State GOP Rips Edwards For Fundraising Off Louisiana Flooding

Some rather pointed charges in this press release…

Louisiana residents from all races, religions and political parties have come together in a remarkable effort to recover from historic flooding that hit our state a month and a half ago. Unfortunately, Governor John Bel Edwards has continued to push his partisan agenda, too often looking to score political points for Democrats instead of reaching across the aisle.  The most recent example is the use of his time on a flood relief trip to Washington D.C. to raise money for his re-election campaign. The reception at a fancy D.C. lobbying firm, hosted by liberal former U.S. Senators Mary Landrieu, J. Bennett Johnston and John Breaux is a new low, even for John Bel Edwards.

“In what was supposed to be an official trip to Washington D.C. to work with the Louisiana congressional delegation on flood relief efforts, Governor John Bel Edwards took precious time out of his day to attend a fundraiser for his re-election campaign (which is still 3 years away).” LAGOP Executive Director Jason Doré said.  “Too often during flood relief efforts Governor John Bel Edwards has chosen to play politics and score partisan points.  The Governor should stop worrying about defending FEMA and President Obama, and focus harder on working across the aisle.”

Edwards criticized an early post-disaster trip by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump as a photo op and said that Trump should instead volunteer or make a donation. Trump brought the first widespread national attention to the flooding and recovery effort by visiting Louisiana a few days after the disaster, and made a substantial donation.

Edwards defended President Obama for not visiting the state, even though the President did come a week later.

Then, during a recent flood-related trip to Washington, Edwards held a fundraiser for his re-election campaign.  Whether Louisiana taxpayers or the Edwards campaign paid for the trip is unknown. But one can only imagine the controversy had a Republican governor done such a thing

Meanwhile, back in Louisiana, Central Mayor Jr. Shelton said his city received no supplies, water or emergency meals for several days after the flood, so he called Congressman Garret Graves for help. Governor Edwards responded by claiming that he was never made aware of the situation and that Shelton should have instead gone to the City/Parish for assistance.

Is this a thing? Well, Edwards is a politician and politicians hold fundraisers. When Bobby Jindal was the state’s governor he went around and picked up every check he could.

Of course, the Democrats would never shut up about the time Jindal spent fundraising. So it’s not like they can complain if the state GOP gives them a dose of their own medicine.

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