The Nation - News from Nov. 12, 1987

Lame duck Louisiana Gov. Edwin W. Edwards agreed to a request by Gov.-elect Buddy Roemer to put Roemer in charge of state operations until his inauguration March 14. But shortly after Edwards agreed to the request, Roemer, a Democratic representative, said he realized that taking the job would require him to resign from Congress, a move that would deny the state one vote in upcoming budget questions and could lead to a special election at a cost of more than $300,000. Louisiana law prohibits Roemer from being interim commissioner while serving in Congress, even if he refused payment for the second job. Roemer said he would decide over the weekend whether he would take the job or appoint a surrogate. He said he would consider former Rep. Jim Jones (D-Okla.) as a candidate for the interim commissioner’s job. The commissioner does not have to be from Louisiana because the position is an appointed one.