SCALISE: When Eric Holder, other Dems call for violence, that's a direct threat to our democracy

Photo source: Twitter

Photo source: Twitter

As a survivor of a politically motivated attack, it is tragic to think this is an acceptable state of political discourse in our country. I refuse to stand for this and I will continue to call for an end to it. A healthy, strong democracy is not possible if anyone lives in fear of expressing their views.

If this is going to stop, it must start with Democratic leaders, who need to condemn, rather than promote these dangerous calls to action.

Read more: Rep. Steve Scalise: When Eric Holder, other Dems call for violence, that's a direct threat to our democracy

Posted on October 11, 2018 and filed under Democrats, Steve Scalise.

Corps of Engineers Reform Bill Headed to White House

Photo source: Wikipedia 

Photo source: Wikipedia 

WASHINGTON, DC – Landmark legislation produced under the leadership of House Water Resources Subcommittee Chairman Garret Graves (South Louisiana) to reform the U.S. Corps of Engineers will be signed into law this week. The America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018, which unanimously passed the U.S. House of Representatives on September 13, 2018, will be voted on today in the U.S. Senate, and the president is expected to sign the bill into law later this week.

This is the first Corps reform bill produced with Graves serving as chairman over the House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over the Corps of Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies. 

“On our current trajectory, the Corps will finish its $100 billion of backlogged, federally authorized projects approximately never,” said Graves. “We have to stop pushing paper and start turning dirt. Fundamental changes are needed, and this bill begins moving us in that direction.”

The America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (AWIA)is the latest in a portfolio of legislative achievements that Graves has been implementing as part of his broader strategy to replace the federal government’s wasteful spending of billions of dollars after disasters with smart, pre-disaster investments that better prepare and protect our communities at a much lower cost to taxpayers. Other strategy components include the Disaster Reform and Recovery Act, which was signed into law last Friday; full funding for the Comite flood protection, West Shore hurricane protection and other important projects announced in July; and Graves’ bill to increase offshore energy revenue sharing funding that passed through the Natural Resources Committee in September. AIWA paves the way for major reforms of how the nation plans, designs, constructs and funds flood control, hurricane protection, navigation, coastal/ecosystem restoration and other projects. 

“This bill is about delivering proactive solutions so that communities actually benefit from projects instead of having to endure decades of studies and inaction,” added Graves.

AIWA focuses on four major themes:

·Cutting the red-tape and bureaucracy associated with Corps of Engineers’ projects

·Preventing redundancies and excessive costs

·Providing greater project roles to state and local governments

·Changing the Corps of Engineers focus from process and procedure to project completion

Provisions inserted in the House and final bill by Graves include:

·Providing the State of Louisiana an estimated $500,000,000 in credit for coastal restoration and other projects in the state. This credit can be used by the state in lieu of cash cost shares required by the state.

·Beginning a process to transition the Corps of Engineers’ mission to a civilian infrastructure agency where it can be a top agency priority.

·Forcing the Corps to disclose internal costs and expenses.

·Requiring a reanalysis of the Old River Control Structure in Louisiana to end the static 70% Mississippi River, 30% Atchafalaya River split of flow. Under the new model, the Corps would migrate toward a dynamic operations plan to maximize navigation, flood control, coastal restoration and other objectives.

·Allowing the state and levee districts to construct authorized Corps projects without re-permitting environmental and other project considerations.

·Eliminating the requirement that the state and levee districts go through a duplicative regulatory and permitting process when building authorized projects without the Corps of Engineers.

Graves continued: “There are literally tens of billions of dollars in authorized Corps of Engineers projects in Louisiana. If we are going to restore our coast and protect our communities, we must change the way these projects are developed and delivered.”

Other Louisiana-centric provisions include (provision sponsors):

·Preventing the purchase of property from private landowners when projects can be constructed using an easement, donation or other less expensive means (Higgins/Graves)

·Expanding upon opportunities to use material dredged from rivers and bayous for coastal restoration (Higgins/Graves)

·Expediting Feasibility Studies and Advancing Project Design:

oJ. Bennett Johnston Waterway project improvements (Abraham/Johnson)

oNorthshore flood risk reduction (Scalise/Cassidy/Kennedy)

oOuachita-Black Rivers navigation improvements (Abraham/Cassidy/Kennedy)

oBaptist’s Collette Bayou channel deepening (Scalise/Cassidy/Kennedy)

oHouma Navigation Canal Deepening (Scalise/Graves/Cassidy/Kennedy)

oExtend the construction deadline for a hydropower facility on the J. Bennett Johnston Waterway (Abraham/Johnson)

“This bill is good for our infrastructure, good for jobs, and good for America,”added Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA).

 

Graves recently secured $3,000,000,000 in new federal funding from five sources to fully fund numerous decades-stalled Corps of Engineers projects in Louisiana. This bill complements those efforts, which will together produce better protection for our homes, communities and businesses; better federal performance; and cost savings to the American people.

Posted on October 10, 2018 and filed under Garrett Graves, Louisiana.

MOST PLAQUEMINES PARISH VOTERS OPPOSE PARISH’S OIL AND GAS LAWSUIT; 99% SAY INDUSTRY IS CRITICAL TO ECONOMY

Photo source: GrowLACoalition Twitter

Photo source: GrowLACoalition Twitter

Plaquemines Parish residents are speaking loud and clear: they stand with the oil and gas industry and want to see it continue to play a vital role in their community and their future. The oil and gas industry provides more than 1,500 jobs in Plaquemines Parish with a $264 million payroll, paying $20 million annually in parish property taxes.

Read more: MOST PLAQUEMINES PARISH VOTERS OPPOSE PARISH’S OIL AND GAS LAWSUIT; 99% SAY INDUSTRY IS CRITICAL TO ECONOMY

Posted on October 10, 2018 and filed under Louisiana, Oil and Gas.

LANDRY: Allowing Louisianans To Make Their Own Healthcare Choices

Opinion by Jeff Landry, Attorney General of Louisiana

Source: Parish News Acadiana

Source: Parish News Acadiana

Recently, I participated in a national TV interview on CNN regarding an important lawsuit. I joined this lawsuit with 17 other Attorneys General and two Governors on the legality of the Affordable Care Act. It is an important topic.

Unfortunately, while our lawsuit is focused solely on the rule of law, the television producers used my time on air in a farcical attempt just to attack the strategy and get a soundbite. Though I anticipated some sky-is-falling hysteria that has become a staple of extremists when discussing the ACA, I felt strongly someone needed to get the truth to CNN’s flailing audience.

That truth is the Republican state officials who signed onto this suit are resolved in our efforts to fight unconstitutional policies, and we understand that the remains of the unconstitutional ACA need to be dismantled before their inevitable collapse does any further damage to families and businesses.

Rising costs, undesirable plans, and declining choices have been the status quo since the 2,300-page ACA was forced onto the American people. While a fortunate few in Louisiana may finally see, for the first time since 2011, less painful premium hikes – we know something different must be done to reduce the crippling financial burdens and to ensure our people can once again have the freedom to choose their own doctors.

But make no mistake about it: those involved in the lawsuit are not attacking sound law based on its policy failures. Policy decisions are for the Legislative Branch, which is something the Governor and his allies had to learn the hard way when I became Attorney General.

The ACA is unconstitutional. When the Supreme Court ruled on NFIB v. Sebelius – they found the individual mandate unlawful on its own, but legally permissible if attached to the federal government’s taxing authority. And since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 has been signed into law, the tax penalty has been removed and the mandate now stands alone.

The hoops that the Supreme Court jumped through to uphold the individual mandate telegraphed the true extent of the ACA’s constitutional problems. Now that those hoops have been removed, the rule of law must prevail and the ACA must fall. This should be welcomed by all who cherish the Constitution and support our great republic.

If our lawsuit is successful and the ACA is removed from the books, states will be allowed to implement their own healthcare plans for their own citizens. Maine may be able to employ its previously preempted framework; Nebraska may realize the full potential of its direct primary care option for state workers; and most importantly, Louisiana – through our Legislature – would be free to enact rules and restrictions without fear of conflict pre-emption. In essence, Louisiana could use a system that works for Louisiana.

While I, like the overwhelming majority of my fellow Republicans, believe those with pre-existing conditions should be protected; I know that decision is up to our Legislature. If our lawsuit is successful, our own Legislature will craft future regulations and policies. Our own Louisiana House and Senate can work on better solutions to our healthcare problems, right here in our State. I stand ready to assist them.

As I have done since filing the lawsuit in February, I will continue discussions with our legislators. And as I have always done, I will keep fighting against government overreach and keep doing all that I legally can to make Louisiana an even better place to live, work, and raise our families.

Jeff Landry is the Attorney General of Louisiana. Originally from St. Martinsville, General Landry holds a Law Degree from Loyola University, he is a veteran of Desert Storm, and a former member of the United States House of Representatives.  www.agjefflandry.com

Source: Allowing Louisianans To Make Their Own Healthcare Choices


Posted on October 5, 2018 and filed under Heathcare, Jeff Landry, Louisiana.

Sen. Bill Cassidy Handles Another Liberal Regarding Kavanaugh

Photo source: Long Room

Photo source: Long Room

As captured in the below video, another liberal is in the face of a conservative member of the US Senate, this time our own, Sen. Bill Cassidy.

However, rather than cowering like Jeff Flake did, in the video below, Sen. Cassidy bravely defended his decision to support Kavanaugh and defended the judge’s good name, which has been smeared throughout this process by the Democrats.

Posted on October 4, 2018 and filed under Bill Cassidy, Brett Kavanaugh, Louisiana.

Sportsman’s Paradise Under Attack

Photo source: Faces of Lawsuit Abuse

Photo source: Faces of Lawsuit Abuse

This video highlights the damaging effects of unfounded coastal erosion lawsuits on citizens who live – and make their living – along our Louisiana waterways. Our Sportsman’s Paradise is under attack by the  trial lawyers pursuing  these lawsuits. Almost anyone is a target – from fishermen and boat operators to landowners. These suits have prompted many of private landowners to cut off public access to waterways and channels over fear of litigation. Earlier this year, a bill that would have opened up closed waters for public access and navigation failed in the Legislature, and the largest fishing organization in the world announced it would no longer host Bassmaster tournaments here.  

Enough is enough. We must defend our way of life in Louisiana.

Read more: Sportsman’s Paradise under attack

Posted on October 3, 2018 and filed under Louisiana.

TRUMP: USMCA Deal "Will Make North America a Haven For Medical Innovation And Development"

President Trump says. "We want drugs to be made here...we don't like getting them from foreign countries, we don't know what is happening with those drugs"

Posted on October 2, 2018 and filed under Drugs, Donald Trump.

HIGGINS: Making Tax Cuts Permanent

Photo source: FreedomWorks

Photo source: FreedomWorks

The following was provided by Congressmen Clay Higgins’ office concerning tax cuts. 

Friends -

I want to give you a quick update on Tax Reform 2.0, which passed through the U.S. House of Representatives last week. This includes three bills that make President Trump's tax cuts permanent, expands savings options for American families, and encourages small business innovation. This is a big win for all Americans.

Since passing historic tax cuts last year, we have seen a reignited American economy, millions of new jobs created, record low unemployment, bonuses, pay increases, and new investments across the country. American workers now keep more of their money, and Tax Reform 2.0 makes those tax cuts permanent.

According to the nonpartisan Tax Foundation, locking in tax cuts for individuals and small businesses will create 1.5 million new jobs, boost wages by 0.9%, and increase long-run GDP growth by 2.2%. We're going to keep growing our economy and producing wins for American workers.

Here are some of the specific changes included in Tax Reform 2.0 that will benefit your family:

Protecting Middle-Class Tax Cuts

  • Makes lower tax rates permanent for individual filers
  • Locks in the enhanced Child Tax Credit
  • Creates a Paid Family Leave Tax Credit

Promoting Family Savings

  • Allows small businesses to join together to create 401(k) plans to their workers
  • Eliminates the age limit on IRA contributions
  • Expands 529 Education savings accounts, allowing them to be used for apprenticeship fees, homeschooling costs, and paying off student debt
  • Allows families to access retirement accounts without penalty when welcoming a new child by birth or adoption
  • Creates a new Universal Savings Account (USA) to offer a flexible savings tool for families to use at any time

Encouraging Small Business Innovation

  • Allows new small businesses to write off more of their initial start-up costs
  • Expands access to research & development credits for start-up businesses

These reforms build on the successes of the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act and major regulatory reform that has reignited our economy. We continue to push for conservative, pro-growth policies that create jobs and grow the economy. As Tax Reform 2.0 heads to the Senate, I am hopeful that it will be considered and passed quickly.

Posted on October 2, 2018 and filed under Taxes, Clay Higgins.

Administration Easing Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling Rules

Photo source: Rigzone

Photo source: Rigzone

A 48-page notice from the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement published Friday in the Federal Register says the agency “has become aware that certain provisions in that rulemaking created potentially unduly burdensome requirements for oil and natural gas production operators … without meaningfully increasing safety of the workers or protection of the environment.”

An offshore drilling industry group said it’s a positive step.

Read more:  Administration easing offshore oil and gas drilling rules

Posted on September 29, 2018 and filed under Donald Trump, Oil and Gas, Republicans.

Louisiana Right to Life: Pro-Life Leaders Celebrate Rulingon Admitting Privileges Law

IMG_4221.JPG

For Immediate Release

Sept. 26, 2018
Contact: Benjamin Clapper

504-228-4273

bclapper@prolifelouisiana.org


Today, a federal appeals court panel ruled that a 2014 Louisiana law requiring abortion providers to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital passes constitutional muster.
The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals three-judge panel recognized a similar law struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2016, but by a 2-1 decision they said the Louisiana Unsafe Abortion Protection Act (Act 620) does not impose the same "substantial burden" on women as the Texas law.
Judges Smith and Clement analyzed the law's impact on Louisiana, separating it from the Texas-based facts presented in the Supreme Court's 2016 Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt decision.


The ruling reverses the 2017 ruling of federal district court Judge John deGravelles, who blocked the law.


"Louisiana Right to Life celebrates today’s 5th Circuit decision upholding Louisiana’s Unsafe Abortion Protection Act as a victory for women’s health and safety," said Benjamin Clapper, Executive Director of Louisiana Right to Life. "Ever since we began working with State Rep. Katrina Jackson (D-Monroe) to introduce HB 388 in 2014, the goal of requiring abortion providers to have admitting privileges at local hospitals was always about protecting women by ensuring the continuity of care in cases of emergency. Our law should never create special loopholes so that abortion facilities can operate in a sub-standard manner. These facilities and their physicians should be held to the same standard as all outpatient surgical facilities.


"Louisiana Right to Life commends Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry and Solicitor General Elizabeth Murrill for their persistent leadership in defending Louisiana's bipartisan 2014 law, especially in the face of other states choosing to dismiss their defense of similar admitting privileges laws."
Dorinda Bordlee, Senior Counsel of Bioethics Defense Fund, added, "In light of a U.S. Supreme Court opinion that unjustly struck down a similar Texas admitting privileges law, today’s 5th Circuit ruling is a huge win. The abortion industry has failed in its attempt to use the federal courts to undermine customary health standards for women who are physically injured by the known medical risks of abortion, such as uterine puncture or cervical tearing. This pro-woman, pro-life legislation recognizes the reality that abortion endangers the lives of both women and children."

Posted on September 27, 2018 and filed under Louisiana, Abortion.

Is 2020 the Year the Oilfield Turns Around?

One Acadiana hosted "An Expert's Perspective," an event focused on the economic growth of Acadiana. 

Dr. Loren Scott was the keynote speaker of the event. He spent the last three decades focused on economic matters. Dr. Scott is the President of Loren c. Scott & Associates, Inc, a 34-year old economic consulting firm whose clients include such large national firms as BP, Entergy, ExxonMobil, Nucor, Sasol, Chespeake Energy, and a diversity of others.

Read more: Economic consultant predicts 2020 the comeback year for oil and gas industry in Acadiana

Posted on September 26, 2018 and filed under Louisiana, Oil and Gas.

Citizens for Louisiana Job Creators: AG Jeff Landry: Red River Waterway Appointment Unlawful

Photo source: NOLA.com

Photo source: NOLA.com

This week, Attorney General Jeff Landry exposed Governor Edwards' backroom deal when he appointed his friend, Michael DeVille, to the Red River Waterway Commission.

Based on the opinion released Wednesday by the Louisiana Department of Justice, which was requested by the Caddo Levee District and state Senators Greg Tarver and Barrow Peacock, the pertaining law states that the governor shall appoint from a list of nominees. Carolyn Prator, wife of Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator, was unanimously nominated by the entities responsible for providing the Governor with names to select from for the appointment. Michael DeVille was not a nominee.

Governor Edwards refusal to follow the law is the latest move by the governor to punish his adversaries as it has been widely reported that Governor Edwards refusal to appoint Mrs. Prator is due to the fact that she is the wife of Sheriff Prator who has publicly criticized the Governor's "criminal justice reform" bills that let criminals out of jail every month. 

It has become apparent in the 33 months since John Bel Edwards took office, that the checks and balances the Landry Justice Department provides is needed. 

Thank you General Landry for holding the Edwards Administration accountable.
ICYMI AG Landry TV Clip here: https://www.ksla.com/2018/09/19/la-ag-jeff-landry-make-announcement-shreveport/

Copyright © 2018 Citizens for Louisiana Job Creators, All rights reserved.

Posted on September 20, 2018 and filed under Louisiana, John Bel Edwards, Jeff Landry.

Kennedy comments on Kavanaugh allegation

Photo source: The Advocate

Photo source: The Advocate

“The confirmation process is over. It’s over! I mean, we are violating senate protocol to do this, and precedent. But we were unanimous in thinking that we ought to,” Kennedy said.

The vote was scheduled for Thursday, but Ford’s accusations — that Kavanaugh drunkenly pinned her down and molested her during a high-school party more than three decades ago — delayed the timeline. Kennedy said he’s prepared to move forward with a scheduled public hearing Monday about Ford’s accusations, although she’s now instead requested the FBI look into her claims before she testifies publicly.

Read more: Kennedy comments on Kavanaugh allegation

Posted on September 20, 2018 and filed under John Kennedy.

GOP Lawmaker Thinks Congress Should Be Subjected To Random Drug Testing Too

Photo source: Yahoo

Photo source: Yahoo

Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) introduced a resolution last week requiring senators and representatives to undergo random drug tests once every term.

“Elected officials in Washington, D.C. should be subject to the same kind of random drug screenings that blue-collar, working-class Americans have to endure,” Higgins said in a statement.

“Congress shouldn’t get to live by a different set of rules,” he said. “This effort is about maintaining accountability and ensuring sober service to We, the People.”

Read more: GOP Lawmaker Thinks Congress Should Be Subjected To Random Drug Testing Too

Posted on September 17, 2018 and filed under Clay Higgins, Louisiana.

Canada must guard against unrestricted drug exports to the US

Photo source: Consumer Reports

Photo source: Consumer Reports

The notion of importing cheaper drugs from Canada is nothing new in American politics. In 2003, Congress passed the underlying legal framework to permit Canadian drug imports, and it subsists in American law today. Nor is it unique to one side of the political spectrum. Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders famously introduced “import from Canada” legislation as a solution to US drug woes, while similar bipartisan proposals have attracted prominent Republicans like John McCain.

Polls have shown a majority of Americans, regardless of party affiliation, support the idea. It has also caught on at the state level, with multiple states exploring the possibility of creating their own Canadian drug importation programs under the existing legal framework. Vermont became the first state to enact such a law earlier this year.

Read more: Canada must guard against unrestricted drug exports to the US

Posted on September 17, 2018 and filed under Drugs.

KENNEDY: Kavanaugh Hearings an “Intergalactic Freak Show”

Photo source: Daily Wire

Photo source: Daily Wire

Sen. John Kennedy called the confirmation hearings for Judge Brett Kavanaugh “an intergalactic freak show” and said he was embarrassed for Congress by the accusations of sexual misconduct leveled at the Supreme Court nominee.

 “So far, it’s pretty much been an intergalactic freak show,” Kennedy, R-La., told Chris Wallace on “Fox News Sunday.” “Most Americans are looking at this – most mainstream Americans – and they’re thinking that Congress has hit rock bottom and started to dig.”

Read more:  Kavanaugh confirmation process has been an ‘intergalactic freak show’, Sen. Kennedy says

Posted on September 16, 2018 and filed under Louisiana, John Kennedy.

Graves Advances Bill to Increase Louisiana’s Energy Revenues, Funding for Coastal Restoration

Photo source: Twitter

Photo source: Twitter

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Garret Graves (R – South Louisiana) advanced legislation out of the House Committee on Natural Resources today that would increase the share of offshore energy revenues for Gulf Coast states.  Graves’ bill would provide a substantial increase in funding for Louisiana’s coastal restoration and flood protection projects. 

“After working on this for 20 years I can tell you:  what happened today is historic,” said Graves. “Moving this bill is a big deal and has enormous implications for South Louisiana.”  

Graves’ H.R. 6771 amends the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act 2006 (GOMESA) to bring Gulf offshore energy revenue sharing in line with levels that onshore energy producing states enjoy – an effort long pursued by Louisiana’s congressional delegation. The bill was considered today in conjunction with the Restore Our Parks and Public Lands Act, which proposed using Gulf offshore energy revenues to address the maintenance backlog of the National Park Service and other agencies across the country.

“Louisiana is battling the largest historical, ongoing and prospective loss of coastal wetlands we’ve ever seen, and it’s a national crisis. Diverting Louisiana’s energy revenues away from efforts to improve the resiliency of the people, communities and ecosystems responsible for generating the resources in the first place is a fundamentally flawed approach to addressing the maintenance backlog in national parks,” said Graves. “Our bill ensures that these increased revenues will be committed to projects that restore the coast, protect our coastal communities from hurricanes and other disaster and, ultimately, reduce our nation’s outrageous disaster response costs.”

For nearly a century federal law has discriminated against coastal energy producing states. While states producing energy onshore federal lands get to retain 50 percent of the energy revenues, coastal states have received a small fraction. H.R. 6771 solves this problem. 

Energy production in the Gulf of Mexico accounts for 18% of total U.S. crude oil production and 4% of total U.S. dry production of natural gas. In 2016 alone, this production generated $2.7 billion in royalty revenue for the U.S. Treasury. Of that amount, only 0.407% ($11 million) was given back to those states through revenue sharing programs.

Click the image below to watch a clip from today’s markup. View the markup in its entirety here.

Posted on September 13, 2018 and filed under Garrett Graves, Louisiana, Oil and Gas.