Gallot Upset With Tucker For Hiring GOP Friendly Law Firm

Democratic state legislators are upset Republican House Speaker Jim Tucker hired a law firm with ties to the national GOP to assist in getting Louisiana's House redistricting plan approved by the U.S. Department of Justice. The head of the House redistricting committee, Ruston Rep. Rick Gallot, calls it a conflict of interest. But Tucker told the Associated Press that the DC based law firm has expertise needed to conduct this difficult legal work. Gallot says he's completely surprised Tucker hired a firm with GOP connections. Gallot and other democrats are upset because this law firm gave the republican delegation in the House advice about redistricting. (The state senate is using its own staff in receiving federal approval for its redistricting plan.)