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"
HIGGINS: Making Tax Cuts Permanent
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.
Cassidy on Fox & Friends: FBI should look into coordinated Democrat smear campaign against Kavanaugh
Administration Easing Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling Rules
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
Louisiana Right to Life: Pro-Life Leaders Celebrate Rulingon Admitting Privileges Law
For Immediate Release
Sept. 26, 2018
Contact: Benjamin Clapper
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."
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
Citizens for Louisiana Job Creators: AG Jeff Landry: Red River Waterway Appointment Unlawful
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.
Kennedy comments on Kavanaugh allegation
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
GOP Lawmaker Thinks Congress Should Be Subjected To Random Drug Testing Too
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
Canada must guard against unrestricted drug exports to the US
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
KENNEDY: Kavanaugh Hearings an “Intergalactic Freak Show”
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
Abraham Hamilton III Invites you to LFF's 20th Year Gala Celebration!
Over the last 20 years, Louisiana Family Forum has secured many victories for families in our state.
For tickets to this event, click here.
Graves Advances Bill to Increase Louisiana’s Energy Revenues, Funding for Coastal Restoration
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.
CLIMATE LAWSUITS MAY DRIVE THOUSANDS OF JOBS OUT OF THE US, BUSINESS LEADER SAYS
Photo source: National Journal
LABI President and CEO Stephen Waguespack warns that the mounting legal costs and hostility to business will force manufacturers out of select states and could push businesses out of the country altogether.
Lawsuits targeting oil and gas producers over Louisiana’s coastal environment have been “in vogue” in the state since 2013, according to Waguespack. Since then, Louisiana’s manufacturing sector has fallen behind surrounding states.
Read more: CLIMATE LAWSUITS MAY DRIVE THOUSANDS OF JOBS OUT OF THE US, BUSINESS LEADER SAYS
VENABLE: Lawsuit Abuse in Louisiana: Time to Turn Up the Heat
Photo source/ Facebook
By Lana Venable, Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch Executive Director
Some things never change – it’s been another long, hot summer in Louisiana, and aggressive plaintiff’s attorneys continue to pull out all the stops to advance what has become a cottage industry – unfounded lawsuits. A seemingly endless array of billboards along Louisiana roadways introduce drivers to many of the state’s trial lawyers, promising quick cash to sue and quickly settle accident claims.
From abusive litigation that impacts consumers to plaintiff-friendly judges handing out large payouts, Louisiana has earned a longstanding reputation as one of the most litigious states in the country. It should come as no surprise that the Pelican State has consistently garnered one of the top spots in the American Tort Reform Foundation’s annual Judicial Hellholes Report.
Unfounded lawsuits hurt businesses, both large and small, while generating exorbitant fees for attorneys. But many people don’t connect that these contingent fees and large plaintiff awards drive up the cost of doing business. Consequently, we customers are at the lower end of the stick are paying the price with drastic increases in prices for products and services.
Our state is home to a prime example – the high cost of auto insurance. Last year, Louisianans paid the second-highest auto insurance rates in the U.S., with an annual average premium of around $1,920. Most Louisiana drivers are uninsured or underinsured, which encourages drivers involved in accidents to sue. To compensate for this onslaught of lawsuits, Louisianans who do carry insurance are forced to pay higher premiums. Not only are drivers feeling the effects, but insurers are as well – several companies have left Louisiana over the past two years due to the unprofitability of the auto insurance industry.
Auto lawsuit abuse affects everyone in this state. On top of that, Louisiana has also earned the distinction of having the nation’s highest jury trial threshold, while 36 states have no threshold at all. Put simply, this means that Louisiana civil cases valued at less than $50,000 are tried without benefit of a jury. In these cases, a judge, rather than a jury, determines a verdict. This simply gives plaintiff-friendly local judges too much power over lawsuit outcomes. Perhaps it is no coincidence that 53 percent of claims in Louisiana are under $50,000, allowing trial lawyers to go “judge shopping” for favorable venues and denying many citizens their fundamental right to a trial before a jury. A settlement is often agreed to without risk of going to court.
Another area of concern is the rising number of claims targeting small businesses for minor violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Data from 2016 shows the filing of disability-access complaints in Louisiana has increased more than 360 percent from 2011 – 2016. Money-seeking plaintiffs typically target local and state governments, shopping centers and other small businesses and file claims without giving notice to the defendants. The businesses of Louisiana towns do not have a chance or the opportunity to resolve the slight issue and instead are faced with the high cost of defending themselves against frivolous lawsuits. In many areas, this trend has forced many small business owners to close shop. This shameful approach violates the spirit in which this important statute was written.
These are just a few examples of how deeply our legal climate is flawed. This state should look to improve these policies to drive down costs for consumers and businesses and contribute to the its overall economic health.
As a first step, it’s not too early to begin thinking about the historic turnover in the Legislature next year, with more than a third of the current body term-limited. LLAW urges concerned citizens to get engaged in the process to reform our legal climate and use your votes to turn up the heat in 2019.
DRUG PROPOSAL COULD BE MAJOR JOB CREATOR IN INDIA, CHINA
Photo source: Facebook
Drug companies in India and China are drooling over the prospect that many American jobs in the pharmaceutical industry could soon be outsourced overseas.
The reason? A recent announcement from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that it is exploring so-called “importation” proposals, which would open the foreign drug market to Americans at rates set arbitrarily by other governments.
“The doors appear to be opening,” reports an industry newspaper the Pharma Letter, calling the development a “major positive for the India pharma industry.”
Read more: DRUG PROPOSAL COULD BE MAJOR JOB CREATOR IN INDIA, CHINA
LANDRY: Response to Times Picayune
Photo source: Facebook
The following is a response to a piece put out in New Orleans’ fish wrap from Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry.
As the grandson of a newspaper publisher, I can appreciate headlines as much as anyone; the better they are, the more readers and sales.
However, Friday’s completely false title “AG Jeff Landry says he has no authority to investigate Catholic church sex abuse" was nothing more than an over-the-top, sensationalized, false headline intended to mislead the public and attack me and my office.
Worse, the headline and entire tone of the story smacked of blatant, religious bigotry.
To insinuate that I, or anyone in my office, would ignore an attack against children from any source, including a church, is absolutely false.
To insinuate that because I am a Catholic that I would not protect the children of this State from a child predator is outrageous!
As a father and a Catholic, I am deeply offended. This article by the Times Picayune is pure unadulterated religious bigotry which we have not seen in this State since the hey-day of the Ku Klux Klan.
To be absolutely clear and accurate: to date, since I have been Attorney General, my office has not received one single complaint against any clergyman of the Catholic Church in the State of Louisiana or any referrals from a local District Attorney which is required under law for my office to initiate a prosecution.
As someone who has successfully won court case after court case on the separation of powers, I have no inclination of overstepping my constitutional authority or doing the Legislature’s job.
As a practicing Catholic, I wholeheartedly support efforts to root out pedophile priests and end the horrific misconduct by Church authorities. Those who sexually abused children and those who covered up their despicable acts should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
If any accusations are brought to my attention of this happening in Louisiana, my office and I will work with state, local and other officials to help find it, root it out, and working with local District Attorneys bring predators to justice.
Again, my office has yet to receive any Constitutional referrals on such matters from local District Attorneys.
My commitment to the rule of law and my desire to get justice are why I encourage anyone in our State’s seven dioceses to bring forward any charges that can be prosecuted.
I further encourage the Governor to dedicate State Troopers and State Police resources to assist in any investigation.
Again, there have been no criminal complaints made to the Louisiana Department of Justice. And smearing the Church and its clergy without specific complaints of criminal acts is irresponsible.
Claiming that I, or any other head of a law enforcement agency, will cover up criminal conduct because of our religious beliefs is bigotry, plan and simple.
The Times Picayune newspaper should be ashamed and should apologize to all Catholics within Louisiana and all believers of any Church who would see insinuations made against a church with no accusations of misconduct.
The readers of the Times Picayune and all other newspapers deserve reliable and trustworthy reporting, especially on matters as important and serious as child sex abuse. Friday’s clickbait failed on all accounts.
Alligator Hunt 2018
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry held his annual Alligator Hunt over this past weekend. I had the pleasure of spending the day with my family in the swamps of South Louisiana annoying awesome Cajun food, fellowship and music. Several current and former Congressmen from DC were in attendance and a very special guest, Donald Trump, Jr. spent the weekend with General Landry.
Here are a few photos from the event.
Louisiana Family Forum: Landry Leads on Life and Design!
Photo source: LifeNews
Led by Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, Attorneys General in 17 states defended an Indiana law Thursday thatrequires abortion facilities to offer women the chance to see an ultrasound of their unborn baby prior to their abortion.
The state leaders submitted their brief this week to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the Huntingdon News reports. Planned Parenthood challenged the law in 2016, and a 7th-Circuit panel sided with the abortion chain in July.
Additionally, Landry has joined 15 other Republican attorneys general and governors asking the U.S. Supreme Court to reject workplace protections that would prevent transgender people from being fired for their gender identity.
Landry signed onto a legal brief asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a lower court ruling that determined a Michigan woman was unlawfully fired from the funeral home where she worked for being transgender. The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that federal laws prohibiting discrimination based on sex protected her and that her employer's religious beliefs cannot be used to justify her firing.
Read more: 17 States Defend Laws Allowing Women to See Ultrasound of Baby Before Abortion
Louisiana AG Denies $600 Million To Banks Over Gun Control
Photo source: Wikipedia
Louisiana attorney general explains on 'Fox & Friends' why the state decided to block Citibank and Bank of America from underwriting infrastructure bonds.
