Governor vetoes bill targeting free speech regulation on college campuses
BY WILL SENTELL | wsentell@theadvocate.com
A bill touted as a way to prevent the disruption of campus speakers was vetoed Monday by Gov. John Bel Edwards.
The bill would have required management boards for LSU, Southern University and other schools to spell out policies aimed at protecting campus speech, “including without limitation and opinions they (students) find unwelcome, disagreeable or even deeply offensive.”
Schools would be required to outline free speech rights during freshman orientation.
In his veto message, the governor said the legislation is not needed.
“This bill is a solution in search of a problem that creates a long, detailed structure for the evaluation of the freedom of expression on college campuses,” Edwards said.
Harris said the bill stemmed in part from the disruption of conservative speakers at the University of California at Berkeley and elsewhere.
Lincoln Parish News Online 
06/27/2017 at 1:38 pm |
Another reason I did not vote for him (governor).
06/27/2017 at 9:20 pm |
West Point honor code means nothing to the governor because he has no honor. He is all democrat.
06/27/2017 at 9:40 pm |
JBE looks and acts like the sleazebag he is.
07/01/2017 at 3:01 am |
I think it’s great that the Governor vetoed this. The US Constitution defines free speech. Any law that Louisiana could or would pass would only be additional job security for attorneys and do nothing to actually protect speech in our state.
07/01/2017 at 5:30 am |
If you think the Edwards vetoed because of the constitution, you are dreaming. How well has the constitution protected conservative speech on many college campuses?
07/02/2017 at 3:38 am |
How well would this law really protect free speech? Federal law trumps the state law. Anything the state puts into place is unnecessary (considering the 1st Amendment) and burdensome. Why create legislation that has no real teeth, is burdensome to our universities (there are real costs to create and implement), and would place the burden of protecting free speech on the state instead of the federal government (which is where the burden lies).
I’m no Edwards fanboy, but I do believe it is important to think about the broader picture. I will say if you like the law you should contact your US representatives and senators as the federal level is where a law like this would belong.
07/01/2017 at 8:32 pm |
Edwards is showing his true colors now,he will be a one term governor I hope.
07/02/2017 at 9:56 am |
You missed the point. I do not really care about this law. I think edwards is like most demos who will not protect free speech if it is not pc.