LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Benefits of Medicare Advantage

Dear Editor,

Like many Americans, I worked hard my entire life, looking forward to the day that I could sit back and enjoy my retirement. However, as the aches and pains of aging set in, I was worried this wouldn’t be a reality for me. It wasn’t just the physical health issues that concerned me, but also that the stress would affect my quality of life in other ways. Luckily, I was able to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, and its numerous benefits have impacted my life beyond belief.

Right off the bat, I was impressed with the attention my Medicare Advantage provider showed while I was enrolling in the program. They were genuinely concerned with my wants, and they had a commitment to meeting my personal and medical needs. As I began to learn more and more about the benefits Medicare Advantages offered, I was pleased with the comprehensive, low-cost coverage. My plan includes services like as dental, vision, and hearing benefits, wellness programs, home health services, and so much more.

 Because of Medicare Advantage, I can enjoy my retirement, like all people should, with my family, friends, and loved ones.

Sincerely

Lu Jones

How Credit Card Competition Act Would Affect You

Congress likely will vote on the Credit Card Competition Act in 2023, a bill that could eliminate almost all of the funding for popular credit card reward programs like cash back and travel points.

The proposed legislation would allow retailers to process credit card transactions without getting charged processing fees, putting millions of dollars into big-box retailers’ pockets.

Read more: How Credit Card Competition Act Would Affect You

LAGOP: Unity Is Our Only Path To Victory

The theme of today’s article is UNITY. Unity has been defined as the state of being undivided or unbroken, which is most assuredly not the face which Republicans presented to the electorate in the 2015 and 2019 gubernatorial elections. This article is submitted in the hope that conservatives may avoid the mistakes of the two previous gubernatorial elections. Since Democrat John Bel Edwards took office in 2016, every other southern state has prospered, even as Louisiana‘s industrial base has eroded and our population has declined. IT IS TIME FOR A CHANGE!
 
You may painfully recall the absolute bitterness engendered by the three-way Republican-on-Republican war in 2015. (Yes, I mean “war,” because there is simply no other word to describe what happened.) After the primary, major Republican candidates openly or covertly endorsed John Bel, with predictable results. And if 2019 was less overtly bitter, Republican-on-Republican attacks still resulted in another defeat.
 
We cannot keep doing the same thing over and over again and expect a different result. That is Einstein’s definition of insanity, yet we already have three Republican candidates in the governor’s race and we could have three more in short order. Now I well realize that the LAGOP is a large and growing party, and unlike that other party, we encourage healthy dialogue and tolerate dissent. We do not demand absolute adherence to the party platform on pain of cancellation, but we do share common goals and interests. If we are to achieve these goals, we must stop making the same mistakes. That is to say, we must be unified going into this race!
 
Conscious of this fact, the LAGOP acted to achieve unity in early November of last year, when a clear majority of its governing body, the Republican State Central Committee (RSCC), voted to endorse Attorney General Jeff Landry. For those of you who may not know, the RSCC is a two hundred and thirty member body of Republican activists elected in a Republican only election. The members are elected from around the state. They are ordinary folks just like you and me- only about ten percent of them have also been elected to a local, state, or federal public office. 
 
Let me be clear- LAGOP leadership did not initiate this endorsement. Contrary to what certain political persons have claimed, the endorsement of Jeff Landry by the RSCC was a grassroots effort by concerned members who wished to avoid a repeat of 2015 and 2019. Any Republican candidate for governor was welcome to seek the party’s official endorsement, but only Jeff Landry sought and received it.
 
So where are we at this early stage of the race? Jeff Landry has declared, as have two other candidates each polling at about one percent. But the word on the street is that Congressman Garret Graves of Louisiana’s 6th Congressional District will declare for the race this week. 
 
I will frankly admit that I like Garret Graves- he is just plain likable and he is an effective voice for conservatives in Congress. What’s more, I think he will go far in the House. Following in the footsteps of Steve Scalise and Mike Johnson, he almost certainly has a future in senior leadership. That’s why I believe he would be making a terrible mistake by leaving Congress for the governor’s mansion. Here’s why:
 
(1) Garret was just re-elected to Congress! All the hard work and treasure that was expended on his re-election would be wasted, and the hopes of the folks who just re-elected him would be betrayed. When a candidate runs for an office, there is an unspoken but sacred compact between him and his supporters that he will perform the duties of that office to the best of his ability. This fact is usually so obvious that it is rarely remarked upon, but now would be a good time to remind Garret of the importance of standing by his congressional oath of office.
 
(2) Republicans only have a four seat margin in this Congress. There will be many important votes in the House, virtually all of which are likely to be very close. Whether Garret ultimately won or lost the governor’s race, he would be forced to miss many of these crucial votes in Congress while he was campaigning in Louisiana. We cannot afford to lose a single vote in this Congress!
 
(3 If Garret were to win the governor’s race, he would have to resign from Congress. Do we really want him want to risk this critical seat? What if John Bel Edwards were to run to replace him? Remember, one doesn’t have to live in a Congressional district to run for the seat, and John Bel will be looking for a new job at just that time. The Democrats would instantly commit tens of millions of dollars to John Bel’s election. A few years in the House would place him in an excellent position to run for U. S. Senator in 2026, when Bill Cassidy must run for re-election or leave the Senate.
 
(4) If Garret does enter the governor’s race, he will start well behind Jeff Landry in popularity. Jeff has been a successful and popular statewide elected official for seven years, while Garret is only well known in the 6th Congressional District. Garret would be forced to relentlessly attack Jeff to have any chance of beating him, but wouldn’t that be a repeat of the the same mistakes we made in 2015 and 2019? And wouldn’t that turn most Republicans against him? And wouldn’t Donald Trump, who well remembers Garret’s comments about him after the 2020 election, travel early and often to Louisiana to express his support for Jeff?
 
(5) The LAGOP has already united behind Jeff Landry, and donations are flooding in. Everything points to a successful fundraising campaign over the next several months, and with only minor candidates to oppose him, Jeff’s pathway to the governorship has been eased considerably. Why change all that for the sake of one congressman’s ego? No well-intended conservative elected official or voter should be willing to risk the opportunity of a lifetime to change the political landscape of Louisiana just because he or she might favor one Republican candidate over another. After all, that would be the definition of insanity!
 
I’ll close, or rather I’ll let two of the greatest Americans who ever lived close for me, with the most important advice they ever gave to America. We Louisianians should profit by their wisdom:
 
“United we stand, divided we fall.”  
 
Abraham Lincoln
  
“We must all hang together, or most assuredly, we will all hang separately.” 
 
Benjamin Franklin
 
LOUIS GURVICH, Chairman
Republican Party of Louisiana

KENNEDY: Questions About Biden and His Classified Documents

The powers that be have known about Pres. Biden’s classified documents since Nov. 2nd—it’s now the middle of January.

I have some questions. pic.twitter.com/cVDzdTpVh7

— John Kennedy (@SenJohnKennedy) January 12, 2023

Jeff Landry on White House allegedly censoring 'Tucker Carlson Tonight': 'Clear violation of the First Amendment'

Congressman Mike Johnson Endorses Jeff Landry in Louisiana Governor's Race

"Our state is at a crossroads - my longtime friend Jeff Landry is the leader we need to meet this moment. The next 4 years will be absolutely critical for LA - I know Jeff will fight hard every day for our families and our future." - Congressman Mike Johnson #lagov #lalege pic.twitter.com/JU62SXVLOM

— Jeff Landry (@JeffLandry) January 9, 2023

Chairman Louis Gurvich: It's Time for Some New Year's Resolutions

Aneurin Bevan, an early to mid-20th Century British Labor politician otherwise best forgotten, once said “Politics is a blood sport.” He was right, of course, and as American politics in the 21st Century has become more partisan, so it has become bloodier and bloodier. But while we expect to engage in bitter partisan conflict against our increasingly radical opponents of the left, we can sometimes become mired in internecine fights against our fellow Republicans, and that is the subject of today’s post. And it just so happens that right now would be a good time to make some New Year’s resolutions…

If you are reading this you are probably a Republican, or at least a conservative. Perhaps you are a veteran political activist of many decades; perhaps you are a brand new, wet-behind-the ears political novice. Whatever the reason that you joined the LAGOP or began identifying yourself as a conservative, something caused you to commit to a set of ideals and goals which we all espouse. (I always assume it was just plain old common sense that caused you to join our ranks.) Yet we have seen an increasing number of Republican v. Republican races in the last few decades. That’s a great indicator of our party’s growing strength, but it can present serious problems if we let it.

You may well ask, if we are all committed to the same or nearly the same goals, why should there be any strife among us? After all, we have battles to win, battles which we must win to save our state and our country. Well, there are a couple of reasons.

Obviously, more than one Republican may seek any one office. Of course, this is a major factor in causing internal divisions. Because Republicans have the right set of beliefs and ideology, and the LAGOP is growing in strength and numbers, we frequently attract more than one quality candidate for any given office. 

While an abundance of good candidates will inevitably cause some divisions within our ranks, this problem is a natural outgrowth of belonging to a successful political movement. However, the problem can be controlled; in fact it must be controlled, or we’ll continue to lose the occasional race which we should otherwise win. Let’s briefly examine some of the factors which may play a role in our choice of a candidate:

Personalities are always a factor in politics. Psychiatrists and psychologists have long noted that there are distinct personality types among us, and certain types get along better or worse with other types. Different personality types are a fact of human nature, and this can play a huge role in our choice of a candidate. This factor is more important now than ever, because almost every voter can be in direct virtual contact with the candidates through mass and social media.

Political differences, even among Republicans and our allies, are also a fact of life. There will inevitably be some political differences among us, simply because we aren’t likely to agree with all of our colleagues all of the time. And this isn’t something new- it’s a fact of life in parties which operate within a democratic system of government.

In addition to personalities and political differences, other factors often come into play when we choose a candidate. He or she might hail from our city or region, or might have an accent we identify with. (We really do have lots of accents in Louisiana.) Maybe one candidate attended the same school or university, or attends the same church, or would be more likely to give you or someone you know a job or some appointment or other. 

There are all types of considerations, but remember, the fact remains that only one person can be elected to a given office. So I propose that we all adopt a short set of resolutions for the new year. Taken together, they may help us avoid some considerable disasters in the future:

(1) Resolve to never allow personal candidate preferences or anything but the most fundamental political differences to allow us to risk losing an election against a liberal and/or progressive candidate, and I mean never let this happen.

After all, this would be a betrayal of our fundamental political beliefs. I don’t care how mad we may become with each other over a particular candidate or issue. There is simply too much at stake to risk another debacle like the ones we suffered in 2015 and 2019. That’s not to say that we should give up on our principles- by all means we must hold our own in discussions and disputes with fellow Republicans, but remember that they may have a point and be respectful. (You should always be respectful anyway- civility and politeness are some of the traditional values that we are fighting to preserve.)

(2) Resolve to forgive your Republican opponents for past and present differences and grievances.

I’m not asking you to love all of your political colleagues. (That’s a commandment from a far higher authority.) But please, please be willing to work with them. Remember that we have far more in common with our fellow Republicans with whom we may occasionally disagree than we have with anyone in that other political party which has lost its collective mind. And don’t forget that you may need the help of your colleagues one day. This is the reason for one of the basic rules of politics- never hold a grudge!

(3) Resolve to spend a few moments early in this new year to recall the reasons that you joined our movement, and recommit yourself to your original goals and principles.

I think you’ll find this to be the most important resolution of all. I know I do, because it helps me to clear my mind of all the mental debris from the previous year’s fights. When I realize the importance of the battles we are fighting for the soul of a great nation, which in turn affects the lives of billions of my fellow human beings, this puts my personal feelings in perspective. I quit worrying about the slights and grievances that I’ve suffered or that I imagine that I’ve suffered.  I then understand the deeper message: I could no more quit and go home to a quiet apolitical life than I could grow wings and fly off into the sunset. That’s simply not an option for me- I’m in this fight to my dying breath. How about you?

LOUIS GURVICH, Chairman
Republican Party of Louisiana

Kennedy Email Sent to Supporters Announcing His Decision on Governor's Race

Sen. John Kennedy emailed his supporters yesterday indicating his decision to remain in the US Senate and not seek election to Governor of Louisiana.

The complete email @SenJohnKennedy sent to supporters... #lalege #lagov https://t.co/sA91tNjIi9 pic.twitter.com/9q9pKBksut

— Jeremy Alford (@LaPoliticsNow) January 4, 2023

LANDRY: Louisiana Population in Decline

GROW LOUISIANA COALITION: End of the World, Center of the Universe

Partnership for Our Working Coast is an alliance of industry and environmental partners collaborating to contribute to the coastal resiliency of our community, the environment and industry. Port Fourchon’s plan to dredge Belle Pass to 50 ft. will result in millions of cubic yards of dredged material that can be used to strengthen critical coastal infrastructure. The goal of the partnership is to identify beneficial, nature-based solutions for this material to contribute to Louisiana’s coastal sustainability efforts, protect communities and support America’s Working Coast.Show less

PELICAN INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY: Louisiana Education Dashboard

Understanding the data is extremely important in evaluating trends associated with, and the performance of, Louisiana’s elementary and secondary education system. Despite spending the most per student in the southeast U.S., Louisiana consistently ranks at the bottom of the country in public school educational outcomes. While there has been incremental progress, it’s been very slow, and generations of kids have been shortchanged in the knowledge and skills they’ve acquired for their future. Positive change can only happen when there’s honesty and transparency about current performance, high standards for student achievement, a strong plan for school improvement, and a system of choice that empowers parents to select the school that best meets their child’s needs.

With this in mind, the below dashboard provides insights and comparable data on student enrollment, finances, and academic performance. View local data by selecting your parish or school system from the drop-down menu. Individual pages can be printed using the icons at the top right of the dashboard.

Read more: LOUISIANA EDUCATION DASHBOARD

Three Gubernatorial Races to Watch in 2023

State Attorney General Jeff Landry (R) is so far the only GOP candidate to announce a run, while other Republicans are expected to join the race. Sen. John Kennedy (R) has said he is seriously considering a gubernatorial bid, while others weighing a run include Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser (R), Sen. Bill Cassidy (R), Rep. Garret Graves (R), state Sen. Sharon Hewitt (R) and state Treasurer John Schroder (R), according to the Lafayette Daily Advertiser.

No Democrats have yet officially joined the field, but as the Hill noted, a Democrat candidate would likely face an uphill battle, as the last time the state elected a Democrat governor before Edwards was in 2003.

Read more: Three Gubernatorial Races to Watch in 2023

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser Accused of Whistleblower Harassment

Sen. John Kennedy Slams Biden Immigration

RELEASE: FORT POLK MASTER SERGEANT FILES SUIT AGAINST BIDEN ADMINISTRATION OVER RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION DENIAL FOR VACCINE MANDATE

New Orleans–Today, the Pelican Center for Justice filed suit against the Biden Administration in the Western District of Louisiana. The suit was filed on behalf of Master Sergeant Robert W. Galey, Jr., and seeks an injunction against the administration’s unjust COVID-19 vaccine mandate for members of the United States Army.

Driven by his Christian faith, Master Sergeant Robert W. Galey, Jr., chose a life of service in the U.S. Army. That’s why he’s given sixteen years of his life as an active-duty infantry soldier and deployed eight times to combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan.

When the Army first told service members that they must receive the vaccine, Master Sergeant Galey began to research the production process. He discovered that the vaccine they would have to take was tested and produced in a way that violated his profession of faith. His first request for exemption was denied, as was his appeal. He received a final notice that he will be separated from the Army.

Due to his refusal to take the vaccine on religious grounds, he’s been denied training opportunities and promotions, and has now received notice that he will be discharged from the Army, which will include the loss of his retirement benefits, including pension and medical care for his family.

“Courts across America have continually ruled against the administration over this mandate, choosing to protect the religious liberty of Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who have made religious accommodation requests,” said Sarah Harbison, General Counsel at the Pelican Institute. “The Army should be no different.”

Some believe the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) will render a suit of this kind unnecessary due to a provision Republicans added rescinding the military’s COVID-19 mandate. Yet even the NDAA is not preventing Master Sergeant Galey’s unit from continuing to seek his separation from the Army.

Moreover, even if President Biden does sign the bill, what cannot be forgotten is two years of damages inflicted on faithful service members who chose not to take the vaccine for the sake of their faith. Many have already been separated or had their careers permanently damaged by the loss of promotion or training opportunities and are not addressed by the NDAA.

“When the President signs the bill, the news cycle will no doubt try to move on,” said James Baehr, Special Counsel at the Pelican Institute. “Yet what will be left behind are real damages that continue to affect real people—including those who serve God and our country with the utmost devotion. What happened to Master Sergeant Galey and other men and women of principle should never happen in this country again. The Pelican Institute will not stop fighting for them.”

The suit claims these actions clearly violate the Religious Freedom Restoration Act as well as First Amendment, and Master Sergeant Galey is seeking to vindicate the law and Constitution.

“I am grateful that Congress has recognized the harm that the COVID-19 vaccine mandate is having on the Army, but the NDAA changes won’t make me whole,” said Rob Galey, “I have missed out on training opportunities, been removed from leadership, and had my orders to an important follow-on assignment deleted, all for simply expressing my faith.”

The suit was filed in the Western District of Louisiana. This is the second case in which the Pelican Center for Justice has represented a servicemember over this unjust, unconstitutional vaccine mandate.

'She's Either Not Telling The Truth Or She's Day-Drinking': John Kennedy Roasts Karine Jean-Pierre

At a press briefing yesterday, Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) slammed the Biden Administration's record on the border.

Secretary Ardoin Takes Stand Against TikTok

In another significant move towards securing our elections, Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin has taken a stand against Tik Tok. This week the Secretary joined with State Representative Daryl Deshotel to institute a BAN on TikTok on all state-owned smartphones. 

Over the past few years, Tik Tok has become one of the most popular social media networks, but at the cost of the American people's data security. The Chinese-based tech firm is partly owned and run by the Chinese government - meaning that all data collected on the app is going straight to President Xi and his goons. 

By banning Tik Tok on all state government devices, Ardoin will further secure our state's elections and confidential information.

Ardoin released a statement on the initiative earlier this week: 

"I am grateful to be teaming up with Representative Deshotel after his announcement that he would pre-file a bill to ban the Chinese-owned TikTok on state-issued devices. TikTok is a threat to our citizens' personal data and has no business on any device owned by the State of Louisiana. Representative Deshotel and I believe we should be doing everything we can to protect our constituents' personally identifiable information. This bill will help do just that."

This common-sense bill will go before the legislature this spring. We look forward to making it law and defending our state from Communist Chinese data breaches. 

Steve Scalise privately being prepped by Republicans to snatch gavel from McCarthy: Report

As House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy seeks to fend off intraparty opposition to his bid to become the next House speaker, several Republicans are reportedly huddling behind another top member of their party for a possible leadership challenge.

A group of lawmakers has approached No. 2 Republican Rep. Steve Scalise (LA) about running for House speaker in the next Congress should McCarthy’s bid fail, telling him to “just be ready,” sources familiar told Politico. Scalise could offer a more agreeable alternative to McCarthy, as the House minority leader has faced opposition from a handful of Republicans that has threatened to derail his speakership bid.

Read more: Steve Scalise privately being prepped by Republicans to snatch gavel from McCarthy: Report

Gov. John Bel Edwards | End of The Year Press Conference

Violent tornado damages hospital, homes in New Iberia, Louisiana

NEW IBERIA, La. – Cleanup is underway after a violent tornado roared through New Iberia, Louisiana. Damage forced 60 families out of their homes in the city limits.

The tornado touched down near the Southport subdivision and damaged several homes there. Across town, it tore windows out of a medical center and the glass and debris rained down on the parked cars.

Read more: Violent tornado damages hospital, homes in New Iberia, Louisiana