BATON ROUGE — Numerous attempts to push a constitutional amendment that would remove the mandatory retirement age of 70 for judges have failed in the House this week, including a last-ditch effort as the session wrapped up Thursday.

A 53-32 House vote was not enough support to allow Senate Bill 5 by Sen. Eric LaFleur, D-Ville Platte, to be considered on the floor. The bill would have allowed voters to decide whether to remove the mandatory retirement age for judges. Judges who turn 70 while in office can serve the rest of their term before having to retire.

The bill also failed to get the 70 House votes for consideration on Wednesday. It failed to garner enough votes for final passage on Monday with Reps. A.B. Franklin, D-Lake Charles, Brett Geymann, R-Moss Bluff and Bob Hensgens, R-Abbeville, opposing the measure.

The Senate overwhelmingly approved the measure May 6 with support from all Southwest Louisiana lawmakers. Rep. Walt Leger, D-New Orleans, was pushing LaFleur’s bill in the House. On the floor, he told lawmakers about how President Ronald Regan was elected to his second term at 73.

Rep. Sherman Mack, R-Livingston, opposed the measure. He said it would cost the state “money we don’t have” by holding an election.

“If you call yourself good government, I’m going to ask you to vote against this for a third time,” Mack said. Voting to have the bill considered were House Speaker Chuck Kleckley, R-Lake Charles, Mike Danahay, D-Sulphur, Dorothy Sue Hill, D-Dry Creek, and Frank Howard, R-Many.

Opposing the motion were Geymann and James Armes, D-Leesville.

Franklin, Hensgens and John Guinn, R-Jennings, were recorded as absent.

(mgnonline.com)