Republican Party of Louisiana Welcomes Representative Francis Thompson

Thompson Switch Creates Republican Super-Majority in Louisiana Legislature

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2023

BATON ROUGE, LA— The Republican Party of Louisiana welcomed State Representative Francis Thompson to the Republican Party on Friday.

A lifelong Democrat, Thompson said that he feels more comfortable as a member of a party with traditional values.

"Let me clear -- Nothing has changed!", Thompson stated. "There are values and principles that I firmly hold onto that guide my decisions. My conservative voting record over my years in the Legislature speaks for itself. The push the past several years by Democratic leadership on both the national and state level to support certain issues does not align with those values and principles that are a part of my Christian life," Thompson said.

LAGOP Chairman Louis Gurvich welcomed Thompson, noting the historic nature of the switch.

"This is a historic day for the Republican Party. Francis having joined our ranks is further evidence of Louisiana's yearning for conservative values and a rejection of Washington liberal politics," Gurvich said.

House Majority Leader Blake Miguez, who accompanied Thompson at a Friday morning news conference held at LAGOP Headquarters, said: "Today marks a pivotal moment for the Louisiana Legislature, as it has reached a supermajority for the first time in modern history. Representative Thompson's decision to change parties after 48 years sheds light on the evolving nature of political affiliations and highlights the importance of this milestone for the Legislature." 

Francis Thompson is the longest serving member of the Louisiana Legislature, having served 32 years in the House, then 12 years in the Senate and back to the House for 4 years. He represents District 19 in East Carroll, Madison, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland and West Carroll Parishes.

Thompson is a retired college professor and businessman. He hosts a lifelong dedication to education at all levels in Louisiana. He serves as Vice Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and previously served as Chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development Committee from 2008-2019.

Miguez continued, "Francis made a personal choice to switch parties, influenced by his faith and his perception that the Democratic Party no longer aligns with his values. As a person of faith, he found the Republican Party to be more compatible with his principles, a sentiment shared by many Louisianians. This is a meaningful decision for a veteran legislator who has witnessed numerous shifts in our state's political landscape, and we extend a warm welcome to him in our party."

"My choice to move to the Republican Party is one that best represents my views and those of the constituents who elect me to serve them." Thompson concluded.

Top Senate Republican accuses Biden of 'throwing away' US energy sector in budget plan

Photo source: Wikipedia

The No. 3 Republican in the Senate is accusing the Biden administration of "throwing away" the U.S. energy sector in his recently unveiled budget proposal that would punish fossil fuels with higher taxes and award "lavish subsidies" to green energy initiatives.

"America is fortunate to have abundant energy resources. Our nation needs to be focused on unleashing American energy and innovation instead of throwing away one of our biggest economic and geopolitical advantages," Senate GOP Conference Chair John Barrasso, R-Wyo., wrote in a Thursday letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

Read more: Top Senate Republican accuses Biden of 'throwing away' US energy sector in budget plan

Landry to Raise Over $500k in Baton Rouge Thursday Night

Baton Rouge, La. — Jeff Landry announced he is expected to raise over $500,000 on Thursday night in Baton Rouge. He is supported by some of Baton Rouge’s top business leaders and job creators. 

“I am humbled by the overwhelming support from folks in Baton Rouge and across our state,” said Landry. “It’s clear they understand there is a lot at stake this election, and with Louisiana’s continued support, we can finally get ahold of crime, fix our education system, and bring jobs and talent back to our great state.”

Jeff Landry Hires Deputy Campaign Manager

Photo source: LinkedIn

LAFAYETTE, LA — Today, Jeff Landry announced he has hired John Kay as his Deputy Campaign Manager. John has over fifteen years of political and public policy experience in Louisiana working for the Louisiana Republican Party, numerous political campaigns, serving as an aide to Congressman John Fleming, and as Deputy State Director and State Director for Americans for Prosperity. Most recently, John served as the Senior Vice President at the Pelican Institute for Public Policy where he oversaw government relations, communications, and the grassroots advocacy arm Pelican Action. 

COMMERCIAL FREE REPLAY: Tucker Carlson Tonight, Jan 6th Video Released

Air Date: 03/07/2023

Republican Party Of East Baton Rouge Parish Endorses Atty. Gen. Jeff Landry For Governor

BATON ROUGE — Crime is the No. 1 issue facing East Baton Rouge Parish followed closely by transportation, and those two issues were pivotal in helping the Republican Party of East Baton Rouge Parish decide to endorse Attorney General Jeff Landry for Governor, according to parish Republican chairman and former Rep. Woody Jenkins.  The election is Oct. 14.

Observers believe the Republican Party of East Baton Rouge Parish is the most influencial local Republican Party in the state and that its endorsement is second only to the Louisiana Republican Party in its impact.  This endorsement effectively closes the door on other Republican candidates who may choose to challenge Landry, Jenkins said.

Jenkins issued the following statement on behalf of the Republican Party: “Jeff Landry grew up in St. Martinville in the heart of Cajun country.  His roots in our state go back nearly 300 years.  He is truly a man of the people.  He began by working in the sugar cane fields and joined the Army National Guard while still in high school.  His 11 years in our military included service as a decorated veteran of Desert Storm.”

“Jeff Landry began in law enforcement as a St. Martin Parish sheriff’s deputy, which gave him first-hand experience fighting crime on the streets. Along the way, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Louisiana in environmental and sustainable resources with a minor in biology.  He then began his own oil and gas environmental service company.  He also served as executive director of the St. Martin Parish Economic Development Authority.  These experiences helped him understand the effect of overregulation on the oil and gas industry, which is so vital to the Louisiana economy.”

“With a strong desire to protect individual rights under the Constitution, Jeff worked his way through the Loyola University Law School, working during the day and going to school at night.  He graduated with his Juris Doctor degree in 2004.  He practiced law until his election to the United States Congress from Louisiana’s 3rd District in 2008 and served two terms in Congress, where he was considered one of the most conservative members.”

“In 2015, he was elected Louisiana Attorney General, a position which allowed him to earn a place of honor in state history as a result of his stand for the Constitution during the lockdown of the state beginning in March 2020.”

“Attorney General Jeff Landry was the only statewide elected official in Louisiana who stood up against Gov. John Bel Edwards’ illegal, unconstitutional orders locking down our cities, ordering businesses to close, shutting down churches across the state, closing schools, ordering millions of our citizens to wear worthless masks, and trying to force people to get vaccines they did not want.”  

“General Landry not only spoke out against these blatant violations of the U.S. Constitution and the Louisiana Constitution, but he sprung into action.  He went into court, filing numerous suits and friend of the court briefs to fight violations of the First Amendment, Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Assembly, the Right to Property, and the Right to Privacy.  Moreover, many of those suits have been successful, ending vaccine mandates not only in Louisiana but nationwide.  In fact, he has successfully sued the federal government for violating the Constitution more than any Attorney General in the United States.”  

“As Attorney General, he has continued fighting crime.  He created the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation to carry the fight against crime to a higher level and the Louisiana Solicitor General’s office to handle major litigation in cases that impact Louisiana as they made their way to the U. S. Supreme Court.”

“We are very impressed by Jeff Landry’s opposition to Shawn Wilson’s bizarre $1.6 billion plan for Interstate 10 in Baton Rouge.  This $1.6 billion plan would tear down I-10 from the bridge to the I-12 split, take 16 years to complete, and reduce traffic on the Interstate to one or two lanes for years.  This would virtually destroy the Baton Rouge economy. Everyone should oppose this plan because it circumvents the public bid law and wastes enormous resources needed for projects across the state. We favor a reasonable plan for $100 million that would simply add one lane on each side of the Interstate, while keeping our economy running.”

“As President of the National Association of Attorneys General, Jeff Landry has been a strong and influential leader.  He has used those outstanding connections to form alliances with attorneys general from other states in his suits against the overreach of the federal government.”

“Jeff Landry has the conservative philosophy, the character, and the courage to help Louisiana fulfill its potential, creating a prosperous, safe, moral, and compassionate place to live, work, and raise a family.”

“Republican Parish Executive Committee members interviewed Jeff Landry for 90 minutes and were very favorably impressed by his grasp of the important issues facing the state and his vision for the future.  He fully responded to the party’s questionnaire with answers that showed his commitment to conservative principles.”

“The Republican Party believes Jeff Landry is the best candidate for Governor and one of the finest candidates for any office we have seen in years, and we fully support him,” Jenkins said.  “We will be campaigning for him at the grassroots level in East Baton Rouge Parish and do everything in our power to help him be elected.”

Republican Party of East Baton Rouge Parish Endorses Jeff Landry for Governor

“The Republican Party believes Jeff Landry is the best candidate for Governor and one of the finest candidates for any office we have seen in years, and we fully support him.”

BATON ROUGE, La. — Today, Jeff Landry announced he secured the endorsement of the Republican Party of East Baton Rouge Parish. Crime is the No. 1 issue facing East Baton Rouge Parish followed closely by transportation, and those two issues were pivotal in helping the Republican Party of East Baton Rouge Parish decide to endorse Attorney General Jeff Landry for Governor.

“Observers believe the Republican Party of East Baton Rouge Parish is the most influential local Republican Party in the state and that its endorsement is second only to the Louisiana Republican Party in its impact.  This endorsement effectively closes the door on other Republican candidates who may choose to challenge Landry,” said Republican Chairman and former Rep. Woody Jenkins.

 Key excerpts from the EBR Republican Party’s full statement:

“Jeff Landry grew up in St. Martinville in the heart of Cajun country… He is truly a man of the people.”

“Jeff Landry began in law enforcement as a St. Martin Parish sheriff’s deputy, which gave him first-hand experience fighting crime on the streets…As Attorney General, he has continued fighting crime.”

“In 2015, he was elected Louisiana Attorney General, a position which allowed him to earn a place of honor in state history as a result of his stand for the Constitution during the lockdown of the state…”

“Attorney General Jeff Landry was the only statewide elected official in Louisiana who stood up against Gov. John Bel Edwards’ illegal, unconstitutional orders locking down our cities, ordering businesses to close, shutting down churches across the state, closing schools…”

“Jeff Landry has the conservative philosophy, the character, and the courage to help Louisiana fulfill its potential, creating a prosperous, safe, moral, and compassionate place to live, work, and raise a family.”

“Republican Parish Executive Committee members interviewed Jeff Landry for 90 minutes and were very favorably impressed by his grasp of the important issues facing the state and his vision for the future.”

“The Republican Party believes Jeff Landry is the best candidate for Governor and one of the finest candidates for any office we have seen in years, and we fully support him. We will be campaigning for him at the grassroots level in East Baton Rouge Parish and do everything in our power to help him be elected.”

###

Mike Johnson: Government Spending Money Faster Than the Speed Of Light

In House floor remarks on Wednesday, Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) spoke about government spending.

Sen. John Kennedy Says the Only Way to Improve Biden’s Budget ‘Is With a Shredder’

The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget warns the budget would result in the country’s debt rising from 98% of GDP at the end of 2023 to 106% by 2027 and then 110% by 2033.

According to their analysis, despite some attempts at deficit reduction, nominal debt would nearly double, growing from $24.6 trillion to $43.6 trillion over the next decade.

"The only way I know how to improve the president's budget is with a shredder," Kennedy said Sunday.

🔥🔥🔥 Sen. @JohnKennedyLA: “The only way I know how to improve [Biden’s] budget is with a shredder.” pic.twitter.com/RgEhftVH9R

— GOP (@GOP) March 12, 2023

Read more: Sen. John Kennedy says the only way to improve Biden’s budget ‘is with a shredder’

Louisiana Senate District 22 Poll Results

JMC Analytics and Polling was commissioned to conduct this poll for the Louisiana Committee for a Conservative Majority (LCCM).

• Likely voters in Senate District 22 (as passed by the First Extraordinary Session of the 2022 Legislature), conducted March 4-5, 2023 (4.9% MOE with 95% confidence interval)

• Sample size: 400 (70% cell phones (texted), 30% landlines (live dialed) - “hybrid” poll)

• Geography (Parishes): Iberia: 38%, Lafayette: 26%, St. Martin: 36% (Explanation is graphically depicted in Exhibit A)

• (Note: Results were weighted to a 22% black, 46% Republican, 17% non-black Democratic, 15% non-black Independent electorate - similar to the electorate of the 2018-2022 election cycles)

Boysie Bollinger and Joe Canizaro Endorse Jeff Landry for Governor

Lafayette, La. — Today, Jeff Landry announced he has secured the endorsement of Boysie Bollinger and Joe Canizaro in his race for Governor of Louisiana.

"It has been our honor to lead and work with various Republican efforts and candidates over the last several decades.  Louisiana has made some great strides and elected some great leaders, but there is still so much to do.  We both love and call Louisiana home, but have watched family and friends leave her behind to seek better opportunities elsewhere.  The Gulf South is booming and primed to become a major hub of growth in our country.  There is no reason why Louisiana can’t be a part of this boom; we just need a good team to get us there. This is why we both enthusiastically are supporting Jeff Landry for Governor,” said Bollinger and Canizaro.

“Jeff has worked hard and built a strong statewide organization of grassroots and GOTV efforts.  He has and continues to vigorously raise the much needed funds this race will take putting us in the best position to elect the next conservative Governor.  But past the election and what we think will be his victory; Jeff has the courage and determination to effect real reforms to turn our state around and start a rebirth of jobs, industries, and opportunities in Louisiana.  Together with our congressional delegation and the state legislature, we have a great team and Jeff is the right person to lead us into a great future," continued Bollinger and Canizaro.

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

GRAVES: Louisiana's Future

Good morning,

Thank you for your support and encouragement.

Louisiana is at a crossroads. This Governor’s election is going to be the most consequential in our lifetime. We are one of the most blessed states in the country. We have more strategic advantages - our resources, people and culture - than virtually any other, yet our citizens are burdened with some of the greatest disadvantages: crime, traffic, taxes, insurance, education, flooding and lost opportunity. Nearly half of our state budget is Medicaid, the federal healthcare safety net program for the poor — one-half of the entire budget. And, we are losing our best and brightest to Texas, North Carolina, Georgia and others.  There is no excuse for our situation.

The next Governor will not succeed by being just a great executive. The next Governor must be a leader who unites all the state’s community leaders, our job creators, and elected representatives around a bright, bold vision and plan for the state’s great comeback story - so that we’re all rowing in the same direction. All of us.

Our next Governor must capitalize on our strategic advantages, take courageous action and lead this state in a direction where the need for a lifetime of social welfare programs and poverty are replaced with hope, opportunity, upward mobility and living our dreams.

For nearly two years now, Carissa and I have been overwhelmed by the support and encouragement by you and so many others to play the prominent role in Louisiana’s transformation. And we have told everyone we talk to that we are praying about it and will follow God’s wisdom to serve in the best manner in which to contribute to this important task. The question is where can we be most helpful to our citizens. After much prayerful consideration and hundreds of conversations, it is clear that the best service we can provide to Louisianans and the next Governor is by building upon our wins in the U.S. Congress.

The role you’ve enabled me to play now is to support a Governor who will lead and unite our state - a Governor with a bold, hopeful vision of Louisiana’s promise that is equal to her potential. 

In the coming days, the field for Governor will brighten. And Louisiana will have a generational opportunity to write America’s greatest comeback story. 

As the proud representative of the nearly 800,000 people I am honored to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, I am absolutely committed to Louisiana’s future and will work hard to ensure that Louisiana wins the next election this fall.

God Bless,
Garret Graves

Higgins on Greg Kelly Reports

Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) sits down with Greg Kelly Reports of Newsmax to discuss the GOP majority and the federal government's bureaucracy.

Sen. John Kennedy: America is Star Spangled Awesome!

"Today I want to talk to you about truth the honored unvarnished truth the truth is important without the truth we cannot order Society without the truth we cannot survive as human beings and without the truth we certainly cannot Thrive as human beings can you handle the truth I think you can the truth is that it is important to speak your mind so I do now that makes some people mad but I try not to worry too much about what anyone thinks of me except dogs I really like dogs and sometimes my friends will ask me they say Kennedy how do you sleep at night how do you sleep at night knowing that some people don't like you and I tell them with the fan on because I think I make the right people mad. What else is the truth the truth is that God is great beer is good and and the United States of America is Star Spangled awesome!"

Business Groups Sue EPA Over Water Rule

In a major development in the ongoing battle over environmental regulations, several business associations have filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers challenging their new Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Associated General Contractors of Kentucky, the Home Builders Association of Kentucky, the Portland Cement Association, and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce are among the plaintiffs in the case.

The new WOTUS rule significantly expands the authority of the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers, using vaguely defined terms to cover millions of acres of water and land features, including ponds, farms, and backyards. This has created confusion and uncertainty for landowners, businesses, and farmers, who are now required to hire expensive consultants and experts to determine whether they need permits to use their land. If they make a mistake, they could face significant penalties.

“While the Administration has laid out ambitious climate and infrastructure goals, they will not be achievable with this Waters of the United States rule, which creates needless uncertainty and endless red tape and requires businesses of all sizes to navigate an expensive and time-consuming permitting process,” said Marty Durbin, Senior Vice President of Policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The business associations argue that the new rule exceeds the federal government’s statutory authority and is difficult to understand and use. They are asking the court to stop the WOTUS rule from going into effect while the litigation is pending by issuing an injunction, and ultimately to find the rule invalid.

“Businesses and landowners in Kentucky and across the country need predictable, stable regulations that stay within the bounds of the law and provide clear, workable rules of the road for private enterprise,” said Ashli Watts, President and CEO at the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. “Federal, state, and local government agencies all have a role to play as partners with business in protecting clean water and the environment—but each agency must stay in its lawful lane and avoid overreach. We and our fellow plaintiffs are bringing this lawsuit to protect the interests of our members and promote a regulatory environment that is fair, economically sustainable, and legally durable.”

This is not the first time WOTUS regulations have been subject to legal battles. The previous administration attempted to provide clear definitions to comply with legal requirements, but the Biden Administration's new rule has created uncertainty and confusion, which the business associations argue is unnecessary.

The Portland Cement Association and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce have also joined the lawsuit as co-plaintiffs. The Chamber of Commerce believes that the Administration should have waited for guidance from the Supreme Court before issuing these new regulations, which are likely to be rendered out of date by the Court's upcoming decision in the Sackett v. EPA case.

LAGOP: Bidenflation

Last week we heard from no less a personage than Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris, who assured us that Joe Biden’s administration had “reduced heating and electricity bills so folks have more money in their pocket.” Now one does not have to be a dyed-in-the-wool conservative to realize that Kamala Harris is an economic illiterate, but let us take a moment to review the true situation.

January’s consumer price index (the usual measure of inflation) rose by 6.4% compared with last year. Now this 6.4% inflation rate actually is down a bit from the worst months of 2022, when the public received horrifying reports of 8-9% increases. Even so, a 6.4% inflation rate is still over three times higher than our inflation rate has been for most of the last forty years!

And if Kamala Harris can plausibly plead total ignorance of all things economic, Joe Biden has no such defense- he has been roaming the halls of government for far longer than most Americans have been on this Earth. When his 2021 assurances that inflation would be “transitory” turned out to be untrue, he falsely blamed the sky-high inflation rate on Donald Trump and then flatly denied to the American people that his multi-trillion dollar woke spending spree had anything to do it. He well knew better, but his progressive political base was more important to him than the economic well-being of his country.

A hard dose of the facts is in order: In just the last year, fuel oil is up 27.7%; natural gas is up 26.7%; electricity is up 11.9%; food is up 11.8%. So how can Biden point to any successes in dealing with inflation? It’s simple, if you don’t mind lying to the American public. Just take credit for reducing inflation in every month that the rate of inflation goes down. For example, when the inflation rate goes from 6.5% in December 2022 to 6.4% in January 2023, tell everyone how great you are at reducing inflation. Just forget to mention the simple fact that (1) you are responsible for most of the inflation in the first place, and (2) the inflation rate is still over three times higher than it should be. Unscrupulous politicians occasionally use this fallacious type of argument, but Biden seems wholly incapable of communicating without resort to it.

Moreover, the real truth is even worse than the simple inflation numbers: Because average hourly earnings are rising more slowly than inflation, real average earnings have fallen by 1.8% since just last year. To put this disaster in proper perspective, real wages have now fallen for twenty-two months in a row, which is just about when Joe Biden passed that first $1.9 trillion stimulus package. As it now stands, 77% of Americans now say that inflation is causing them financial hardship.

And inflation is not going away any time soon. Obama’s former economic adviser Jason Furman tweeted last week that the economy was now overheated because Biden had made little progress in reducing inflation. He went on to tweet that there was little reason to expect a slowdown in inflation going forward. Any first year economics student knows that you can’t pump multi-trillions of dollars into an economy, even one as large as ours, without causing serious inflation.

So while our wages and savings further decline as inflation eats away at the value of our dollars, our own government is forced to continue to raise interest rates to slow down our overheated economy, thus putting that new house, car, washing machine, or vacation out of reach for the average American. We are entering a Joe Biden-caused recession, and we can only pray that it will not be a particularly deep or long-lasting one.

Welcome back to Jimmy Carter’s stagflation of the 1970’s, courtesy of a corrupt and doddering president with a lifetime penchant for lying to the American public! Great job, Joe!

Louis Gurvich, Chairman
Republican Party of Louisiana

CAJUN PAC II: THANK YOU to Attorney General Jeff Landry!

As Louisiana's AG, you have been a TRUE CHAMPION for the Conservative movement and the things that concern our great state and our citizens the most...

✅LAW AND ORDER.

✅Protecting our JOBS AND ECONOMY from federal overreach.

✅Protecting Louisiana's NEXT GENERATION by putting children first and 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗔𝗟 𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦.

✅DEFENDING American energy.

About Attorney General Jeff Landry:

Jeff Landry grew up in the small Cajun town of St. Martinville. His mother was a school teacher and his Dad was a small-town architect. Jeff worked in the sugarcane fields and joined the National Guard while still in high school, before becoming a decorated veteran of Desert Storm. He worked his way through college by continuing to serve others as a local police officer and sheriff’s deputy.

And This Guy Wants to Be Louisiana's Next State Treasurer

As a staunch supporter of oil and gas, I thought that this line of thinking while running for State Treasurer in Louisiana was ludicrous. Democrat Dustin Granger is running on an anti-oil and gas and “climate change” agenda in a state known for their dependency and support on this vital industry.

The below video highlights his stance on this issue and his commitment to “investing in our future.”

In other words, he’s for big government, more taxation and more regulation on a Louisiana economy already on life support as a result of John Bel Edwards.

Attorney General Jeff Landry Speaks to LOGA Members

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry spoke to members of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association this afternoon in Lake Charles. As General Landry has stated, the oil and gas industry is the backbone of Louisiana’s economy. Landry also stated that no other person will stand up and defend this industry more than he, as his record proves.