Jeff Landry relates lawlessness in New Orleans to abortion policies, mayor's travel

Louisiana's Bond Commission finally advanced a flood control project for New Orleans Thursday after it had been delayed twice previously because the city's top elected officials have said they won't enforce the state's abortion ban.

Members voted 11-1 to advance a $39 million non-cash line of credit to build a power station to improve the city's sewer pump infrastructure over the objections of Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry's stand-in Angelique Freel, who also accused Republican Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser of sexism and New Orleans of being lawless.

Landry, Nungesser and Republican Treasurer John Schroder, who chairs the Bond Commission, are all expected to run for governor in 2023.

Both Nungesser and Schroder scolded Landry through Freel for politicizing a flood control project in the middle of hurricane season.

"For this Bond Commission to hold up flood protection in any form shouldn't be our position," Nungesser said. "If this was that important (Landry) should be here."

Freel fired back.

"This is the first time I've seen you at a Bond Commission meeting," Freel said to Nungesser. "When you look at this Bond Commission, it's all white men so when you see a woman up here it should be welcomed."

Nungesser's stand-in previously voted against advancing the project, as did Schroder and others who now say it's time to move forward. Nungesser said his proxy made a mistake by not voting to advance the project twice before.

"We need to quit messing around with this and go ahead and approve it," said Franklin Republican Sen. Bret Allain, chairman of the Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committees.

Freel quoted a message from Landry, who classified New Orleans as a lawless city that is on pace to be the murder capital of the nation this year.

"City officials have essentially said they don't care about our laws in direct contradiction to their oaths," Landry was quoted as saying. "What's next? They must be held accountable."

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New Orleans City Attorney Donesia D. Turner said neither Mayor LaToya Cantrell, who is facing a recall effort, nor the council has said it won't enforce the law, only that it will be "a low priority."

But the mayor, City Council, sheriff and district attorney all vowed to defy Louisiana's abortion ban in some form.

Freel even dragged Cantrell's controversial first-class travel expenses into the debate, asking Turner if she is "looking into the travel issues of the mayor."

"The mayor's travel has nothing to do with this," Turner said.

"(The mayor and other New Orleans officials) have neither the constitutional nor statutory authority to opt out of the law," Freel said.

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Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.