Changes

| office=Speaker of the<br> Louisiana House of Representatives

| office=Speaker of the<br> Louisiana House of Representatives

| term_start=January 11, 2016

| term_start=January 11, 2016

| term_end=January 2020  

| term_end=January 13, 2020  

| preceded=Chuck Kleckley

| preceded=Chuck Kleckley

| succeeded=Pending

| succeeded=[[Beau Beaullieu]]

| office2=[[Louisiana]] State Representative for<br> District 48 (Iberia Parish)

| office2=[[Louisiana]] State Representative for<br> District 48 (Iberia Parish)

| term_start2=January 14, 2008

| term_start2=January 14, 2008

| footnotes=

| footnotes=

}}

}}

'''Taylor Francis Barras''' (born January 22, 1957)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mylife.com/taylor-barras/taylorbarras|title=Taylor Barras|publisher=Mylife.com|accessdate=June 18, 2018}}</ref> is an [[accountant]] and [[banker]] from New Iberia, [[Louisiana]], who is a [[Republican Party|Republican]] member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for District 48 in Iberia Parish. On  January 11, 2016, as he began his third term in the chamber, Barras was unexpectedly elected state House Speaker by his colleagues, who rejected on the second ballot Representative Walt Leger, III, of [[New Orleans]], the choice of [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[Governor]] [[John Bel Edwards]]. Barras received fifty-six votes, seven more than Leger's forty-nine. Since the days of [[Huey Long|Huey Pierce Long, Jr.]], legislators had confirmed the governor's choice for Speaker, but the Republican House majority instead elected Barras despite the preference of the governor.<ref name=noshortcuts>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/story/news/2016/01/22/house-speaker-taylor-barras-shortcuts/79201924/|title=House Speaker Taylor Barras: No shortcuts|author=[[Greg Hilburn]]|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|date=January 22, 2016|accessdate=January 23, 2016}}</ref>

'''Taylor Francis Barras''' (born January 22, 1957)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mylife.com/taylor-barras/taylorbarras|title=Taylor Barras|publisher=Mylife.com|accessdate=June 18, 2018}}</ref> is an [[accountant]] and [[banker]] from New Iberia, [[Louisiana]], who is a [[Republican Party|Republican]] departing member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for District 48 in Iberia Parish. On  January 11, 2016, as he began his third term in the chamber, Barras was unexpectedly elected state House Speaker by his colleagues, who rejected on the second ballot Representative Walt Leger, III, of [[New Orleans]], the choice of [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[Governor]] [[John Bel Edwards]]. Barras received fifty-six votes, seven more than Leger's forty-nine. Since the days of [[Huey Long|Huey Pierce Long, Jr.]], legislators had confirmed the governor's choice for Speaker, but the Republican House majority instead elected Barras despite the preference of the governor.<ref name=noshortcuts>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/story/news/2016/01/22/house-speaker-taylor-barras-shortcuts/79201924/|title=House Speaker Taylor Barras: No shortcuts|author=[[Greg Hilburn]]|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|date=January 22, 2016|accessdate=January 23, 2016}}</ref>

==Political biography==

==Political biography==

In 2015, Barras won reelection without opposition to his third House term.

In 2015, Barras won reelection without opposition to his third House term.

In 2018, Speaker Barras, who has been described as "low-key" and "genial",  obtained House passage of his two high-priority bills, one sought by [[Uber]] and Lyft and the other by Harrah's New Orleans casino. Both measures died in the state Senate, under the leadership of the [[Moderate Republican]] [[John Alario]] of Jefferson Parish, a former Democrat associated with former Governor [[Edwin Edwards]]. Beginning on June 18, 2018, Barras presided over the seventh special legislative session of the John Bel Edwards administration. At issue is the pending renewal of one-third or one-half of a one-cent [[sales tax]] increase approved in 2016 and set for expiration. Edwards vetoed the one-third tax and then called another special session to push for the one-half cent tax, which Barras has opposed. A supermajority of seventy state representatives is required for passage of tax increases in Louisiana. Edwards lashed out at Barras by vetoing eight infrastructure projects in Iberia Parish, measures which had gained legislative approval. Edwards said that he would cut scholarships in the popular Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) by 30 percent if the one-half cent tax is again rejected.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/legislature/article_1db93dde-70b2-11e8-9e0b-9b76f61c0270.html|title=House Speaker Barras' leadership will be tested once again in upcoming special session|author=Tyler Bridges|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=June 17, 2018|accessdate=June 18, 2018}}</ref> Shortly after holding firm on tax increases, Barras reversed himself to support the Edwards-backed revenue package with retains .45 percent of the temporary one-cent sales tax. Barras' moved signaled to wavering Republican that they could support the package without controversy.<ref>''[[Moon Griffon|The Moon Griffon Show]]'', June 25, 2018.</ref>

In 2018, Speaker Barras, who has been described as "low-key" and "genial," obtained House passage of his two high-priority bills, one sought by [[Uber]] and Lyft and the other by Harrah's New Orleans casino. Both measures died in the state Senate, under the leadership of the [[Moderate Republican]] [[John Alario]] of Jefferson Parish, a former Democrat associated with former Governor [[Edwin Edwards]]. Beginning on June 18, 2018, Barras presided over the seventh special legislative session of the John Bel Edwards administration. At issue is the pending renewal of one-third or one-half of a one-cent [[sales tax]] increase approved in 2016 and set for expiration. Edwards vetoed the one-third tax and then called another special session to push for the one-half cent tax, which Barras has opposed. A supermajority of seventy state representatives is required for passage of tax increases in Louisiana. Edwards lashed out at Barras by vetoing eight infrastructure projects in Iberia Parish, measures which had gained legislative approval. Edwards said that he would cut scholarships in the popular Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) by 30 percent if the one-half cent tax is again rejected.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/legislature/article_1db93dde-70b2-11e8-9e0b-9b76f61c0270.html|title=House Speaker Barras' leadership will be tested once again in upcoming special session|author=Tyler Bridges|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=June 17, 2018|accessdate=June 18, 2018}}</ref> Shortly after holding firm on tax increases, Barras reversed himself to support the Edwards-backed revenue package with retains .45 percent of the temporary one-cent sales tax. Barras' moved signaled to wavering Republican that they could support the package without controversy.<ref>''[[Moon Griffon|The Moon Griffon Show]]'', June 25, 2018.</ref>

 

==References==

==References==