Why so few women among La. state lawmakers?

Posted on April 9, 2017April 16, 2017 by manshipxgr

XGR Women lawmakers scarce 1 — Rep. Julie Stokes, R-Kenner, speaks on the House floor earlier this year during a special legislative session on the state’s financial troubles. Photo by Sarah Gamard.

By Sarah Gamard

BATON ROUGE –- The National Conference of State Legislatures’ list of states ranked by percentage of women in the state legislature shows Louisiana has improved to 44th place after being dead last in 2015.

That year, Louisiana had 13 women in the House and four in the Senate. In 2016, those numbers had increased to 17 and five, respectively. The 22 women represent 15 percent of the total delegates.

Read the story in houmatoday.com/The Courier