TREASURY: LOUISIANA'S BIGGEST "BANK"

BATON ROUGE — It was an honor to be sworn in as Louisiana’s Treasurer by our new Speaker of the House, Congressman Mike Johnson. Mike is very special to me. Not only are we close friends, but he succeeded me as Congressman from the 4th District eight years ago. Together, we have had the privilege of representing the great people of Northwest and Central Louisiana and parts of Acadiana in our nation’s Capitol for the past 16 years.

I want to thank you for choosing me as your state Treasurer! It is a wonderful opportunity and a tremendous responsibility.

Many people probably think the Treasurer’s job is mainly ceremonial and that he simply affixes his signature to checks and other documents. The truth is, there is much more to it than that.

Complying with State Law

The Treasurer’s signature is indeed attached to almost every check issued by the State of Louisiana, and more than $60 billion in checks are written by the Treasurer every year. That’s $60 billion with a B!

More importantly, the Treasurer is responsible for making sure that those state funds are spent in accordance with the Louisiana Constitution and statutory law. On some days, the Treasurer writes more than $400 million in checks! All expenditures have to be authorized by appropriation bills passed by the Louisiana Legislature.

The Treasurer also collects $60 billion in revenue each year. In fact, every day at the close of business, the bank account of every state agency is zeroed out and the funds are transferred at that moment to the state’s General Fund maintained by the Treasurer.

Technically speaking, the state Treasury is not a bank, but if it were, it would be by far the largest bank in Louisiana.

Staff Doing Good Job

Since being elected your Treasurer in November, I have been preparing to make the transition. I want to thank Treasurer John Schroder and the staff at the Department of Treasury for the good job they have done and for their cooperation and help during this period.

As a young doctor just out of medical school, I learned the importance of surrounding myself with a strong team of professionals. The good news is, we have a strong team of professionals in place in the Treasurer’s office.

We have inherited an agency with a history of success and without major scandals. I do not plan major upheavals in the department but rather to find ways to build on that history of success.

In Louisiana, we have had conservative Republican Treasurers for the past 20 years (John Kennedy and John Schroder) and, even before that, our Treasurers made many important improvements to the office. Two of our last three United States senators from Louisiana were state Treasurer before their election to the Senate — John Kennedy and Mary Landrieu.

     Many of the current staff were hired by John Kennedy, and I am very impressed with a program begun under Mary Landrieu, which is called Bank-at-School. Under this program, community banks in our state have established branches in many schools. This allows students to open a bank account and learn the value of savings and handling money carefully.

Reaching Young People

Bank-at-School, which is strongly supported by the Louisiana Bankers Association, fits well with a bill passed by the legislature last year requiring that every student in Louisiana public schools pass a one-year course on Financial Literacy in order to quality for TOPS. The new course starts this fall.

I am excited that the Treasury will be involved in developing this course. Hats off to Rep. Nicky Muscarello, the members of the Louisiana Legislature, and Gov. Edwards for approving this important legislation. Also to State Education Supt. Cade Brumley and his staff for their work on this course.

Investing the People’s Money

Another very important duty of the state Treasurer is investing nearly $16 billion in state funds. The Investments Division of the Treasury is a fascinating place where decisions are made almost every day that affect the financial health of our state.

How those funds are invested is controlled by state law, but the Treasurer sometimes has the discretion to make policy decisions regarding these investments. In recent years, the legislature and the Treasurer have divested funds that discriminate against Israel or penalize gun manufacturers or dealers.

We intend to look more closely at such issues as well such as how more of our investment dollars can be moved to community banks serving Louisiana citizens and businesses.

State Bond Commission

The Treasurer serves as chairman of the State Bond Commission. In this way, he plays a very significant role in the approval or disapproval of the issuance of debt by the state, state agencies, local governments, and even some private entities. Local tax elections also have to get approval of the bond commission. The staff of the commission works within the Treasurer’s office.

State law requires the Treasurer to serve on 30 different boards and commissions. Besides the bond commission, the Treasurer serves as president of the Louisiana Asset Management Pool, or LAMP, and as a member of important boards such as the Interim Emergency Board, the State Employees Retirement System, the Teachers Retirement System, and many others.

Unclaimed Property

Without question, the most popular function of the Treasurer’s office and the one that gets the most public attention is the Unclaimed Property Division, which helps Louisiana citizens and businesses claim property which they have lost track of, such as old bank accounts, forgotten deposits, and tax refunds. So far, Louisiana’s Treasurers and the hard-working staff at Unclaimed Property have helped get more than $700 million into the hands of the rightful owners.

Over the next four years, we will work to find ways to provide all of these services to the people of the state even more efficiently.

Cutting Waste, Fraud

We also want to be a force for finding ways to save taxpayer dollars and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse from state government.

It is exciting to be part of a new team of statewide elected officials in Louisiana. We plan to work closely with Gov. Jeff Landry and all of our statewide officials and the legislature to provide excellent service to the people of our state.

John Fleming, MD
Louisiana State Treasurer

John Fleming is the Only Candidate for Treasurer Endorsed by the LAGOP

A recent Louisiana state-wide political poll of likely voters shows Republican candidate John Fleming, M.D., and Democrat candidate Dustin Granger are positioned to go head-to-head in a November runoff election.

Dustin Granger, the Democratic candidate, garnered 30% of the vote because of his party affiliation. Dr. Fleming received 21% even with another Republican accounting for 7% of the total vote.

Dr. Fleming has received key endorsements from the Republican Party, including:

• Republican Party of Louisiana (LAGOP)

• Congressman Mike Johnson

• Congressman Clay Higgins

• Congressman Jim Jordan

• Former Congressman Ralph Abraham

• Oil & Gas Workers Association

• Republican Party chapters across the state, including:

• Acadia Parish

• Ascension Parish

• Bossier Parish

• Caddo Parish

• Calcasieu Parish

• East Baton Rouge Parish

• Iberia Parish

• Lafayette Parish

• Livingston Parish

• Lafourche Parish

• Rapides Parish

• St. Charles Parish

• St. Tammany Parish

• Tangipahoa Parish

Please consider supporting Dr. John Fleming as your next Treasurer of Louisiana!

LAGOP: Dr. John Fleming Releases New Ad in the Race for State Treasurer

Dr. John Fleming is Louisiana's conservative choice for State Treasurer. He has earned the endorsements of the Republican Party of Louisiana, Congressmen Mike Johnson, Clay Higgins, and Jim Jordan, former Congressman Ralph Abraham, as well as the Republican Party Executive Committees in fourteen different parishes across our state.

If elected as State Treasurer, Dr. Fleming is committed to safeguarding the taxpayers' dollars from waste, fraud, and corruption. Louisiana deserves a leader who will prioritize fiscal accountability and work diligently to ensure that every penny of your tax dollars is used efficiently and effectively.

Be sure to watch Dr. Fleming's new ad by clicking HERE. Early voting begins this Saturday, September 30 and runs through October 7, excluding Sunday, October 1. Election Day is Saturday, October 14!

Rep. Clay Higgins Endorses John Fleming for Louisiana Treasurer

Former Congressman John Fleming to run for State Treasurer

Former District 4 Louisiana Congressman and Minden resident Dr. John Fleming says he will run for State Treasurer this fall. Fleming – a Republican – is a medical doctor and has launched and owned several companies. He says he is well-qualified for the job for that reason, and for his recent years working in the Donald Trump White House on the financial policy team…:

“The last year, I was detailed to the White House as Deputy Chief of Staff. So, I feel like I have a very broad, deep background in this area.”

Read more: Former Congressman John Fleming to run for State Treasurer

John Fleming Positioned to Make Runoff for Senate Seat

Photo source: Wikipedia

In the latest JMC Analytics and Polling, which was commissioned by the Fleming campaign, shows that Fleming is positioned to make the runoff for the Senate seat being vacated by David Vitter. 

The poll, which can be seen here, shows Fleming “winning the Republican primary” with a 27-25% lead over Kennedy among Republicans. If undecided voters are included, he expands to a 30-25% lead over Kennedy.

It also shows that Foster Campbell, one of two Democrats running in the election, is the likely candidate for a runoff in the election against one of the Republicans in the race, which are likely Fleming, Charles Boustany or John Kennedy.

Read more: Statewide Polling Results
 

Fleming Surges to Statistical Tie with Boustany and Campbell in Senate Race

In the latest poll by JMC Analytics, Congressman John Fleming has surged to a statistical tie with Rep. Boustany and PSC Campbell for the race to replace Sen. David Vitter in the US Senate in Louisiana.  Fleming has moved up 6 points since the last poll done in July, while both Boustany and Campbell have held steady with support since the last poll.

A copy of the results of this poll can be found here.

Boustany, Fleming Tout Energy Credentials in Senate Race

Image source: The Hill  

They’re all good guys,” said Don Briggs, president of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association, adding, “excluding Foster Campbell.”

“I don’t have to tell you what our industry is going through,” Briggs said. “If we ever needed support in D.C. and in the state, we need it today.”

Read more: Boustany, Fleming Tout Energy Credentials in Senate Race

Fleming: Voters Frustrated by Both Parties' Leadership

Photo source: The Advocate

“The Democratic Party has moved so far to the left that it’s fully aligned with socialism,” Fleming, a Minden Republican who is running for the U.S. Senate, told the Press Club of Baton Rouge.

Coupled with that, he said, are Republicans, who in 2010 asked voters to give them a majority in the U.S. House so the party could fix problems. “But nothing changed.” In 2014, voters also gave Republicans a majority in the U.S. Senate. “And folks, nothing changed,” Fleming said.

Read more: Louisiana congressman John Fleming: Voters frustrated by both Republicans and Democrats' leadership

Congressman John Fleming Blows Whistle on Bailout of Puerto Rico

Congressman John Fleming of Louisiana has recently blown the whistle on an attempt to ram through a bailout for Puerto Rico.  

The following piece highlights that attempt:

In a bizarre turn, members of the House Natural Resources Committee were read the Puerto Rico bailout bill and according to Rep. John Fleming were then instructed to allow it to pass committee by a voice vote with no amendments and no dissent. Fleming was told to walk away from the vote if he had any objections, an account verified by two other offices. 

Louisiana should be proud of the representation of Fleming in DC. 

34 Senators, 171 Reps. Urge Circuit Court to Block EPA's Clean Power Plan

Amicus Brief Asks the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to Vacate EPA’s So-Called “Clean Power Plan”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Led by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and House Energy and Power Subcommittee Chairman Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), 34 Senators and 171 House Members filed an amicus brief today in the case of State of West Virginia, et al. v. Environmental Protection Agency, et al.

The amicus brief is in support of petitions filed by 27 states seeking to overturn the EPA final rule identified as the Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units, EPA-HQ-OAR-2013-0602, 80 Fed. Reg. 64,662 (Oct. 23, 2015), also known as the “Clean Power Plan.” A copy of the brief can be found here.

As Senators and Representatives duly elected to serve in the Congress of the United States in which “all legislative Powers” granted by the Constitution are vested, the members state that:

The Final Rule goes well beyond the clear statutory directive by, among other things, requiring States to submit, for approval, state or regional energy plans to meet EPA’s predetermined CO2 mandates for their electricity sector. In reality, if Congress desired to give EPA sweeping authority to transform the nation’s electricity sector, Congress would have provided for that unprecedented power in detailed legislation. Indeed, when an agency seeks to make “decisions of vast ‘economic and political significance’” under a “long-extant statute,” it must point to a “clear” statement from Congress. Util. Air Regulatory Grp. v. EPA, 134 S. Ct. 2427, 2444 (2014) (quoting FDA v. Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., 120 S. Ct. 1291, 1315 (2000)). EPA can point to no statement of congressional authorization for the Final Rule’s central features, precisely because there is none.

Nor has Congress authorized EPA to make the policy choices that are reflected in the Final Rule—a rule that imposes enormous costs on States and the public without achieving meaningful climate benefits. Because of the Final Rule, States will face unprecedented new regulatory burdens, electricity ratepayers will be subject to billions of dollars in compliance costs, and American workers and their families will experience the hardship of job losses due to power plant shutdowns, higher electricity prices, and overall diminishment of the nation’s global economic competitiveness. Choices of this nature are inherently Congressional decisions. See W. Minn. Mun. Power Agency v. Fed. Energy Regulatory Comm’n, 806 F.3d 588, 593 (D.C. Cir. 2015) (“Agencies are empowered to make policy only insofar as Congress expressly or impliedly delegates that power.”) (citing Util. Air Regulatory Grp., 134 S. Ct. at 2445 (2014)). Congress has not authorized EPA to make the central policy choices in the Final Rule and, in many respects, has affirmatively rejected those policies, as it certainly did with respect to cap-and-trade programs for CO2 emissions from power plants.

Accordingly, the Final Rule that has been properly stayed by the Supreme Court should now be vacated by this Court.

Additional Information: Thirty-nine lawsuits seeking review of the Final Rule have been consolidated in the D.C. Circuit. The Final Rule was stayed by the Supreme Court on Feb. 9. The D.C. Circuit is scheduled to hear oral arguments in the consolidated cases on June 2. An amicus brief, or “friend of the court” brief, can be filed in order to address concerns and advise the Court on a matter of law that directly affects the case at hand.  

According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Plan could cause average electricity rates to rise as much as 43% for families in some states.

Several members of the Louisiana delegation were supportive of this brief, such as Senators Cassidy and Vitter, as well as Congressmen Boustany, Scalise, Fleming and Graves.

Sen. Elbert Guillory to Run for United States Congress

Photo source: YouTube  

State Senator Elbert Guillory has announced his intent to seek the office of US Representative, which will be vacated by Rep. John Fleming, who is seeking US Senator's David Vitter's seat.