The Times from Shreveport, Louisiana • Page A1

ATON ROUGE New Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards continued to bask in the of that swept him into office during his inauguration here Monday and reiterated his promises to expand Medicaid, raise the minimum wage and level pay for women. here because the people of Louisiana believe we can do better and not going to let you said Edwards, who was a little known state representative from Amite before becoming the only Democratic governor in the Deep South. The first pledge expanding Medicaid through Obamacare can be done with the stroke of the new pen. promised, tomorrow I will expand Medicaid so working families can get access to health Edwards said, drawing the biggest cheer of the day But the other two promises will take a cooperative Legislature dominated by Republicans.

Earlier in the day Republicans handed Edwards his first defeat by electing state Rep. Taylor Barras, R- New Iberia, as House speaker. Edwards had lobbied for New Orleans Democrat Walt Leger to get the post. INAUGURATION DAY 56TH GOVERNOR OF LOUISIANA AP PHOTOS Above: Gov. John Bel Edwards greets the crowd after taking the oath of office on the steps of the ouisiana apitol in aton Rouge Monday.

NOT GOING TO LET YOU GREG HILBURN GANNETT LOUISIANA Left: ov. John Bel Edwards and First Lady onna walk down the steps of the apitol to take the oath of office Monday. Edwards pledges to solve fiscal crisis Informing more than 234,411 readers in print and online each week shreveporttimes.com SUBSCRIBE TODAY for as low as Call (866) 979-NEWS (6397) or visit shreveporttimes.com/FP $1.50 DAILY Pricing details, Page 2 THE TIMES BATON ROUGE The ouisiana House spurned Gov. John Bel pick be its speaker, handing the ew governor his first legislative defeat as lawmakers selected their leaders Monday at the start of the four- ear term. he majority Republican hamber voted for Rep.

Taylor Barras, a Republic an from New Iberia, to lead he House, ass erting its independence against the Democratic governor. arras was a surprise can- idate in the race who merged in the final hours before the vote. Edwards anted Democratic Rep. alt Leger of ew Orleans in the role. But GOP leaders and conservative groups pushed ack, urging Republican ouse members to select a peaker from their own party.

made history today in Louisiana, because we elect- an independent House speaker, and we will have an i ndependent House for the ext four said Rep. Lance Harris, R-Alexandria, chairman of the House GOP delegation. House rejects pick for speaker MELINDA DESLATTE ASSOCIATED PRESS Taylor Barras Walt Leger Tide wins another National Title for coach Nick Saban Alabama pulls way in second half PAGE 1D HIGH 59 34 Mostly sunny, Page 2 FORECAST Business 5A Classifieds 6B Sports 1D 6A Television 2B Viewpoint 1B.