Louisiana House Democrats leader announces he's stepping down amid ongoing budget battle
The leader of Democrats in the Louisiana House told colleagues Monday that he will step down from his leadership position, in part a sign of his frustration over the House’s inaction on budget and taxes.
State Rep. Gene Reynolds, D-Minden, disclosed his decision even as he continued an effort on Monday to try to force the House Republican leadership to give concessions on the budget and the make-up of the committees that handle the budget and taxes.
“If your objective is tax reform and to make changes that most moderates want, we have to move people around on those committees,” Reynolds said in an interview. He plans to serve out his legislative term.
Reynolds has been meeting privately with other Democrats and moderate Republicans to try to provide more money for schools, public health care and state workers, as well as more tax revenue to meet the state’s looming budget deficit. Those efforts have mostly failed in the face of opposition from conservatives in the House and their outside allies.
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