‘LaPolitics’: Why Cleo Fields is confident he’ll be keeping his seat

—FIELDS CONFIDENT IN KEEPING SEAT: The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on Monday in a case that will determine the future of Louisiana’s congressional map. The outcome of Louisiana v. Callais also could determine how federal laws are applied to redistricting processes nationwide. LaPolitics caught up with Congressman Cleo Fields, who represents the redrawn 6th District that could be thrown out. Fields, however, likes his position. 

“I’m very confident,” the congressman says. “It’s very clear that the district wasn’t created solely based on race, which is the criteria. And I think they meet that criteria. The record is pretty clear on that … Louisiana was covered under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, which meant that it was one of the states that had a history of passing laws that would discriminate against African-Americans in the voting process. And the Louisiana Legislature that was controlled by the Republicans who decided to pass this law. And I just don’t see the Supreme Court overturning it.”

—BUDGETING TIME FOR THE BUDGET: The budget-writing House Appropriations Committee has scheduled eight pre-session meetings between next Monday and April 9. This will allow the panel to begin reviewing the budget department by department. Check out the agendas to see which department is up on which day.

—CALLING ALL TRAVEL PROS: The Louisiana Travel Association and Mississippi Tourism Association have scheduled their Leadership Forum for May 19-20 at the JW Marriott in New Orleans. The Leadership Forum is for “top executives and leadership throughout the travel industry. This educational event will provide inspiration, as well as the opportunity to build a reliable network of other industry leaders for knowledge sharing.” Register here. 

—THEY SAID IT: “Follow your heart, but take your brain with you.” —U.S. Sen. John Kennedy on his advice for colleagues when they ask him how they should vote, in an interview posted to X