Changes

Cortez's early votes in the legislature were successful measures to restrict gifts to elected officials, banning public funds for human cloning, and prohibiting the use of cell phones while driving. He opposed the "Anti-Bullying" bill, which the state House rejected in April 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=93829|title=Page Cortez: The Voter's Self Defense System|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=November 30, 2019}}</ref> Cortez supported a failed measure in 2008 which would have made it easier for juvenile offenders who commit heinous crimes to become eligible for [[parole]], a position counter to his ally Robideaux.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://conservativecajun.blogspot.com/|title=The Conservative Cajun|publisher=conservativecajun.blogspot.com|accessdate=February 16, 2018; no longer accessible}}</ref> However, Cortez played an instrumental role in helping victims' rights supporters to defeat the same legislation in committee in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://conservativecajun.blogspot.com//2009/05/victims-rights-upheld-in-committee.html/|title=The Conservative Cajun|accessdate=February 16, 2018; no longer accessible}}</ref>​

Cortez's early votes in the legislature were successful measures to restrict gifts to elected officials, banning public funds for human cloning, and prohibiting the use of cell phones while driving. He opposed the "Anti-Bullying" bill, which the state House rejected in April 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=93829|title=Page Cortez: The Voter's Self Defense System|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=November 30, 2019}}</ref> Cortez supported a failed measure in 2008 which would have made it easier for juvenile offenders who commit heinous crimes to become eligible for [[parole]], a position counter to his ally Robideaux.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://conservativecajun.blogspot.com/|title=The Conservative Cajun|publisher=conservativecajun.blogspot.com|accessdate=February 16, 2018; no longer accessible}}</ref> However, Cortez played an instrumental role in helping victims' rights supporters to defeat the same legislation in committee in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://conservativecajun.blogspot.com//2009/05/victims-rights-upheld-in-committee.html/|title=The Conservative Cajun|accessdate=February 16, 2018; no longer accessible}}</ref>​

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When he moved up to the Senate, Cortez was succeeded in the House in 2012 by Stuart James Bishop (born 1975),  a Lafayette businessman without previous political experience. Bishop also ran unopposed in his House primary, as did a third Republican, former state Representative [[Ronnie Johns]], a Moderate Republican from Sulphur in Calcasieu Parish near [[Lake Charles]], who succeeded the term-limited Willie Landry Mount (female) in the District 27 Senate seat.<ref>"Many La. incumbents get a free pass," ''[[Alexandria Town Talk]]'' September 9, 2011.</ref>​

When he moved up to the Senate, Cortez was succeeded in the House in 2012 by Stuart James Bishop (born 1975),  a Lafayette businessman without previous political experience. Bishop also ran unopposed in his House primary, as did a third Republican, former state Representative [[Ronnie Johns]], a Moderate Republican from Sulphur in Calcasieu Parish near [[Lake Charles]], who succeeded the term-limited Willie Landry Mount (female) in the District 27 Senate seat.<ref>"Many La. incumbents get a free pass," ''[[Alexandria Town Talk]]'' September 9, 2011.</ref>​

In 2022, Cortez joined fellow state Senator [[Barrow Peack]] in endorsing their colleage, Democrat [[Greg Tarver]] in the December 13 runoff election for mayor of Shreveport. [[Radio]] commentator [[Moon Griffon]] questioned why nominal Republicans permit the selection of more liberal Republicans like Cortez to legislative leadership positio.ns<ref>''[[Moon Griffon|The Moon Griffon Show]],  

In 2022, Cortez joined fellow state Senator [[Barrow Peacock]] in endorsing their colleague, Democrat [[Greg Tarver]] in the December 13 runoff election for mayor of Shreveport against the Republican Tom Arceneaux. [[Radio]] commentator [[Moon Griffon]] questioned why nominal Republicans permit the selection of more liberal members of their own party, such as Cortez, to positions of legislative leadership.<ref>''[[Moon Griffon|The Moon Griffon Show]],  

December 5, 2022.</ref>

December 5, 2022.</ref>