Louisiana Senate Finance chairman sent to hospital with COVID-19 symptoms

Sen. Bodi White, R-Central, was transported to a New Orleans hospital Monday with symptoms of COVID-19 following spinal surgery he underwent in July. He is the chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee, which helps build the state’s spending plan each year.

“The decision to transport Senator White was made out of an abundance of caution and to allow him to be near his surgical team,” said Lionel Rainey, a spokesman for Republicans in the Legislature. “As of now, he is recovering well and in good spirits.”

The Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget, of which White is a leader, is scheduled to meet next week, but the committee’s votes frequently take place without all the members present. 

White’s work isn’t expected to pick up until early next year, when the governor’s annual budget proposal is presented to lawmakers. He was first elected to Legislature as a state representative in 2003.

Louisiana has seen two high-profile politicians die from COVID-19. The virus killed Congressman-elect Luke Letlow in December 2020 and state Rep. Reggie Bagala in April 2020. State Treasurer John Schroder was also hospitalized with COVID-19 and fully recovered from his illness.