Tie Vote Stalls Bill To Protect Confederate Monuments

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A second effort aimed at protecting Louisiana's Confederate monuments has failed to draw enough support to advance in the state House.

Rep. Thomas Carmody, a Shreveport Republican, says his proposal to preserve "public memory" would create a state board with the power to review monument removal. The House municipal affairs committee stalled the measure in a 7-7 vote Thursday.

The panel's tie keeps the full House from weighing in on New Orleans' December vote to remove city Confederate monuments, including one of Gen. Robert E. Lee.

Sen. Beth Mizell, a Franklinton Republican, sponsored a similar measure to protect the monuments, but it was rejected by a Senate committee.

Carmody could choose to bring the bill back up and says he'll assess over the weekend.

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House Bill 944: www.legis.la.gov