Well, look it's certainly getting worse. I think you're going to start to see improvements, particularly in the South. There is evidence that the rate of growth in the cases in the South is starting to decline. I think that this week you may see some of the states that have been the outbreak states start to tip over in terms of showing less cases on a daily basis. The rate of expansion, the epidemic is clearly slowing in states like Florida, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri.
Posts filed under Louisiana
Opinion: Americans in Lake Charles, La., are frustrated. We need aid now.
Photo source: City of Lake Charles
As the first anniversary of Hurricane Laura approaches, and after enduring three additional weather disasters, we are still waiting and pleading for an equitable response from Washington. We’ve repeatedly, desperately implored both the Trump and Biden administrations and Congress. Both presidents visited my city, both promised additional aid. We’ve been told help is on the way, but as the days turn into months, we are left feeling that our federal government is willing to ignore a humanitarian crisis in Southwest Louisiana.
Read more: Opinion: Americans in Lake Charles, La., are frustrated. We need aid now.
NEW LAWSUIT: ABORTION INDUSTRY WANTS ABORTION FOR GIRLS “WITHOUT BARRIERS”
The abortion industry has done it again – just last week, they filed a lawsuit against another common-sense pro-life law we passed in Baton Rouge.
This time, they wanted to make sure that minor girls can have abortion “without barriers” and even without parental involvement.
Read more: NEW LAWSUIT: ABORTION INDUSTRY WANTS ABORTION FOR GIRLS “WITHOUT BARRIERS”
Louisiana RINO's Are Called Out on Stinchfield Primetime
4 Louisiana Republican Senators are called out for not backing the veto override of the constitutional carry legislation in the State of Louisiana
House Speaker confident veto of anti-transgender bill will be overturned
Photo source: Louisiana House Member Page
All eyes are on the state capitol as Louisiana lawmakers convene for the first veto session since the state’s new constitution was adopted in 1974. Republican House Speaker Clay Schexnayder said he has no doubts the bill to protect women’s sports from transgender athletes will be overridden in the House.
“I feel comfortable, 100% on the women’s protection act bill,” said Schexnayder.
Read more: House Speaker confident veto of anti-transgender bill will be overturned
Louisiana Conservative Caucus: Override the Veto
On their Facebook page, the Louisiana Conservative Caucus posted the below regarding Gov. John Bel Edwards veto of concealed carry in the State of Louisiana:
The Conservative Caucus Calls for Veto Override of Constitutional Carry Bill
Every Republican campaigns on being pro-2nd Amendment. Now is the time to prove whether that is empty campaign rhetoric or a true belief. It is a true belief for the Conservative Caucus, who fully supports overriding the Governor’s veto of Constitutional Carry (SB118).
BATON ROUGE, June 28 – Protecting one’s self and family is not a racial, class, or party issue. It transcends barriers as evidenced by Republicans and Democrats campaigning as being pro-gun and pro-2nd Amendment. Even Governor John Bel Edwards campaigned positively on the issue. That is why in Louisiana, citizens have the right to open carry their firearms without any permits or training requirements. Senate Bill 118 would have simply allowed citizens to exercise their current rights without concern of a shirt or jacket covering up their firearm. Under current law, covering a firearm is a felony unless you possess a concealed carry permit. Senate Bill 118 would have removed the high financial barrier of a concealed carry permit. That barrier disproportionately impacts our poor and minority communities, who have the greatest need to defend themselves and families outside of their home.
In an unanimous vote, the Conservative Caucus has decided to fully endorse overriding the Governor Edwards’ veto of Senate Bill 118. When discussing the historic possibility of an effective veto session, Chairman Jack McFarland said, “This is where the rubber meets the road. It’s time to find out who uses the 2nd Amendment as hollow campaign rhetoric and who sincerely believes it.”
Prior to the veto of Senate Bill 118, the Conservative Caucus was actively working with Republican Delegation Leader Blake Miguez on ensuring a successful veto override session. Once the session begins in late July, legislators will have the option to override every single veto. Thus far, the Governor has vetoed multiple infrastructure projects in conservative lawmakers’ districts such as rural bridges, utility upgrades that would lower electric bills, and road improvements. He’s also vetoed an election integrity bill as well as legislation to prevent biological males from competing against biological females in women’s sports.
When reflecting on the historic achievements of the legislature this term, McFarland added, “Any governor’s main power over a legislator is a line-item veto. We can take that power away from this Governor and future governors. This is another historical moment for the legislature. We, as a diverse bipartisan legislative body, need to rally together to make an example for our future generations that this is when Louisiana turned a corner. This is when governors quit bullying legislators and started respecting the legislative process. This is when we end every governor’s “politics over people” vetoes.”
LOGA Issues Statement on Preliminary Injunction Against Biden's Leasing Moratorium
BATON ROUGE, LA (June 16, 2021) - Last night, Federal District Judge Terry Doughty of the Western District of Louisiana issued a nationwide preliminary injunction blocking President Biden's Executive Order 14008 that halts all new oil leasing permits on federal land.
LOGA President Mike Moncla described this ruling as a "win for every worker in the country, but especially in Louisiana where we depend so much on the Gulf of Mexico. The policies of this administration have been grueling for Americans at the pump, so hopefully legal decisions like these will help ease that pain on Americans."
Moncla added that "Louisiana’s economy has suffered under this pandemic, and the energy sector has gotten the brunt of it. If President Biden wants to truly enact policies that get this nation back on track, he should join the industry’s efforts in modernizing clean energy practices while maintaining a prosperous economy. Even though the fight against the Biden Administration’s climate agenda is far from over, this is a glimmer of hope for an industry that has suffered under this White House.”
The federal court ruling comes days after Attorney General Jeff Landry made arguments in U.S. District Court opposing the executive order.
There has been nationwide backlash against Biden's decision to pause new drilling permits, including from some House Democrats who represent districts in close proximity to the Gulf.
Federal judge blocks Biden's pause on new oil, gas leases
U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty's ruling came in a lawsuit filed in March by Louisiana Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry and officials in 12 other states. Doughty said his ruling applies nationwide. It grants a preliminary injunction — technically a halt to the suspension pending further arguments on the merits of the case.
Read more: Federal judge blocks Biden's pause on new oil, gas leases
New Economic Impact of Tort Reform Report
New report shows toll of civil court costs on Louisiana’s economy
Costs result in significant losses to Louisiana families, businesses, and tax rolls; More than $2 billion in savings projected with additional legal reforms
Baton Rouge, LA — Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch (LLAW) today released the 2021 Impact of Tort Costs and the Potential Economic Benefits of Tort Reform, an assessment measuring the impact of excessive civil court costs on Louisiana’s economy. Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) commissioned John Dunham & Associates (JDA) to conduct analysis on these impacts and the potential economic benefits of tort reform in Louisiana. View the Louisiana report here.
Findings once again showed that Louisiana continues to lose jobs and revenue to the tune of billions annually. The current total impact of these costs results in $3.87 billion in lost economic activity, 22,550 in job losses and losses of $1.12 billion in lost wages for hardworking Louisianans. This translates to an annual hidden “tort tax” of $451 currently being paid by every single Louisiana resident. Were Louisiana to enact additional reforms, the resulting savings to residents and businesses would be an estimated $2.1 billion.
As a result, all major industry groups are negatively impacted. Business and personal services tops the list with job losses totaling more than 7,700, lost wages in excess of $446 million and $951 million in lost output. The travel and entertainment sector is the next hardest-hit with more than 5600 in lost jobs, lost wages in excess of $163 million and more than $545 million in output losses. Coming in third is finance, insurance, and real estate with more than 2600 job losses, nearly $97 million in lost wages and more than $644 million in lost output.
The report also looked at the costs of Louisiana’s civil justice system resulting in specific losses in the largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA), as outlined below.
o Jobs: 2900+
o Wages: $126+ million
o Economic Activity: $405+ millio
o Jobs: 1580+
o Wages: $76+ million
o Economic Activity: $254+ million
o Jobs: 1000+
o Wages: $54+ million
o Economic Activity: $172+ million
o Jobs: 600+
o Wages: 34+ million
o Economic Activity: 109+ million
Though significant legal reforms were passed by the Louisiana Legislature last year, it will take time for these changes to take effect. Significant legal cost savings to the state and its residents would result from implementation of comprehensive legal reform. Louisiana would experience a spurt of economic growth resulting in jobs gained, increased wages and benefits, as well as a significant expansion of economic activity. State government would also benefit from additional tax revenues. All of these are needed more than ever, as the state continues to recover from the effects of COVID-19.
“These findings clearly show that civil justice reform must continue to be a priority in Louisiana. Frivolous lawsuits and exorbitant plaintiff awards impact all sectors of our economy – especially the critical energy sector. These job-killing lawsuits hurt Louisiana families, and in addition, economic opportunities are driven away while resulting costs are passed down to all Louisianans in the form of higher prices for goods and services,” said LLAW Executive Director Lana Venable.
While providing access to the civil justice system for truly injured parties to be fully and fairly compensated is the bedrock of the American judicial system, civil justice reforms aim to discourage filing of nuisance lawsuits or limit the types of damages that can be received. They are designed to relieve the court system from an abundance of frivilous lawsuits, prevent hurtful and abusive practices against businesses and other defendants, and prevent lawsuits that are overly costly.
“A healthy legal system should ensure fairness for both truly impaired individuals and small and large businesses operating in Louisiana. Imbalances in the system lead to unpredictability for consumers and businesses, costing jobs and resulting in constrained economic growth,” according to Louisiana Coalition for Common Sense Executive Director Karen Eddlemon.
Louisiana earned the number five ranking in the American Tort Reform Foundation’s 2020-21 Judicial Hellholes Report based on systematic application of civil laws and court procedures. The state was also ranked 49th in the US Chamber Institute for Legal Reform’s 2019 Lawsuit Abuse Climate Survey, which measures the reasonability and balance of each states’ tort liability systems.
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About Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch (LLAW)
Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch (LLAW) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, citizen watchdog group with nearly 20,000 supporters across the state. LLAW is dedicated to ending lawsuit abuse that hurts Louisiana’s families and threatens local businesses and jobs by bringing more balance, fairness and common sense to Louisiana’s civil justice system. Visit us on Facebook, Twitter (@ReformLouisiana) and www.llaw.org.
About the Louisiana Coalition for Common Sense (LCCS)
The Louisiana Coalition for Common Sense (LCCS) is a group of professional associations, companies and individuals committed to ensuring a fair legal climate for both truly impaired individuals and small and large businesses operating in Louisiana.
About John Dunham & Associates (JDH)
Florida-based John Dunham & Associates provides strong analysis, as well as unique, credible messages and tools for use in lobbying, stakeholder engagement, communications, and litigation support. Firms can better manage potential risks and respond to opportunities by developing fact-based economic materials, messaging tools and stakeholder relations.
Louisiana joins Texas, Mississippi in filing suit against federal government over American Rescue Plan
“In exchange for badly needed funds to assist the States of Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana and their citizens in recovering from the ongoing pandemic – the American Rescue Plan Act attempts to obligate these states to exercise their core sovereign power of taxation in the way the federal government prefers,” said Attorney General Landry. “Specifically, the Act prohibits the states from reducing net tax revenue on pain of forfeiting up to billions of dollars in federal funding.”
A copy of the suit may be found here.
VPPJ requests DA dismiss coastal damage lawsuits
"Newly elected District Attorney Don Landry has publicly agreed to take action that aligns with the current Police Jury’s decision regarding the lawsuits," the release says.
That issue will be discussed at a jury meeting tonight at 6 p.m. in the Vermilion Parish Courthouse, where the police jury usually meets.
GOP Sen. Kennedy: Biden Louisiana Trip to Say ‘I’m the Candy Man and I’ve Got More Free Stuff for You’
“I don’t have a lot of details,” Kennedy said of the visit. “It’s always an honor when a president visits your state. I’m sure the president’s coming in to say I’m the candy man, and I’ve got more free stuff for you. The problem is that there’s nothing free. Anything free somebody had to work for. The president’s plan is not an infrastructure plan. Only 5 percent of it goes to infrastructure. It’s really a Green New Deal and welfare plan, and it’s a mess. It looks like somebody — somebody knocked over a urine sample. Now, we can fix it if we stick to, A, infrastructure, and B, we have serious discussions about how to pay for it. I can tell you how we can pay for it.”
Read more: GOP Sen. Kennedy: Biden Louisiana Trip to Say ‘I’m the Candy Man and I’ve Got More Free Stuff for You’
Tulane University Invites Noted Scholar, Hunter Biden, To Take Part in Guest Speaker Session
In case you haven’t heard this one, Hunter Biden is scheduled to be a guest speaker at Tulane University in an upcoming online course.
Yes, this Hunter Biden.
Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden and target of Republican attacks during the 2020 presidential campaign for his business dealings in Ukraine, is one of nine guest speakers scheduled to address a new 10-week class at Tulane University, a university spokesperson confirmed Tuesday night.
Read more: Hunter Biden to be guest speaker for Tulane University class; see complete list
Attorney General Jeff Landry of Louisiana had this to say about the announcement today on his Facebook account:
Parents and donors of Tulane should keep this kind of garbage in mind when sending their kids and their money to Tulane this fall.
Louisiana leaders discuss the idea of a COVID-19 vaccine passport
According to Dr. Joseph Kanter, Gov. John Bel Edwards’ office has discussed it, but he said it’s too early to make a decision.
Alanah Odoms Hebert from the Louisiana ACLU cited several concerns if this goes forward.
“The idea of a vaccine passport is something that we generally support, but there are key issues we want the public to be aware of and the government,” said Hebert.
Read more: Louisiana leaders discuss the idea of a COVID-19 vaccine passport
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry Sues Biden Administration Over Oil and Gas Executive Order
The following was posted on the Facebook page of Attorney General Jeff Landry this afternoon:
⚡ BREAKING ⚡ TODAY, I ANNOUNCED I AM LEADING AN EFFORT OF MULTIPLE STATES TO SUE JOE BIDEN AND HIS ADMINISTRATION FOR STOPPING OIL AND GAS LEASES IN THE GULF. (Video link at bottom.)
The Biden Ban against energy directly impacts tens of thousands of hard working Louisianans, middle class jobs, and takes food of the tables of Louisiana families. Biden's actions are driving up the price Americans pay at the pump. And the Biden Ban harms our national security.
In the video below you will see several Louisiana leaders supporting this effort including:
President of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association Mike Moncla,
Lori LeBlanc who is Vice President of LMOGA (the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association) and Executive Director for the Gulf Economic Survival Team (GEST),
and Representative Blake Miguez, the Republican Leader of the Louisiana House.
We were joined by my Louisiana Solicitor General Liz Murrill.
The following states have joined my lawsuit filed this morning in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia.
My official office video of the news conference below:
This Is Why The LAGOP Can't Have Nice Things
With a conservative Republican, Claston Bernard, being kept from a televised debate on WWL, the latest slap in the face comes with the Republican Jefferson Parish President, Cynthia Lee Sheng endorsing one of his Democratic challengers for the 2nd Congressional District race.
Lee Sheng has endorsed candidate Troy Carter.
“Troy’s always been accessible and easy to work with,” said Lee Sheng, a Republican, noting that Carter’s Algiers-centered district includes a portion of Jefferson Parish’s west bank. “I have not had an opportunity to work with Karen,” she added -- although a small portion of Peterson’s district extends into the east bank of Jefferson Parish.
It’s been said before and worth reiterating. The GOP will end up screwing up everything they put their hands to.
Louisiana ranks last among 'best' U.S. states for economy; education
Contrary to his opinion, the “Honor Code” Governor of the State of Louisiana has accomplished squat in the past 5 years of his administration, other than spending federal money, killing oil and gas and taxing the crap out of the citizens of this state.
Louisiana ranked No. 50 among the best states in a U.S. News and World Report survey that explored eight categories ranging from the economy to education.
The state has consistently ranked near the bottom for years.
Read more: Louisiana ranks last among 'best' U.S. states for economy; education
How Many US GOM Jobs Could Go Under Biden?
If U.S. President Joe Biden’s pause on new oil and natural gas leases in offshore waters becomes permanent, the effect on the U.S. Gulf of Mexico workforce would be considerable.
That’s what’s shown by the National Ocean Industries Association’s (NOIA) latest projections, which were prepared by Energy & Industrial Advisory Partners. According to these figures, which assume that no new lease sales would be held from 2022, Gulf of Mexico offshore oil and natural gas supported employment would decline by almost 200,000 jobs over the next two decades, compared to a base case figure.
Read more: How Many US GOM Jobs Could Go Under Biden?
St. Martin Parish judge temporarily blocks enforcement of governor's restrictions on bars
"I never knew what I could do in my own building, so I decided to file an injunction" Red's Levee Bar owner Liz Breaux said.
The order from 16th Judicial District Judge Anthony Thibodeaux granted a request to temporarily block enforcement of the restrictions against Red’s Levee Bar in Catahoula until a hearing slated for Dec. 28.
Read more: St. Martin Parish judge temporarily blocks enforcement of governor's restrictions on bars
A Message from Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin
My office has become aware of a disinformation campaign concerning voting in parishes hardest hit by Hurricane Laura. Several people have shared false information stating that all voters in Southwest Louisiana will be forced to vote by mail. This is untrue. We are working with clerks and registrars on reestablishing early voting location and emergency Election Day polling places. Please feel free to share my statement, found here and below, on your social media and with your friends and contacts in the affected areas. Please call my office at 225-922-2880 with any questions.
“We are working with the Registrar of Voters and Clerk of Court in both Calcasieu and Cameron Parishes to reestablish early voting locations and emergency Election Day polling locations for the November and December elections. Rumors that voters affected by Hurricane Laura will be forced to vote by mail are unfounded and untrue.”
