"Regardless of where the truth may lay"

Pearson Cross explains why the governor is in deep doo doo.

Edwards has been vocal in where he thinks the breakdown is happening when trying to address the state's chronic budget issues: House Republican leaders, particularly Barras, House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry and House GOP Caucus Chairman Lance Harris.

But Cross said that message might not be very effective in a state that tends to vote overwhelmingly for Republicans.

"I don't think that's a narrative that at the end of the day is going to re-elect him, and I don't think that's a narrative that is going to address Louisiana's budget problems," Cross said. "Regardless of where truth may lay in there."

Cross said consistently pointing to the House Republicans can come across as "defeatist."

"It's fine if you've got voting majorities or if you have an electorate that looks like it could kick all the Republicans out of office in the next election," he said. "There's no indication that's likely to happen."

Maybe this doesn't sound fair. But the Republicans were always going to be the "No" caucus throughout this administration.  That is their policy strategy and their political strategy. They have little interest in seeing the budget stabilized and zero interest in helping the governor succeed. Everybody knows this. It's John Bel's job to beat them or at least corner them into delivering something besides one disaster after another.  Voters are going to hold him accountable "regardless of where the truth may lay" about who acted in good faith. Standing around being sad about that isn't going to get him re-elected.