LOGA Releases Statement on Hewitt v. Helix Energy Solutions Decision

BATON ROUGE, LA (September 20th, 2021) – A recent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in Hewitt v Helix Energy Solutions Group Inc. deemed a highly compensated employee eligible for overtime payments. The ruling not only goes against historical practice but was also directly contrary to decisions rendered by the federal First and Second Circuit courts when confronted with facts similar to this particular case.

After the decision was released, Louisiana Oil & Gas Association President Mike Moncla issued the following statement:

“The Louisiana Oil & Gas Association understands the importance of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and its impact on wage earners. However, this law was written in the spirit to protect lower-income employees, not highly compensated employees earning upwards of $200,000 like in this case. These are the kinds of lawsuits that continue to chase investment out of Louisiana and punish employers that furnish high-paying jobs. We hope this case will proceed to the United States Supreme Court for reversal. We also believe that Congress should address this through legislation. Some provisions of the FLSA are clearly out of touch with the oil and gas industry. Other occupations such as firefighters and police officers have been given special overtime considerations within the FLSA guidelines. The industry should be provided similar exemptions given the unique scheduling and unpredictable nature of oil and gas work.”

Congress is about to legislate a future without new medicines. We have a better plan

People who understand where medicines come from are sounding the alarm. In the largest grassroots effort in the history of the drug industry, we — alongside hundreds of biotech entrepreneurs, academic luminaries, patient advocates, and prominent investors — sent a letter to Congress explaining the drastic consequences of redefining the word “negotiation.” Others continue to add their names. The signers collectively represent nearly $187 billion in science-focused capital, 21,000 Americans employed in life sciences, and hundreds of drug candidates in clinical trials. We are motivated by a concern that Congress is about to extinguish the fight against disease and suffering that our community has dedicated itself to for decades.

Read more: Congress is about to legislate a future without new medicines. We have a better plan

CHEVRON COMMITS $3 MILLION TO SUPPORT HURRICANE IDA RELIEF AND RECOVERY EFFORTS

Photo source: Grow Louisiana Coalition

“As a major employer and longtime partner in several Gulf Coast communities, Chevron is fully committed to helping the region recover from the impacts of Hurricane Ida,” said Brad Middleton, Vice President of Chevron North America Exploration and Production Company’s Gulf of Mexico Business Unit, which is headquartered in Covington, La. “We understand that these resources are vital to support the response and recovery of our communities. There is significant recovery work to be done, and Chevron stands by our fellow Louisiana residents through this difficult time.”

Read more: CHEVRON COMMITS $3 MILLION TO SUPPORT HURRICANE IDA RELIEF AND RECOVERY EFFORTS

Missions Trip For Hurricane Ida Relief

Photo source: CNN

Our friends from the New Iberia area are putting together a crew to head to Houma this weekend to cook a hot meal for those that were affected by Ida. Right now, they’re surviving on bare basics for food, some still without water and most without power for another few weeks.

I’m providing a link to my Venmo in the event anyone would like to help out financially. If you haven’t seen the devastation from the storm, those photos only show a glimpse of what it looks like in person.

These good people don’t need a hand out. They need a hand up and we are doing that for them.

The cooking and serving location will be Houma First United Methodist Church. The following weekend, we are planning a trip to Galiano to help there. Future trips are also planned down the bayou

Will you help us?

Any amount is greatly appreciated.

Donations can be made here.

Thanks!!!

Chris Gary

GRAVES: Immediate Assistance Needed for Fuel Shortages

Congressman Garrett Graves issued the below letter to the Biden administration regarding fuel shortages in Louisiana, post Hurricane Ida:

AG LANDRY: The People of Louisiana Are Resilient!!!!

Hurricane Ida was brutally destructive. From Galliano to Bogalusa, LaPlace to Hammond, and everywhere in between - our neighbors have been devastated. Many are in need of shelter, water, power, and more - especially prayers.

My office and I have begun working with local officials to help how we can. This will be a long process. It is my hope that the federal government will assist our hurricane victims - those from Ida this week and Laura from last year as well.

I just got back from down the bayou. Lafourche and Terrebonne officials are working hard to search for those in need and to clear the roads.

For those who want to return from evacuation or those who want to help their loved ones there, now is NOT the time to go. Monitor local media and social media for the green light.

The people of Louisiana are resilient; we always have been. Together, we will get through this.

Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin Decides Not to Pursue Emergency Elections Plan

BATON ROUGE, La.— The office of the Louisiana Secretary of State announced today that it will not pursue another Emergency Elections Plan for the October 9, 2021 and November 13, 2021 elections.

“In reviewing the upcoming election cycle it became clear that one of the most important factors in reaching this decision was the widespread availability of vaccines and Louisiana’s overall vaccination rate, which are both increasing daily. As such, we have no intent to issue an Emergency Elections Plan (EEP) at this time,” said Secretary Ardoin. “We have administered seven different election days since the start of COVID, including the 2020 Presidential election. Last November, 70% of all registered voters—more than 2.1 million Louisianians— made their voices heard through early voting, absentee voting, or election day voting. Over 1.9 million of those voters chose to vote in-person, a time-honored tradition in Louisiana.”

Election Worker Safety - Because of our extensive experience with past elections since the beginning of the pandemic, we are fully equipped with the appropriate PPE and sanitation standards for our election workers. These experiences have resulted in well-established protocols to administer the October and November elections, including social distancing and sanitizing voting equipment.

Health Preparations - The Louisiana Secretary of State’s office has conducted elections large and small throughout the entirety of COVID-19 and even amidst the lockdown period. Given the lessons learned in the seven elections we’ve conducted since the onset of COVID in Louisiana, we believe that we have taken appropriate steps to effectively and safely conduct these elections based on the projected turnout.

Facility Occupancy Limits - While the Governor has reinstated mask requirements, currently there are no statewide mandated occupancy limits in place in Louisiana which would impact capacity at voting precincts or early voting centers.

Early Voting - We will not be expanding early voting, as our local election administration partners, the parish Clerks and Registrars of Voters have experienced difficulty retaining commissioners and staff as a result of extended hours and days. Also, adding additional days retroactively impacts the election calendar by shortening the time between elections and brings significant costs to the process.

Absentee Voting - Our records reflect that the November 2020 presidential election, which featured a 70% overall turnout, only 3% of absentee voters used this exception. As a percentage of the total vote, the COVID exception represented only 3/10 of 1% of the voting population. The upcoming elections are projected to have a significantly smaller turnout, inclusive of the competitive municipal elections in Orleans Parish as a portion of the statewide turnout.

Legislative Intent - The option to enact Emergency Election Plans were always designed to be a temporary cure for extraordinary, but short-term obstacles. During the recently ended Legislative Session, the Louisiana Legislature did not see fit to take up additional measures or offer changes to our authority relative to absentee voting or the Emergency Elections Plan process.

Orleans Parish Elections - We are heartened by the statistics indicating that by the end of this week, four out of five adults in Orleans Parish will have received at least one vaccine dose.

Democrats’ Majority At Risk If Biden Goes Down Wrong Path On Drug Pricing

Looking forward to the 2022 midterms, the Democrats face an uphill battle.

Not only do the Republicans only need to flip five seats to take back the House of Representatives, but the latest generic ballot polling from NBC News/Wall Street Journal indicates that the Democrats hold only a one-point lead nationwide, clearly within the margin of error and presumably favoring Republicans in many swing districts.

Further, redistricting has the likelihood to give Republicans an even better advantage.

Read more: Democrats’ Majority At Risk If Biden Goes Down Wrong Path On Drug Pricing

A Day of Prayer for the People of Afghanistan

From the desk of Franklin Graham...

Thousands of people are desperately trying to escape from Afghanistan after the country's fall to the Taliban. 

With the Taliban blocking access to the airport and all exit routes, this is a life or death situation for Christians and other religious minorities, and all those who worked with or for America over the past two decades. 

These Islamic extremists, who have taken Afghanistan by force, have a history of brutality, including beheadings and public executions. Time is short and the need is urgent, and this is why I am calling for a day of prayer on Sunday, August 22. 

With the Taliban blocking access to the airport and all exit routes, this is a life-or-death situation for Christians and other religious minorities, and all those who worked with or for America over the past two decades. There is no hope for these people to get out safely—apart from a miracle from the hand of God—and that's what we need to pray for.

It is a difficult and tragic situation. Will you please join me in praying for God to intervene in a mighty way?

Sincerely,

Franklin Graham 

CROUERE: There is Something Wrong with President Joe Biden

Americans Want to Know the Mental State of President Joe Biden. A Lost and Confused Joe Biden is a Danger as President ! Do you thing he is Mentally Competent Enough to be President? Biden is a Puppet and Not in Charge of his Administration. Americans Must Know if their President is Mentally Capable.

Crouere is dedicated to examining the top issues of the day on the local, state and national levels. Crouere offers viewers political debate, and analysis.

No Government Price Controls to Pay for Biden’s Gargantuan Spending Bill

Photo source: Citizens Against Government Waste

Here we go again.  Even though the private and competitive negotiations in Medicare Part D among insurers, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), drug manufacturers, and pharmacists resulted in lower than expected costs and high satisfaction, the Biden administration is calling for this system to be replaced with government-negotiated pricing, which is currently prohibited by the non-interference clause in Medicare law that protects market competition.  They claim that there would be significant savings, and this time they want to use this money to help pay for President Biden’s prolific “infrastructure” package.  But the government does not negotiate prices, it sets prices and uses price controls to achieve its objectives.

Read more: No Government Price Controls to Pay for Biden’s Gargantuan Spending Bill

Attorney General Jeff Landry Urges Supreme Court To Overturn Roe V Wade

BATON ROUGE, LA - Attorney General Jeff Landry recently joined Louisiana to a coalition of 24 states filing a legal brief at the U.S. Supreme Court in support of Mississippi’s law banning abortions after 15 weeks. The amicus brief in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization argues that Roe v. Wade should be overturned because it has no basis in the Constitution.

“I will never waver in my defense of the unborn,” said Attorney General Landry. “And I will always support a state's right to protect the unborn and their mothers.”

Attorney General Landry’s brief submits that Roe v. Wade and Casey v. Planned Parenthood were wrongly decided and are the cause of inconsistent rulings and differing jurisprudence.

Read more: Attorney General Jeff Landry Urges Supreme Court To Overturn Roe V Wade

Dan Bongino Welcomes "The Voice of Louisiana" as They Talk Bill Cassidy, RINO Republicans

Moon Griffon, "The Voice of Louisiana", was heard across the USA on Wednesday as a guest on Dan Bongino’s show.

LOGA Releases Statement on White House-OPEC Talks

BATON ROUGE, LA (August 11, 2021) – Earlier today, the White House issued a statement urging OPEC+ to increase oil production in order to satisfy the current demand for energy in the United States.

Louisiana Oil & Gas Association President Mike Moncla responded publicly to the White House this afternoon:

“Since President Biden took office last January, his administration has made it a top priority to decimate the American oil and gas industry to meet his unrealistic climate goals.

Pushing for an increase in foreign oil consumption hurts states like Louisiana who rely on energy production for job creation and tax revenue.

If the White House truly wants to expedite the post-COVID economic recovery, they should rely on energy companies here in the United States, not foreign entities that seek to exploit other nations to fill their pockets.

We encourage President Biden to work with our domestic industry partners to meet the energy needs of Americans."

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Mark Levin Visits W/ Moon Griffon to Discuss Latest Book, Cassidy

Photo source: Wikipedia

APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR LEAD FALL TRAINING

Photo source: Louisiana Women Lead

Baton Rouge, LA – Louisiana Women Lead (Lead), a non-profit, non-partisan organization whose mission is to train business-minded women to run for office in Louisiana, is inviting center or right-of-center women interested in running for office to apply for its fall training.

Lead’s fall training will take place on Saturday, October 16 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Monroe. Deadline for applications is Friday, September 10, and accepted trainees will be announced on Monday, September 20. Daycare will be provided for those who may need it.

The Lead Training will equip women with everything needed to know to run for office:
● Campaign Process
● Networks
● Marketing and Media
● Public Speaking
● Fundraising

Space is limited, so interested would-be candidates are encouraged to apply today by visiting www.louisianawomenlead.org and clicking “APPLY NOW.”

“We need women to reach their next goal and to be the next generation of leaders that are desperately needed in Louisiana,” Renee Amar, Executive Director of Louisiana Women Lead said. “Our training will give these up and coming leaders the tools to run a successful campaign and be the change we need.”

“Center and center-right women interested in public office who aren’t sure where to start will learn how to get their campaigns going with our training,” Cheryl Tolbert, LEAD Board Chair added. “The fall training will provide skills, information, networks, and other avenues to harness their interest, ideas, and passion to be leaders in our state and nation.”

The cost for training is $500, scholarships and a payment plan are available.

https://www.louisianawomenlead.org/apply 

About Louisiana Women Lead: Louisiana Women Lead was formed in 2020 to engage more center-right women in politics. Lead’s goal is to increase the number of women elected or appointed to leadership positions in Louisiana by breaking down barriers, create a statewide network for support, and provide tools to women so they have a leg up when running for or being appointed to office. For more information, visit http://www.louisianawomenlead.org .

Dr. Scott Gottlieb: COVID Cases Clearly Slowing in Louisiana

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.

KENNEDY: If you look up stupid stuff in the dictionary, there’s a picture of this bill

Senator Kennedy tears apart the bipartisan Senate infrastructure bill on 'The Ingraham Angle'

Lawmakers Should Reject Government “Negotiation” in Medicare Part D

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) has released a set of drug pricing principles that will likely be folded into the Democrat’s upcoming multi-trillion tax and spend reconciliation legislation. Wyden’s plan includes a number of concerning proposals including the imposition of price controls on Medicare Part D under the guise of “negotiation.”

Read more: Lawmakers Should Reject Government “Negotiation” in Medicare Part D

HIGGINS: UNITING THE LOUISIANA DELEGATION BEHIND SUPPLEMENTAL DISASTER RELIEF

Photo source: Clay Higgins - House of Representatives

Clay Higgins (LA-03) sent out the below information in a recent email to constituents regarding disaster assistance for Southwest Louisiana.

     While over $1.3 billion in federal assistance has been delivered to support immediate response costs, Southwest Louisiana continues to face extreme and long-term recovery needs that are best addressed with a supplemental disaster package. My office and the entire Louisiana delegation are united behind supplemental disaster relief. However, we need executive branch support to advance long-term recovery resources. Read the delegation letter here.

     We have stressed the importance of this matter repeatedly in direct communications with President Biden and publicly on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. However, we have seen no effort from Democratic leadership to move forward with a supplemental disaster bill. Speaker Pelosi's office recently stated in a media interview that the Democratic Congress and the Biden Administration are going to ‘consider the need for supplemental disaster funding’ for Louisiana. We are beyond the time for consideration. It’s been nearly a year since the devastation occurred. Read our latest communication to President Biden and Speaker Pelosi here.

     We must provide the thousands of severely impacted Americans in Southwest Louisiana with a proper federal response. My office will continue to push Louisiana's needs at the federal level.