AG Suit Challenges Edwards’ Efforts To Create Anti-Discrimination Law

The legal battle between Attorney General Jeff Landry and Gov. John Bel Edwards over including anti-discrimination clauses within state contracts has entered round two.

Landry has filed a suit seeking to block Governor John Bel Edwards' executive order mandating that anti-discrimination clauses for the LGBT community be included in state contracts.

Landry is asking the court to decide if Edwards is allowed to circumvent the Legislature to create his own law, after a judge already dismissed a suit.

"Following Judge Johnson’s dismissal of Governor Edwards’ challenge to my legal authority, the Governor continues to violate his duty to faithfully execute the laws by legislating through executive fiat. Today, I filed a petition so the court may decide if the Governor can circumvent the Legislature to create his own law."

"We are still reviewing this lawsuit and will respond shortly. It is baffling, though not surprising, that the attorney general continues to put his own political interests ahead of the needs of our state. He maintains only businesses that reserve the right to discriminate are eligible for a state contract, and that’s just wrong. New opportunities arise for our state every day because we will not discriminate, including having the 2017 NBA All-Star Game relocate to New Orleans. It's politics like the attorney general's that drove businesses away from North Carolina. If he continues to put his own political career ahead of the best interest of the citizens of Louisiana, he will do irreparable harm to our state.”