PRESS RELEASE: CFNL Releases State-Wide Poll for Governor / Legislature

Citizens for a New Louisiana is proud to release a statewide poll conducted July 6-10, which surveyed the Governor’s race and public opinion of the State Legislature. The poll was conducted by Greg Rigamer, with Bernie Pinsonat providing political analysis.

Jeff Landry continues to dominate the field, receiving 30% of those surveyed with democrat Shawn Wilson coming in second place with 20%. All other gubernatorial candidates polled in single digits.

70% of those surveyed believe that the state legislature was irresponsible in the preparation and passing of the state budget. Only 10% felt that they acted responsibly. Furthermore, 55% think the state is heading in the wrong direction compared to 24% who think it is in the right direction.

Read more: PRESS RELEASE: CFNL Releases State-Wide Poll for Governor / Legislature

Landry Reports $9 Million Cash on Hand, $4.5 Million Raised Since April

 Historic $2 million raised in the month of June 

Lafayette, La. — Today, Jeff Landry announced that he has $9 million cash on hand with $4.5 million raised from April 8 to July 7. In June, a historically difficult time to raise money, Jeff Landry raised a record amount of over $2 million. 

“I am incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support from people across our state. Louisiana deserves a government as good as her people,” said Jeff Landry. “With your continued support we will finally have safer communities, a great education system, and bring jobs and talent back home.”

LANDRY: Why BESE is Wrong on LEAP

Louisiana has dominated the country recently for our athletic achievements. Last month, LSU won college baseball’s World Series - the seventh national championship in program history. In the Spring, Kim Mulkey led LSU’s women’s basketball team to a national title. And this week, LSU became the only SEC school to have the top overall pick in the four major professional drafts (MLB, NBA, WNBA, and NFL). Clearly, our State’s schools can be a breeding ground for champions. So why are we so complacent when it comes to education?  

Recently, the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Second Education (BESE), announced its support for a waiver system that would ultimately remove the LEAP test requirement. If BESE were allowing students to opt-out of these exams because they were succeeding -- with excellent grades, strong work ethic, and the ability to complete a special project related to their chosen profession -- that would be one thing. But BESE is actually lowering standards at our public schools simply to pass children through the system like a subpar widget on an industrial conveyor belt – and with that I take issue.   

Granted, it is the opinion of our office that BESE is within the law in removing the LEAP requirement; but just because you can do something does not mean that you should. According to witnesses at a recent school board meeting discussing this very issue, we learned that there are students in this State who are graduating at the top of their class while illiterate. Roughly 46% of our public schools have an “A” or “B” rating while only 30% of their students can read at their grade level. And we have employers in this State complaining because their recent hires can’t read or do basic math. That is probably why some at BESE believe that the Legislature should mandate LEAP tests, removing this decision from their board entirely — because we have to uphold basic standards in education one way or another. 

As the son of a school teacher who was incredibly passionate about her work, I can tell you that if teachers were allowed to teach, inspire and fan an inherent passion for learning, rather than be tied to a multiple choice test, we might not be in this predicament. However, we simply cannot let students graduate from high school and enter the workforce if they cannot read. In fact, students should not be allowed to graduate from the third grade without being able to read — let alone reach college illiterate.   

Yet every time we lower standards for our children we harm them. And I am willing to wager that if a student is able to graduate without being able to reach the most basic levels of proficiency in reading and arithmetic, they will fail in their career endeavors — resulting in many inevitably falling into a life of crime or addiction. It can’t be a coincidence that as we lower our educational standards we also see a surge in juvenile crime, with the consequences for such crimes drastically watered down as well. By reducing our standards, lowering our expectations, and just letting people pass go without any challenges to overcome whatsoever, we produce under-educated citizens for our State who are unable to move up and out of their circumstances, further feeding our sense of hopelessness. 

Of course, this does not apply to athletics. If sports coaches at LSU have poor performances for more than one season, they get fired and their programs are overhauled. Yet our education system has been failing our children for years. And similar to our criminal justice system, we cannot repair the damage done until we have full transparency and complete accountability. Until we achieve that benchmark, voiding this exam does more than hurt our children — it gives us a false sense of security within a failing model. That is why I am calling on BESE to do the right thing and get back to the basics. Otherwise, they do more than fail our children, they fail our entire State — and that’s a trophy no one wants to win. 

Jeff Landry
Louisiana Attorney General

Landry Launches Second TV Ad: In Their Shoes

LAFAYETTE, La. — Today, Jeff Landry released his second televised advertisement in his campaign for Governor of Louisiana.  This is a seven-figure ad buy that will be broadcast statewide on tv, digital, and social media.  The ad highlights Landry’s small town background and the Louisiana values of hard work, family, and faith that were instilled in him at an early age. 

“My mother was a school teacher, my dad a small-town architect. Times were tough, but we had faith, and we had each other. 

Digging ditches in a sugarcane field, serving our country, working nights as an officer, raising a family—I have walked in the very shoes of the people who struggle way more than they should in a state as blessed as this one. 

We can have a state government that fixes problems and delivers solutions.”

Troy Hebert on Jeff Landry

Former political rivals, now allies, Jeff Landry and Troy Hebert have had a colorful past. On Friday’s program, Jim Engster discussed the Governor’s race with former Sen. Hebert and got his thoughts on Jeff Landry’s run for the seat. Below is a short segment from that program in which Hebert discusses their past, the merits of Landry’s campaign and announces his support for his candidacy.

LANDRY: American People 1, Ministry of Truth 0

Latest Ruling on Louisiana and Missouri vs. Biden et al.

Despite the breathtaking arrogance of the Biden Administration and his cadre of federal bureaucrats, the Louisiana Department of Justice has won an historic injunction against them: effectively stopping federal agencies and White House officials from colluding with social media companies to censor your protected speech. As of today, the Ministry of Truth is officially on notice. 

The evidence of illegal censorship in this case is both shocking and overwhelming. In fact, as Judge Terry Doughty stated in his ruling, “if the allegations made by Plaintiffs are true, the present case arguably involves the most massive attack against free speech in United States’ history.” 

Our evidence shows systematic political bias across this federal “Censorship Enterprise,” which overwhelmingly targeted conservative political speech, especially speech criticizing the Biden Administration and its policies. For example, senior federal officials ultimately decided what Americans could and could not say on platforms including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and others regarding COVID-19, elections, government officials, and more. Such actions made these federal officials self-appointed arbiters of truth for all Americans under the guise of fighting “misinformation” and “disinformation.”

This was done, as claimed by senior national-security official Jen Easterly, the director of CISA, to protect America’s “cognitive infrastructure,” because it was “dangerous” to let Americans “pick their own facts.” In order to control this process, officials from the White House on down pressured, threatened, and berated social media platforms to stifle the speech of their political opponents, as well as everyday Americans on issues related to the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine injuries, the now-widely accepted lab leak theory, and even the Hunter Biden laptop story. 

Our evidence also demonstrates that the FBI pressured social media platforms to perpetrate “account takedowns” of hundreds of American social media users on a monthly basis, as well as collaborated with CISA in acts of trickery and deception to further induce censorship by social media companies. The U.S. State Department also collaborated with CISA and private research groups to establish a mass-surveillance and mass-censorship program across all major social media platforms — but that stops now. 

Today’s historic ruling by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana is meant to stop this unconstitutional censorship in its tracks. As Judge Doughty observed, “the question does not concern whether speech is conservative, moderate, liberal, progressive, or somewhere in-between. What matters is that Americans, despite their views, will not be censored or suppressed by the Government.” That is why we look forward to litigating this very important case to conclusion on behalf of all Louisianans and Americans injured by this shocking abuse of federal power.

Jeff Landry
Louisiana Attorney General

AG Landry Visits with Maria Bartiromo on Crime Problem in Louisiana

Landry Leads Waguespack by 29 Points

LANDRY: Why We’re Suing FEMA

Louisiana is no stranger to floods. In fact, our State probably has the most expertise in the Nation on flooding, flood mapping, flood surges, and flood protection. We know how to decrease risk and protect our communities without waiting for guidance from the federal government. That is why we have taken initiative, collected tax dollars, and built sprawling levee systems in our most vulnerable areas with great success. And every Hurricane Season, when we remind our people to be prepared, our State has taken heed of that message. 
 
Unfortunately, when we tried to warn the Federal government that their plans for flood insurance premiums would decimate entire economies – especially along the Gulf Coast – they refused to listen. Now, after years of consistent flood insurance premiums, transparency, and reliable flood maps, homeowners are suddenly seeing a sharp spike in their flood insurance costs.  
 
For example, Russell Hebert and his wife built their home back in 1972; Steve Bourgeois and his family have lived in theirs for 57 years. Both enrolled in the National Flood Insurance Program, which is mandatory for government-backed mortgages. They both live in a parish where tax dollars have gone towards mitigating the risk of hurricanes and floods with levees constructed, pumps installed, and other protection mechanisms completed. Yet Russell’s flood insurance, which costs a little over $3,000 two years ago, now requires him to pay $5,600 for the exact same coverage. Steve, whose premium was a little over $600 is now over $6,000 – all thanks to FEMA’s Risk Rating 2.0, also known as “Equity in Action.” 
 
At the root of this problem is gross speculation. For instance, Steve’s property has never flooded and has never been considered part of a flood zone before; but FEMA has repeatedly refused to explain why their flood map has changed or how their calculations were made. What's more: FEMA is refusing to take into account all of the risks mitigated through local investment and planning like building levees, elevating homes, and more. Before Equity in Action, those mitigation measures would have resulted in discounted premiums; now, premiums are more expensive than ever, based on a secret program with secret math. 
 
FEMA used their legacy rating system for 52 years, basing flood insurance premiums on historical, discernible data in order to achieve what Congress dictated back in 1968: make flood insurance coverage affordable and available so that flood victims would not be overly-reliant on post-flood financial aid or disaster relief. Today, Risk Rating 2.0 is its own disaster both in Louisiana and across our country, where roughly 50% of people live and work near water. 
 
This is why Solicitor General Liz Murrill and I are leading a broad coalition of 10 states, 43 parishes, 12 levee boards, and a couple of municipalities in suing FEMA. Naturally, we are grateful for the assistance Louisiana has received from the federal government after many natural disasters; and there are certainly good people who work at these agencies. But Risk Rating 2.0 violates the transparency mandate that Congress specifically required. Even worse, it puts too many families at risk of bankruptcy or foreclosure. 
 
So my legal petition asks the court for relief – not only for the people of Louisiana, but also for every American who risks losing their home and shutting down their small business after doing everything right.
 
It is unfortunate that it had to come to this; but after years of trying to negotiate, our only choice was to sue FEMA for relief or stand back and watch as our citizens hand over the keys to their homes and small businesses. We have chosen to fight for you. 

Jeff Landry
Louisiana Attorney General

Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Former State Senator Troy Hebert Defend Jeff Landry

The following was issued by the LAGOP yesterday in response to an attack ad sent out by a PAC supporting GOP candidate for Governor of Louisiana, Stephen Waguespack:

Majority Leader Steve Scalise issued the following statement earlier today. The LAGOP fully endorses the Majority Leader's sentiments, and believes this pro-Waguespack attack against the endorsed Republican candidate for Governor, Jeff Landry, to be unprovoked and unwarranted. We urge Mr. Waguespack and his supporters to refrain from such attacks in the future.

The Majority Leader's remarks are quoted below:

"Louisiana must elect a bold conservative as our next Governor in order to move our state forward and in a positive direction. The best way for a Republican to regain the Governor's mansion is by laying out their vision for the state's future and building momentum by way of inspiring others to join in their cause.

While the temptation always exists, Republicans attacking other Republicans is the only way we can lose this November's election. Stephen Waguespack is a friend, but those supporting his campaign and outside efforts are hurting his chances—and Louisiana Republicans—by breaking Ronald Reagan's 11th Commandment in launching negative attacks against the Republican front-runner, Jeff Landry.

We must learn from the mistakes of the 2015 and 2019 governor's races, where Republican infighting ultimately squandered our opportunities to win the Governor's mansion. As we work towards getting Louisiana back on track in 2023, Republican candidates must focus on their positive vision for our state, not instigating intra-party attacks and provoking defensive retaliation. Ultimately, this unproductive discourse only benefits those who want to keep our state on the wrong track.

Stephen Waguespack should denounce this negative ad and Reboot Louisiana PAC should take down this attack ad immediately."

In addition, former rival in a heated race for Louisiana State Senate several years ago, Troy Hebert, had this to say about Jeff while on a program with Jim Engster on Tuesday morning:

Trey Ourso and Troy Hebert Discuss Louisiana's Governor's Race

Senior political strategist and partner at Ourso Beychok Trey Ourso is joined by former Louisiana state representative and politician Troy Hebert to discuss several political topics including the upcoming governor's race and its candidates as well as the debt ceiling. Scientist from the Pennington Biomedical Research Center Dr. Claire Berryman gives insight into Pennington's research regarding altitudes effect on health.

Eight Louisiana District Attorneys and Sheriffs Endorse Jeff Landry for Governor

Lafayette, La. —Today, Jeff Landry announced that he has received the endorsement of four Louisiana district attorneys and four Louisiana sheriffs. Jeff Landry is a former police officer, sheriff’s deputy, national guardsman, and military police officer. More endorsements from Louisiana law enforcement officials are to come.

 Sheriff Endorsements:

 "The next Governor’s top priority must be to address the broken laws related to crime. Jeff Landry has my endorsement for Governor because he is the only candidate in this race who I trust to fix the crime problem in our state. He supports our men and women in law enforcement, and he will fight for the safety and well-being of families here in DeSoto Parish. We must prioritize the law abiding citizens and victims in this state,” Sheriff Jayson Richardson - Desoto Parish.

"Jeff Landry has my full endorsement and support for Governor of Louisiana. As a former police officer and sheriff's deputy, there is no better friend of law enforcement than Jeff. He understands what it takes to keep our communities safe, and he is someone we can count on to be the law-and-order governor Louisiana needs,” Sheriff Craig Webre - Lafourche Parish.

"Jeff Landry is the right man at the right time. As a former officer, deputy sheriff, and current attorney general, he has firsthand experience and knowledge to deal with our out-of-control crime problem on his first day in office. He is a fighter who doesn't back down when the best interest of Louisiana is at stake. I personally endorse him, and I am 100 percent certain he will make a great Governor for Bossier and all of Louisiana,” Sheriff Julian Whittington - Bossier Parish.

"Jeff Landry has my full endorsement and support. As a former police officer and sheriff's deputy, Jeff has been a true friend to law enforcement. Jeff will be the law-and-order Governor that Louisiana and Caddo Parish desperately need,” Sheriff Steve Prator - Caddo Parish.

District Attorney Endorsements:

"I am endorsing Jeff Landry for Governor because he is an example of the core values of Louisiana and its citizens. Jeff has continuously supported law enforcement and is a strong advocate of a fair judicial system. He is passionate about upholding the rule of law and protecting and preserving our constitutional rights. Jefferson Davis Parish, and the State of Louisiana, would be well-served by having Jeff Landry as our next Governor. Jeff has the passion and the fortitude to take on the tough issues and challenges that we are facing in the public safety sector and criminal justice system,” Lauren Heinen - 31st JDC - Jefferson Davis Parish.

"Jeff Landry has my endorsement for Governor because he has continuously demonstrated that he will do what it takes to back the men and women of law enforcement in upholding the rule of law, protecting our citizens against criminals and preserving our constitutional rights. I believe the public safety of the citizens of Rapides Parish would be best served by Jeff Landry leading Louisiana as our next Governor,” Phillip Terrell - 9th JDC - Rapides Parish.

"Jeff Landry has my full endorsement and support for Governor of Louisiana. Jeff understands what it takes to keep our communities safe, and he is someone we can count on to be the law-and-order Governor of Louisiana. Iberia, St. Martin and St. Mary Parish will be well served by Jeff,” Bo Duhe - 16th JDC - Iberia, St. Martin, and St. Mary Parish.

 “Jeff Landry has my full endorsement and support for Governor of Louisiana. Like me, Jeff understands what it takes to keep our communities safe and he is someone we can count on to be the law-and-order Governor Louisiana and St. Landry Parish needs,” Chad Pitre - 27th JDC - St. Landry Parish.

LANDRY: About Those Library Books And Senator Heather Cloud's SB7

Roughly nine months ago, the Louisiana Department of Justice began receiving calls from both parents and librarians concerned about sexually-explicit materials designed for minor children that were easily accessible in our public libraries. Our subsequent investigation discovered library materials that involved graphic illustrations of young adults engaged in sexual activities, detailed descriptions and how-to guides for various sex acts, and graphic descriptions of sexual abuse perpetrated by adults on minors.  

If any of these illustrations were broadcast on public television, that network would be contacted by the FCC for violating its rules. If excerpts from any of these books were read aloud on National Public Radio, they too would be contacted, immediately.  

In fact, when Senator Heather Cloud had her staffers print redacted images from these books included in our Protecting Innocence report, there were legal concerns at the Capitol and fears of sexual harassment allegations – merely for printing these images, blurred by our staff, as exhibits for SB7.  

Yet minor children across Louisiana can walk into their local library right now and see the unredacted images for themselves. And in forty-five of our parishes, any child can check-out these materials for further study at home.  

The effects of early sexualization of children are well-known, ranging from poor mental health and isolation to relationship dysfunction and sexual violence. There is an increased risk of sexual abuse, human trafficking, and falling prey to groomers. But the biggest concern was highlighted by research done by Johns Hopkins: the vast majority of children who experience sexual abuse are abused by other children who are only a few years older.  

Perhaps this is why protections have been put in place by the FCC and even streaming services like Netflix. In fact. when a parent chooses “Kids Only” content on Netflix, they often place their trust in a cataloging system on the backend of the service that separates sexually-explicit adult material from more age-appropriate options. Yet this simple system has not been properly applied to our State’s public library systems.  

Senator Cloud’s bill SB7 would place parental restrictions on what a minor child can and cannot check-out from their local library, enabling parents to serve as content moderators for library material that is brought home. I support this course of action; but I also encourage parents to get involved in their child’s library experience and voice concerns about questionable content that has been given valuable shelf space within the children’s and young adult sections.  

By being aware and vocal, parents can ultimately shape the catalogue available to their children so that each public library in every parish can represent the values of that area and its unique community standards. Remember: these are public spaces and they should reflect the needs of the public it serves.  

That is why I have always insisted that the parents have control over this issue, ultimately deciding the appropriate time and place for their child’s exposure to sexual content and their subsequent education. SB7 gives parents that power, at least within their own homes. So I am pleased to report that the bill has passed the Education Committee with an 8-3 vote and now heads to the full House.  

I am proud to have worked with concerned parents and librarians on this parental rights initiative. Together we will continue to fight for the innocence of our children and the rights of our parents. Because if innocence is not protected, what kind of world will we build?  

Jeff Landry
Louisiana Attorney General

LANDRY: Honoring Louisiana’s Law Enforcement

This week we are celebrating National Police Week – a time to respect, honor, and remember the brave men and women in law enforcement who protect and serve us. This year’s commemoration comes with the crime epidemic on the minds of so many our neighbors, especially in light of U.S News and World Report recently ranking Louisiana as the worst state in the country for violent crime. 

While we only have 4.5 million people in our State, we still experience 60% more violent crime per 100,000 citizens than the national average. And it is our police officers and sheriff deputies who must race to the scenes of the all-too-often carjackings, armed robberies, shootings, rapes, and other violent crimes plaguing Louisiana. There are no trophies and very few accolades for this difficult work; yet, these peacemakers continue to be our first responders. 

I know how challenging a career in law enforcement can be, as I started my professional life as a police officer and a sheriff’s deputy. During that time, I worked nights, weekends, and holidays – in the neighborhoods, on the roads, and in the jails. I know that those in uniform experience both the best and the worst communities have to offer. Often, these individuals are on the receiving end of violence as well. It is a career that is hard on your body, your mind, and – in some cases – when you have faced the worst humanity has to offer, it can be hard on your soul. 

But all of this can be even harder on the families of those in blue because, while it is rarely covered on the news, behind every brave man and woman in uniform are people who love them. We must not forget that there are often husbands, wives, and children who are also making sacrifices for their communities. These are the ones who feel the stress of time apart, important events missed, and the strain of deep exhaustion brought home at the end of a shift. Then, if a loved one makes the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, they are left with the grief and uncertainty that follows. 

This sorrow and anxiety is something that I have seen firsthand. As your Attorney General, I serve as the Chairman of the Law Enforcement and Firemen Survivor Benefits Board. Over the last seven years, I have met with the families of our State’s finest killed in the line of duty. While it is one of the most difficult parts of my job, I am proud to ensure that those families receive all of the assistance that we can legally provide. And since 2016, 117 claims have been approved and over $31 million in benefits have been paid directly to the survivors of our fallen first responders. 

Still, Louisiana must do more than honor our fallen and support their families. We must also continue to support law enforcement as they battle the opioid epidemic, fight internet crimes against children, stand against illegal immigration, and work to end domestic violence and sexual assault. We must push back against those who wish to defund the police and disrespect the blue. And we must continue to have the backs of officers who continue to operate within the law. 

Our State’s crime problem will not be remedied overnight. A safe Louisiana can only be achieved with the help of law enforcement. Without the sacrifices of our officers and deputies – and their families – we will never fully address violent crime, hold hardened criminals accountable for their actions, or protect our citizens.  

That is why, this week, I ask you join me in appreciating Louisiana’s law enforcement. Please be sure to thank those who stand on the thin blue line that divides order and chaos. And please pray with me for these brave men and women to be strong and steadfast. Together, we can make Louisiana a better place. 

Jeff Landry
Louisiana Attorney General

LANDRY: Louisiana's Criminal Justice System is Failing Us

Louisiana has 3 cities in the top 10 most dangerous cities in the country.

President Donald Trump Endorses Jeff Landry for Governor

Click here to watch President Trump’s endorsement of Jeff Landry. 

LAFAYETTE, La. —Jeff Landry, the official endorsed candidate by the Louisiana Republican Party, received the endorsement of President Donald Trump in his race for Governor of Louisiana. This endorsement is part of a growing list of GOP supporters including Congressman Mike Johnson, Congressman Clay Higgins, former Congressman Ralph Abraham, businessman Eddie Rispone, businessman Boysie Bollinger, the Club for Growth, as well as numerous Republican Parish Executive Committees (RPEC) across Louisiana. There will be many more endorsement announcements in the coming weeks.

 “I am endorsing your Attorney General Jeff Landry for Governor. He has been a fantastic Attorney General. He wants to stop crime. He loves the people of Louisiana just like I do,” said President Donald Trump  

LANDRY: Transparency is Not Racist

The Criminal Justice System Only Works If There’s Accountability

This is incredibly simple: the Truth and Transparency in our Criminal Justice System bill, which was supported by both Republicans and Democrats, passed committee 13-2, and now heads to the House floor, is meant to help us learn.  

On the one hand, we have victims and defendants alike whose needs are not being served by our broken criminal justice system; on the other, we have a State with a crime problem and no empirical data to help us make informed decisions on potential solutions.  

Yes, the two-year pilot program proposed by this bill will include Orleans, Caddo, and East Baton Rouge Parishes; but those are the largest parishes currently dealing with violent and juvenile crime issues. They are also three out of 38 parishes that maintain electronic records, making our data aggregation system not only cost effective but also possible. Most importantly, these three areas are among the top 10 most dangerous in America, which likely played a huge part in their State Representatives supporting the bill in committee.  

But unless you have become a victim of a crime or lost a loved one to violence, you may not know how bad the public’s criminal justice system has become or how difficult it is for victims and defendants to access public records like court dates relevant to their cases. In fact, access to these records can cost an individual anywhere from $300 to $27,000 a year; and roughly half of our Parish Clerk Offices require you manually sift through paper files or physically attend a court hearing in order to gain basic information, such as what, how, or why. That is unacceptable.   

While victims deserve rights, and effective advocates exist in pockets across our State, this legislation will enable victims to stand on their own two feet in our justice system through greater transparency – because you cannot exercise your rights unless you know what is going on. As of today, individuals are forced to do their own research, spend their own money, and track down their own court dates while also juggling uncertainty, trauma, and grief. The law promises them justice; our system offers them hell.   

For example, Dr. Patrick Dennis was held at gunpoint by a juvenile. He was never notified by the District Attorney of the trial date and later learned that the gunman was released without consequences. Similarly, Mrs. Sherilyn Price testified that she had been lied to and kept in the dark about the murder of her son, comedian Boogie B. These are two stories out of thousands in which greater transparency would have been beneficial.    

The law requires us to have a system for public records, but that system must also meet the needs of its users and not further victimize them. Our goal is to make this process easier, clearer, and more direct – with public access granted for free through the Louisiana Department of Justice. This data aggregation system will not be violating confidentiality or abusing sensitive records, and it will be strictly limited to information related to what is happening in court.   

That is what the people of our State have requested through their feedback, and I believe that we must work with them if we are going to improve Louisiana. That means we must face some uncomfortable truths regarding our past strategies, find new ways to measure success and failure, and face the cold hard reality about what is not working and why. We need concrete, accurate, and efficient data if we are to make useful decisions rather than hope our good intentions will solve the problem.   

Just like the victims of violent crime, lawmakers need to truly understand the problem if we are ever going to provide realistic solutions. That is why we must learn why the juvenile system is failing our kids. How are hardened juvenile offenders allowed to be released to recommit crimes of violence? What judges are setting low bail for violent criminals? And how often are district attorneys refusing or pleading down these cases? Those are the questions we need to be asking, and the answers we plan to find with this legislation. 

Because crime does not just affect the victim – it affects the entire community, and that community should know how their judicial system is responding. It is way past time we take action to learn and adjust, rather than simply hope things will change.   

Jeff Landry
Louisiana Attorney General

Jeff Landry Anti-Crime Ad Drops in New Orleans

Crime in Louisiana is out of control. Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Shreveport are three of the top ten most dangerous cities in the country. This is not a statistical hiccup. This is not a hangover from the pandemic. This is real violent crime that continues to plague our cities.

JEFF LANDRY'S PLAN TO FIX IT

Things will not get better until we have leaders who have the courage to stand up and make it a priority. As governor, Jeff Landry will prioritize safety in our communities and continue to be a leading voice on public safety in our state.

LANDRY: To Fix Your Country, Fix Your State

“We hold these truths to be self-evident.”

Those are the words memorably held by the Declaration of Independence. Within that document are ideas and concepts — truths — revolutionary at the time but believed to be self-evident: all men are created equated; we have certain unalienable Rights, including Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness; and we have the right to form our own government based on these truths. That is the basis of our social contract.  

In its simplest form the U.S. Constitution itself is really a contract, with the two parties involved being the states and the citizens. This document ties the states and the people together, with the federal government being a byproduct of this union. Yet over time our focus — likely because of mass media and the mass production of ideas — has turned to federal issues.  

Meanwhile, our social contract is under attack by those who declare that the very foundation of our union — self-evident truth — does not exist. Instead, they argue that everyone gets to live their own “truth.” And that shift in thinking is destroying the very fabric of our society.  

Truth is not, and never has been, an individual idea. We don’t all get to live our own truth. There is just truth. And if we can’t agree on fundamental truths, we simply cannot have a civil society or maintain our social contract. That is why this assertion that there is no truth is so dangerous to our country and way of life. For example, believing biological men can be biological women doesn’t make it so. Ten years ago, that was universally accepted; now efforts are mounting to gaslight the American public into questioning this self-evident truth.  

A similar pattern is happening across an array of nationwide issues: believing masks work doesn’t make it so; believing the air we exhale is poisonous to the planet doesn’t make it true; believing that our lives should be directed by government doesn’t make it legitimate. But this is the battleground for America’s soul, and it is being fought on the field of truth.  

So, how do you fix your country when the very foundation on which it was built is being destroyed one distortion at a time? You have to remember that the contract is not between you and the federal government; the contract is between American citizens and the States. That is why, if you want to fix your country and restore our footing, you must focus on fixing your State. And as the States start pulling in the same direction, back towards our pursuits of Life, Liberty and Happiness, that will pull the country in that direction as well. If you pull your State towards Truth, the nation will follow.  

That is why I encourage you to ask yourself: where do you see the country in 20 years? The answer is to determine where you want your State to be in that time. There is no better example of this theory in action than the COVID pandemic. When the federal government attempted to control State sovereignty and the sovereignty of the individual, the States that bucked those power grabs became safe havens for American citizens.  

In Louisiana, as your Attorney General, I stood up for liberty when it wasn’t popular. I fought to open churches and salons, to allow our boys back onto the football fields, and to let each individual decide whether or not they would wear a mask or undergo a medical procedure. These fights were not politically convenient, but they were the right thing to do.  

How do I know that? Because in this great American experiment, we have a clear roadmap for when we lose our way or times are dark, and that is the Constitution. And according to that contract, you do not live in a Brave New World in which you are meant to love your slavery and your prison. Instead, you are sovereign individual within a sovereign State in possession of inalienable Rights that must not be trampled upon.  

To do this, we must turn our focus back to that contract, inspired by our Declaration against oppression, and once more feed our passion for our State to steer this nation back to truth. That is the path forward, and it’s one that anyone can take.  

Jeff Landry
Louisiana Attorney General

Landry Launches First TV Ad: “Enough is Enough”

Today, Jeff Landry released his first televised advertisement in his campaign for Governor of Louisiana. This is a multi-market ad buy that will begin in Baton Rouge. It highlights Louisiana’s top issue: crime. Louisiana is home to three of the top ten most dangerous cities in America. As a former police officer and sheriff’s deputy, Jeff Landry will be the law-and-order Governor Louisiana needs.

 “When DA’s fail to prosecute, when judges fail to act, when police are handcuffed instead of the criminals, enough is enough,” says Landry. “We are going to hold everyone, and I mean everyone, accountable for violent crime.”

 Again, this ad message is beginning in Baton Rouge but the campaign expects to spread the message across Louisiana.

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