Changes

==Career==

==Career==

For ten years, Stokes was a registered Louisiana Democrat.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', November 1, 2018.</ref>

For ten years, Stokes was a registered Louisiana Democrat.<ref>''[[Moon Griffon|The Moon Griffon Show]]'', November 1, 2018.</ref>

In her freshman legislative year, Representative Stokes, by then a Republican, was rated 71 percent by the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, a type of statewide Chamber of Commerce, but she was scored 97 percent by that group in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/144257/julie-stokes#.WrbwoExFxEY|title=Julie Stokes' Ratings and Endorsement|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=March 24, 2018}}</ref> Stokes serves on the Health & Welfare, Labor & Industrial Relations, and Ways & Means committees. In 2013, she voted to increase the pay of state judges. In 2017, she did not vote on the House-passed measure, which was nevertheless blocked in the state Senate, to forbid the removal of [[Confederacy|Confederate]] monuments from government locations. Stokes co-sponsored the tax increases on [[cigarette]]s in 2016 and voted to hike [[gasoline]] taxes in 2017.<ref name=projectvotesmart>{{cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/144257/julie-stokes#.WrbgaExFxEY|title=Julie Stokes' Voting Records|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=March 24, 2018}}</ref>

In her freshman legislative year, Representative Stokes, by then a Republican, was rated 71 percent by the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, a type of statewide Chamber of Commerce, but she was scored 97 percent by that group in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/144257/julie-stokes#.WrbwoExFxEY|title=Julie Stokes' Ratings and Endorsement|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=March 24, 2018}}</ref> Stokes serves on the Health & Welfare, Labor & Industrial Relations, and Ways & Means committees. In 2013, she voted to increase the pay of state judges. In 2017, she did not vote on the House-passed measure, which was nevertheless blocked in the state Senate, to forbid the removal of [[Confederacy|Confederate]] monuments from government locations. Stokes co-sponsored the tax increases on [[cigarette]]s in 2016 and voted to hike [[gasoline]] taxes in 2017.<ref name=projectvotesmart>{{cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/144257/julie-stokes#.WrbgaExFxEY|title=Julie Stokes' Voting Records|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=March 24, 2018}}</ref>

* "Education Choice Champion" for 2013 and 2014 by the Louisiana Federation for Children.<ref name=honors/>

* "Education Choice Champion" for 2013 and 2014 by the Louisiana Federation for Children.<ref name=honors/>

The [[conservative]] [[radio]] talk-show host [[Moon Griffon]], based in [[Lafayette]] but broadcast statewide, has long characterized Stokes, who also considers herself a conservative,<ref name=honors/> and her fellow lawmaker Barry Ivey and former Representative [[Chris Broadwater]], current Representative [[Rob Shadoin]], among others, as "closeted Democrats" who run as Republicans in districts unfavorable to labeled Democrats. Griffon also noted that Stokes contributed to the successful [[John Bel Edwards]] gubernatorial campaign in 2015.<ref>''[[Moon Griffon|The Moon Griffon Show]]'', July 6, 2018.</ref>"Her closeness to John Bel Edwards bothers me to no end." Griffon said.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', August 10, 2018.</ref>

The [[conservative]] [[radio]] talk-show host [[Moon Griffon]], based in [[Lafayette]] but broadcast statewide, has long characterized Stokes, who also considers herself a conservative,<ref name=honors/> and her fellow lawmaker Barry Ivey and former Representative [[Chris Broadwater]], current Representative [[Rob Shadoin]], among others, as "closeted Democrats" who run as Republicans in districts unfavorable to labeled Democrats. Griffon also noted that Stokes contributed to the successful [[John Bel Edwards]] gubernatorial campaign in 2015.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', July 6, 2018.</ref>"Her closeness to John Bel Edwards bothers me to no end." Griffon said.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', August 10, 2018.</ref>

However, Stokes has voted conservative on several issues important to Republican voters. In 2016, she voted to restrict state support for [[sanctuary city|sanctuary cities]] which refuse to enforce laws against [[illegal immigration]]. In 2017, she co-sponsored the measure that requires a parent to give identification regarding an [[abortion]] on a minor child. In 2014, she voted to require abortionists to have local hospital admitting privileges. Since she entered the legislature, she has been rated 100 percent by the Right to Life Committee. Stokes also voted in 2014 to extend the time for implementation of the [[Common Core]] school standards program and co-sponsored legislation that year to permit concealed carry of firearms in restaurant serving alcohol.<ref name=projectvotesmart/> In 2018, Stokes voted to support Governor John Bel Edwards' .45 percent renewal of the temporary one-cent state sales tax. The Edward financial package includes no cuts in state government programs.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', June 25, 2018.</ref> Griffon said that Stokes sometimes votes against "big government" measures but only if her vote is not necessary for passage of the legislation. He said that she has backed higher taxes from the day she arrived in the legislature.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', July 26, 2018.</ref>

However, Stokes has voted conservative on several issues important to Republican voters. In 2016, she voted to restrict state support for [[sanctuary city|sanctuary cities]] which refuse to enforce laws against [[illegal immigration]]. In 2017, she co-sponsored the measure that requires a parent to give identification regarding an [[abortion]] on a minor child. In 2014, she voted to require abortionists to have local hospital admitting privileges. Since she entered the legislature, she has been rated 100 percent by the Right to Life Committee. Stokes also voted in 2014 to extend the time for implementation of the [[Common Core]] school standards program and co-sponsored legislation that year to permit concealed carry of firearms in restaurant serving alcohol.<ref name=projectvotesmart/> In 2018, Stokes voted to support Governor John Bel Edwards' .45 percent renewal of the temporary one-cent state sales tax. The Edward financial package includes no cuts in state government programs.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', June 25, 2018.</ref> Griffon said that Stokes sometimes votes against "big government" measures but only if her vote is not necessary for passage of the legislation. He said that she has backed higher taxes from the day she arrived in the legislature.<ref>''The Moon Griffon Show'', July 26, 2018.</ref>