Louisiana Democrats taking stock after hitting 'rock bottom'

BY JESSICA WILLIAMS | Capitol News Bureau Editor ​ ​ ​

Dems in recovery: Democrats are taking stock after an election cycle that left them 'at rock bottom,' in the words of one party loyalist, Tyler Bridges reports.  The party's misfortunes come amid internal rifts, though several Democrats have suggested paths forward. 

Scalise vs. Graves: House Majority Leader Steve Scalise has suggested that U.S. Rep. Garret Graves helped undercut his recent bid to be House Speaker, Gordon Russell reports. Scalise hinted last week that Graves spread rumors that Scalise's cancer diagnosis was more serious than it was. 

Insurance woes: Since successive storms threw the state's property insurance market into crisis, the Ascension Parish school system has paid twice as much for half its normal amount of insurance coverage, David Mitchell reports. Other school systems also say their premiums have shot up.