Changes

Edwards named term-limited Democratic state Senator Ben Nevers of Bogalusa as his chief of staff. Laura Leach of Lake Charles, wealthy wife of former U.S. Representative Anthony Claude "Buddy" Leach, and [[African-American]] [[Mayor]] Jamie Mayo of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]] joined his transition team.  

Edwards named term-limited Democratic state Senator Ben Nevers of Bogalusa as his chief of staff. Laura Leach of Lake Charles, wealthy wife of former U.S. Representative Anthony Claude "Buddy" Leach, and [[African-American]] [[Mayor]] Jamie Mayo of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]] joined his transition team.  

Governor Edwards has pushed for various tax increases in an effort to close a large state operating deficit. One of his press spokespersons is [[Jim Beam]] of ''The Lake Charles American Press.''

Governor Edwards has pushed for various tax increases in an effort to close a large state operating deficit. One of his press spokespersons is [[Jim Beam]] of ''The Lake Charles American Press'', who has argued for the need of greater state revenues. The push for taxes has brought the governor in repeated conflict with state House Speaker [[Taylor Barras]] of New Iberia.

In June 2018, Senator John Kennedy called upon Governor John Bel Edwards to step down from his position and turn the office over to Lieutenant Governor [[Billy Nungesser]], a Republican. Kennedy is critical of Edwards' repeated calling of special legislative sessions to obtain more tax increases to close a state budget deficit. Kennedy maintains spending must first be reduced before higher taxes should be considered. Edwards' office called Kennedy's demand "absurd." At issue is the yet unapproved renewal of a "temporary" one-cent state [[sales tax]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/legislature/article_a5197e72-6e5c-11e8-a322-fff7ebf6289f.html|title=Sen. John Kennedy: John Bel Edwards should resign; governor's office says that's 'absurd' |publisher=''Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=June 12, 2018|author=Elizabeth Crisp|accessdate=June 13, 2018}}</ref> Kennedy's opposition to Edwards drew the scrutiny of the [[liberal]] ''Baton Rouge Advocate'' newspaper, which claimed the U.S. senator is using his office as "a platform for politically absurd suggestions" and should instead "focus on what is really important to those that elected him. The U.S. Senate, Kennedy's ostensible workplace, hasn't exactly been a model of accomplishment lately. If the senator is worried about the lack of political leadership these days, he should start by looking into the mirror."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/our_views/article_86570780-6e7e-11e8-b7ff-23a402c6376d.html|title=Our Views: John Kennedy worried about lack of leadership? He should look into the mirror (commentary)|publisher=''Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=June 12, 2018|accessdate=June 13, 2018}}</ref>

In June 2018, Senator John Kennedy called upon Governor John Bel Edwards to step down from his position and turn the office over to Lieutenant Governor [[Billy Nungesser]], a Republican. Kennedy is critical of Edwards' repeated calling of special legislative sessions to obtain more tax increases to close a state budget deficit. Kennedy maintains spending must first be reduced before higher taxes should be considered. Edwards' office called Kennedy's demand "absurd." At issue is the yet unapproved renewal of a "temporary" one-cent state [[sales tax]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/legislature/article_a5197e72-6e5c-11e8-a322-fff7ebf6289f.html|title=Sen. John Kennedy: John Bel Edwards should resign; governor's office says that's 'absurd' |publisher=''Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=June 12, 2018|author=Elizabeth Crisp|accessdate=June 13, 2018}}</ref> Kennedy's opposition to Edwards drew the scrutiny of the [[liberal]] ''Baton Rouge Advocate'' newspaper, which claimed the U.S. senator is using his office as "a platform for politically absurd suggestions" and should instead "focus on what is really important to those that elected him. The U.S. Senate, Kennedy's ostensible workplace, hasn't exactly been a model of accomplishment lately. If the senator is worried about the lack of political leadership these days, he should start by looking into the mirror."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/our_views/article_86570780-6e7e-11e8-b7ff-23a402c6376d.html|title=Our Views: John Kennedy worried about lack of leadership? He should look into the mirror (commentary)|publisher=''Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=June 12, 2018|accessdate=June 13, 2018}}</ref>