on July 14.[3]

South Carolina

The South Carolina State Legislature began a special session on June 19 to address the budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. The session was expected to include other big issues such as retirement reform and government restructuring. If a compromise is not reached, a continuing resolution would most likely be implemented.[6]

 

2012 State Legislative Elections

A total of 86 of the 99 chambers will hold state legislative elections on November 6, 2012.

1,289 (65.4%) of the country’s 1,971 state senate seats are up for election in November 2012, and 4,712 (87.05%) of the country’s 5,413 state house seats are up for election. Altogether, 5,999 (81.24%) of the country’s 7,384 state legislative seats will be up for election during the presidential election year.

  • 43 of the 50 state senates are holding elections.
  • 43 of the 49 state houses are holding elections.

The 5,999 seats up for election is 126 fewer than the 6,125 that were contested in 2010.

Filing deadlines

See also: Signature requirements and deadlines for 2012 state government elections and 2012 Elections preview: Comparing state legislative filing deadlines

One state - Rhode Island - has a signature filing deadline this week.

So far, deadlines have passed in 41 states:

States with upcoming deadlines:

Primaries

See also: 2012 election dates

There are state legislative primaries taking place this week in three states - Colorado,Oklahoma, and Utah.

So far, primaries have taken place in 21 states:

A total of 65 state legislative incumbents have been defeated in a primary – 44 Republicans and 21 Democrats.

States with upcoming primaries:

 

Recalls

Wisconsin

See also: Timeline of events of the recall of Wisconsin State Senators in 2012

Recalls against four Republican state senators took place on June 5.[15] Going into the recalls the Senate was tied 16-16, with one vacancy.[16]

Incumbents Scott Fitzgerald (R) and Terry Moulton (R) won easy victories. Republican Jerry Petrowski easily won Pam Galloway‘s (R) former seat. Unofficial results showed John Lehman (D) defeated Van Wanggaard (R) by 779 votes and he declared victory. Wanggaard considered a recount – the county’s board of canvassars had until June 15 to submit final vote totals. [17] With the official canvass showing Lehman winning by 834 votes, Wanggaard called for a recount on June 15.[18]

The recount began on June 20 and the county has until July 2 to complete it. Once the results are released, candidates have five business days to appeal in Racine County Circuit Court.[19]

In calling for the recount, Wanggaard released a statement saying “I hope a trusted and verified result of the election will finally allow us to move forward” and that the move “is not about maintaining power.” Wanggaard had to pay a fee of $685 to request the recount, but the costs will ultimately fall to the taxpayers of Racine County.[20]

As of mid-day on June 22, the recount had been completed for seven municipalities. It showed Wanggaard picked up a net 10 votes.[21

 

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