LANDRY: American People 1, Ministry of Truth 0

Latest Ruling on Louisiana and Missouri vs. Biden et al.

Despite the breathtaking arrogance of the Biden Administration and his cadre of federal bureaucrats, the Louisiana Department of Justice has won an historic injunction against them: effectively stopping federal agencies and White House officials from colluding with social media companies to censor your protected speech. As of today, the Ministry of Truth is officially on notice. 

The evidence of illegal censorship in this case is both shocking and overwhelming. In fact, as Judge Terry Doughty stated in his ruling, “if the allegations made by Plaintiffs are true, the present case arguably involves the most massive attack against free speech in United States’ history.” 

Our evidence shows systematic political bias across this federal “Censorship Enterprise,” which overwhelmingly targeted conservative political speech, especially speech criticizing the Biden Administration and its policies. For example, senior federal officials ultimately decided what Americans could and could not say on platforms including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and others regarding COVID-19, elections, government officials, and more. Such actions made these federal officials self-appointed arbiters of truth for all Americans under the guise of fighting “misinformation” and “disinformation.”

This was done, as claimed by senior national-security official Jen Easterly, the director of CISA, to protect America’s “cognitive infrastructure,” because it was “dangerous” to let Americans “pick their own facts.” In order to control this process, officials from the White House on down pressured, threatened, and berated social media platforms to stifle the speech of their political opponents, as well as everyday Americans on issues related to the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine injuries, the now-widely accepted lab leak theory, and even the Hunter Biden laptop story. 

Our evidence also demonstrates that the FBI pressured social media platforms to perpetrate “account takedowns” of hundreds of American social media users on a monthly basis, as well as collaborated with CISA in acts of trickery and deception to further induce censorship by social media companies. The U.S. State Department also collaborated with CISA and private research groups to establish a mass-surveillance and mass-censorship program across all major social media platforms — but that stops now. 

Today’s historic ruling by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana is meant to stop this unconstitutional censorship in its tracks. As Judge Doughty observed, “the question does not concern whether speech is conservative, moderate, liberal, progressive, or somewhere in-between. What matters is that Americans, despite their views, will not be censored or suppressed by the Government.” That is why we look forward to litigating this very important case to conclusion on behalf of all Louisianans and Americans injured by this shocking abuse of federal power.

Jeff Landry
Louisiana Attorney General

Liz Murrill says local officials acted unconstitutionally during COVID pandemic

“From the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the vast majority of leaders at the federal, state, and local levels engaged in completely irrational decision-making, while claiming complete autocratic power to justify those bad decisions,” Murrill said. “This behavior began at the federal level, with federal bureaucrats ultimately leading by example and providing justifications for similar behavior at the state and local levels with a complete disregard for the law.”

Read more: Liz Murrill says local officials acted unconstitutionally during COVID pandemic

Rep. Clay Higgins Calls for Override Session

Our Democrat Governor vetoed the bill protecting children from genitalia mutilation and chemical gender reversal.
  
His legacy is horror.

Let’s see if our Republican legislature does anything about it. We the People demand a veto-override session. pic.twitter.com/qfpMgWxPLc

— Rep. Clay Higgins (@RepClayHiggins) July 1, 2023

LAGOP: From The Chairman

Several important United States Supreme Court rulings have been handed down over the last several days. As conservatives we ought to take note of these rulings, not only because they affect us personally in many ways, but also because conservatives are guided by the laws and founding principles upon which this country was created. Unlike the progressive left, we are most certainly not guided by neo-Marxist ideology. Thankfully, most of these cases went our way.

This past Monday, the Supreme Court Justices “unfroze” action on the Louisiana congressional redistricting case, and simply lifted the hold which the nation’s highest court had placed on further action by the lower federal courts. This action relates back to the Supreme Court’s June 8th 5-4 decision in Allen v. Milligan, which rejected the Alabama congressional redistricting plan previously approved by its legislature, and required that a second minority congressional district be included in the new plan. 

Many have asked me where all this leaves the Louisiana redistricting plan? Well, the Supreme Court has now sent the case back down to the full U. S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. While the ruling in the Alabama case is certainly a serious setback for the Louisiana redistricting plan, it does not necessarily mean that our state will be forced to create a second minority congressional district. 

While Alabama and Louisiana share many demographic similarities, their geography is a different matter. It would be more difficult to create a second minority district here than in Alabama, where a large and relatively compact minority population exists in the Birmingham area. Our one minority congressional district (the 2nd) is already strung out along the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge for some considerable distance, and a new minority district will be even more difficult to create without violating all of the other traditional criteria used in American redistricting plans over the last several hundred years. Stay tuned as the situation develops.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court had one of its best days ever as it more strongly reaffirmed in Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, the principle that using race in college admissions is a practice which is barred under the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution. Chief Justice John Roberts was quoted in part as follows: “The Harvard and UNC admissions programs cannot be reconciled with the guarantees of the Equal Protection Clause.” That’s about as plain, simple, and forceful as it gets, and the nation can finally begin to close out a disgraceful era spanning several decades of its history, during which the American government sanctioned and even mandated racial discrimination in violation of its bedrock promise of equal treatment.

Also on Thursday, in the case of Groff v. DeJoy, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously in a major case involving freedom of religion, that a postman could not be compelled to continue to work on Sundays, against his religious conviction that Sunday is a day of rest. This case overruled a 1977 case which allowed an employer to deny making allowance for religious accommodations if the employer incurred serious costs by so doing.

In a victory for the doctrine that Congress must clearly delegate its authority before any other branch of government can claim its powers, the U. S. Supreme Court today issued a 6 to 3 ruling along ideological lines striking down the Biden administration’s student loan forgiveness plan in the case of Biden v. Nebraska. The Court found that the statute which the administration had relied upon did not give Biden’s secretary of education the sweeping authority to forgive hundreds of billions of dollars in student loans with the waive of his pen.  Ironically, the Court’s decision cited Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s comments during a press conference in 2021 to the effect that only an act of Congress could forgive the debt. Thanks for the help, Nancy!

Widely touted as a $400 billion dollar debt forgiveness to college graduates which would have to be paid for out of the pockets of average American taxpayers (most of whom were not able to attend college), the true eventual cost would likely have been in excess of a trillion dollars! Had the Court ruled the other way, this would have set an awful precedent for future students to borrow excessively in the belief that such debts would eventually be forgiven. It would also have brought the nation measurably closer to bankruptcy.

In a big win for freedom of speech, the U. S. Supreme Court today ruled in 303 Creative v. Elenis that Colorado could not force Lorie Smith, a graphic designer, to create artwork which violated her religious beliefs. Ms. Smith wished to create wedding websites, but under Colorado law if she did so, she would be forced to create same-sex wedding sites. In the usual 6-3 ideological split, the majority found that the First Amendment prohibited a state from forcing a website designer to create websites with messages and photos with which the designer disagreed. This is a victory for freedom of speech, and no, it is not an anti-gay ruling by the nation’s highest court, as the progressive left would have you believe.

So there you have it. While we await the action of the U. S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in the redistricting case, we can take comfort in the knowledge that we have won important victories involving our fundamental rights.

Louis Gurvich, Chairman
Republican Party of Louisiana

Louisiana Family Forum Statement On Edwards' Veto of HB648

Friday, June 30, 2023 (BATON ROUGE) –

Today, John Bel Edwards fulfilled one of the worst promises he has ever made to Louisiana as Governor. Using a veto pen, JBE ignored the life-long threats to children by those who seek to profit from sexualizing minors without consideration of the serious harm and mental anguish that these false medical promises deliver. Governor Edwards has no right to harm a single child, yet he just did!

By issuing a veto of HB648, Governor Edwards has ignored the will of the people as expressed by their elected representatives and embraced a radical agenda that places (aberrant) adult desires over the protection of children.

HB648 by Rep. Gabe Firment protects children from politicized medical procedures. HB648 protects minors from the harms of medical experimentation in the form of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and irreversible surgeries. By enacting this urgently needed policy, Louisiana would have joined 20 other states that have passed similar legislation, which is overwhelmingly supported by a vast majority of Louisiana.

Elected officials have a duty to protect residents’ health and safety. This responsibility is even more essential when the protection of vulnerable children is involved. Children who experience discomfort with their biological sex deserve dignity and respect and need compassionate, effective mental health care. Unfortunately, political activists and profit-driven gender clinics have deceived many into believing that life-altering and sterilizing puberty blockers and surgeries would solve this struggle. Such “treatment” may yield profits for providers, but the data shows it only brings harm and regret to recipients. 

The Louisiana Senate voted 29-10, and the House voted 71-24 in a bi-partisan fashion in favor of HB648. Denominational leaders from around Louisiana implored the Governor to protect children in a recent letter.

Members of the Louisiana Legislature are now faced with the responsibility to ensure what the Governor has failed to do – Protect children and restore the “do no harm” standard of practice over the medical care provided to children.

Gene Mills, President of Louisiana Family Forum, holds that “Failing to override the governor’s veto on HB648, is a dereliction of an elected official’s duty to protect children. A veto override session is not optional, it is obligatory this year, especially now that the health and welfare of children is at stake.“

LFF’s message to the Legislature is:  Protect Louisiana children. Override the Governor’s veto. Ensure that HB648 becomes law.

AG Landry Visits with Maria Bartiromo on Crime Problem in Louisiana

Kennedy, Graham, Durbin question Zuckerberg about child sexual abuse material on Instagram

“This Committee has united across the political aisle to combat the evil of online child sexual exploitation. Tech companies cannot assist malevolent actors who seek to take advantage of children.”

 MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today joined Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and others on the committee in writing to Meta Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg regarding recent reporting that Instagram’s algorithm promotes and facilitates sexual interest in and activity with children, including the production and sharing of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

 “We are gravely concerned that Instagram’s failure to prevent this perverse use of its algorithms is not due to a lack of ability, but instead a lack of initiative and motivation. In other contexts, Meta has taken steps to map out user networks facilitated by its algorithm, and has even been able to suppress unlawful user content within those networks,” the senators wrote.

 “Nevertheless, the Stanford experts determined that Instagram has been ‘ineffective’ in preventing the growth of Self-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Material (SG-CSAM) networks on its platform, largely because of a ‘general lack of resources devoted to detecting SG-CSAM and associated commercial activity.’ It is alarming that online child sexual exploitation and the proliferation of CSAM, including SGCSAM, is not among Meta’s highest priorities—especially when its platform directly facilitates and bolsters the black market for child sexual abuse material,” they continued.

 “This Committee has united across the political aisle to combat the evil of online child sexual exploitation. Tech companies cannot assist malevolent actors who seek to take advantage of children. As the experts at Stanford so succinctly articulated, ‘minors do not have the ability to meaningfully consent to the implications of having widely distributed explicit material and the other harms for which it puts them at risk.’  We refuse to let those who traffic in CSAM subject children to these harms and alter the course of their lives. And we refuse to accept Meta’s facilitation of these crimes. We therefore urge Meta to join us in combatting this threat,” the senators concluded. 

 Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) also signed the letter.

 The letter is available here.

Miguez Receives Endorsement of Louisiana Home Builders Association

Landry Leads Waguespack by 29 Points

LOUISIANA FREEDOM CAUCUS: Governor Snubs Good Old Boy Allain With Veto

BATON ROUGE—Governor John Bel Edwards has vetoed the signature, legacy legislation of Sen. Bret Allain, who represents Iberia, Lafourche, St. Mary and Terrebonne Parishes. This much-needed corporate franchise tax phase-out plan passed both chambers of the legislature with strong support and would help set Louisiana on a path to prosperity, attracting business and good-paying jobs that are currently moving to our neighboring states all along the Gulf Coast because of our high tax and insurance rates.

Sen. Allain was appointed to serve on the conference committee that stripped money from his own constituents at the behest of Senate President Page Cortez and Speaker Clay Schexnayder who worked hand-in-hand with Governor Edwards to bust the budget spending limit set by the Louisiana Constitution. At their directive, Sen. Allain’s committee punished the constituents of 19 House members who would not vote in lockstep with the Good Old Boy Network to bust the budget spending limit.

The irony here is that Sen. Allain’s kissing the ring of the governor did not save his own project on the very day he had the hubris to condone the punishment of Rep. Beryl Amedée at a luncheon in St. Mary Parish. Rep. Amedée voted against Allain’s conference report that slashed funding for the repair of roads and bridges that have fallen into disrepair, in order to spend millions of your tax dollars on things like dog parks, band uniforms for high schools and colleges, a charity supporting flowers and a cultural museum. It was Sen. Allain who was appointed by Senate President Cortez to serve the Good Old Boys’ interests, which was meant in this instance to punish people like Rep. Amedée because she dared to vote against the wasteful spending.

“Senator Bret Allain’s SB1 was a bit of badly needed tax reform that would have provided a shot in the arm for Louisiana businesses. Once again, John Bel Edwards has proven that he does not care about creating jobs, or assisting the working people of Louisiana. He is, and always has been, a big government liberal. This veto proves it yet again,” said Representative Alan Seabaugh, Chairman of the Louisiana Freedom Caucus. “It is also a slap in the face of Senator Allain who has spent the last eight years rolling over for the governor, supporting his liberal policies, and giving Edwards virtually everything he asked for.”

Americans can tell something is very wrong: Sen. Kennedy

Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy weighs in after President Biden again denied having ever discussed Hunter's business dealings.

LMOGA: State, not federal government, should oversee carbon capture permitting

In Louisiana, we’ve always had our own way of doing things. For me, nowhere is that clearer than in the progress and ingenuity of our state’s oil and natural gas industry. Over the last 100 years, we’ve cultivated a thriving energy sector by prioritizing the safety, success and innovation of Louisiana workers and businesses. So, why stop now?

As we look to worldwide market demands and the evolution of energy products, it’s clear that companies and customers are looking for affordable, accessible low-carbon options. Carbon capture and storage is the most trusted solution for Louisiana energy companies to reduce emissions, grow employment and establish themselves as leaders in the world economy. But we cannot, and would not, pursue CCS projects without the required permits and approvals for Class VI injection wells, which are the wells used to inject carbon dioxide into deep rock formations for long-term storage.

However, since the program’s creation in 2010, the federal government’s Environmental Protection Agency has granted only two active Class VI injection well permits for a single project in Illinois. Louisiana has nearly two dozen permit applications pending approval by the EPA. Citing issues like staffing challenges, the agency currently takes six years on average to approve each permit.

To help expedite the process, the EPA can grant primary enforcement authority, also known as primacy, to state agencies to administer Class VI permits in accordance with federal standards. Louisiana’s Department of Natural Resources has the expertise and resources to implement the same strict regulations as the EPA and to promptly review, approve and monitor Class VI permits through primacy. In fact, the state agency already has primacy over the other five classes of injection wells and has effectively and safely managed the permits. By transitioning authority of the Class VI permits to the state level, primacy will allow us to speed up the pace for investments and bring more opportunities to our communities.

As of June 2023, only two other states, Wyoming and North Dakota, have received primacy, while Texas, West Virginia and Arizona are still in the “pre-application phase.” This means that Louisiana can be years ahead of other states to compete for CCS and related investment projects. The Great Plains Institute estimates that we could create an annual average of up to 4,920 project jobs over a 15-year period, and 2,500 ongoing operations jobs, through CCS deployment. These projects could also result in at least $13.7 billion in private investment for the state — but not if they are stuck on the shelf at the EPA.

Through primacy, Louisiana can remove burdensome red tape that is delaying investments and jeopardizing opportunities for our people and our parishes. Our experts at DNR can streamline the permit process while maintaining the highest standards for health, safety and environmental impacts. Louisianans know our geology, our infrastructure, our workforce and our communities better than anyone in D.C. or elsewhere in the country.

By supporting primacy, we’re putting our energy future back in Louisiana’s hands.

Tommy Faucheux is president of the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association.

MIGUEZ: Leadership Takes Courage

Rep. Blake Miguez, candidate for Senate in District 22, released this video today, which highlights his commitment to stopping the “good ol’ boys” in Baton Rouge. As someone who has a proven record of fighting for conservative values and the people he represents, Miguez points out a stark contrast between he and his announced opponents this fall. The general election for State Senate in District 22 which encompasses parts of Iberia, St. Martin and Lafayette Parish will be held on Oct 14th.

LOUISIANA STATE PARKS SEEKING PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS

BATON ROUGE, La. – The Louisiana Office of State Parks is seeking public-private partnerships to implement projects designed to enhance visitor experiences and generate additional revenue for the Louisiana State Parks system. A Request for Proposal (RFP) is now open and accessible at OpportunitiesInLouisiana.com for opportunities available in all state parks.

 Project examples include both infrastructure and building construction opportunities such as cabins, pavilions, nature centers, road repaving, and RV campground upgrades like adding full sewer hookups. Additional opportunities include amenities such as concessions, boat rentals, bicycle rentals, and agritourism activities.

 “To attract new visitors and keep current visitors coming back, our state parks must offer first-class services, amenities, and activities,” said Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser. “By working with entrepreneurs through public-private partnerships, we hope to create self-sustaining parks that will continue to increase savings to taxpayers.”

 All projects submitted through the Request for Proposal must support the core tenets of the Louisiana State Parks mission:

• Preserving and protecting natural areas of unique or exceptional scenic value;

• Establishing and operating parks that provide recreational use of natural resources and facilities for outdoor recreation in natural surroundings;

• Portraying and interpreting plant and animal life, geology, and all other natural features and processes included in the various state parks;

• Preserving, protecting, and portraying historic and scientific sites of statewide importance; and,

• Performing functions of the state relating to outdoor recreation development and trails. 

 Firms or individuals interested in submitting a proposal must include all mandatory information specified in the RFP. The Office of State Procurement must receive submissions electronically through the RFP portal or in hard copy on or before 10 a.m. Central on October 27, 2023. Fax and email submissions will not be accepted.

 To view the Request for Proposal, please visit OpportunitiesInLouisiana.com and click on "Bring your business ideas to the parks."

Contact information:

Laura Pursnell-Lindsay

Office of State Parks

225-342-5473

llindsay@crt.la.gov

Barry Landry

Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism

225-342-7009

blandry@crt.la.gov

Veronica Mosgrove

Office of the Lieutenant Governor

225-342-7009

vmosgrove@crt.la.gov

---LaStateParks.com---

Senate passes Kennedy, Braun resolution to honor Pledge of Allegiance, celebrate 246th anniversary of U.S. flag

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) joined Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) in introducing a resolution expressing support for the Pledge of Allegiance and congressional approval of the U.S. flag on June 14, 1777.  The Senate passed their resolution.

“Only one flag represents the U.S.—the stars and stripes that Congress approved to represent our country 246 years ago. Brave Americans have given their lives to defend its promises, and I’m proud to pledge allegiance to our American flag on this Flag Day and every day,” said Kennedy.

Read more: Senate passes Kennedy, Braun resolution to honor Pledge of Allegiance, celebrate 246th anniversary of U.S. flag

Only one flag represents the U.S.—the stars and stripes that Congress approved to represent our country 246 years ago.

Brave Americans have given their lives to defend its promises, and I’m proud to pledge allegiance to our American flag every day. https://t.co/BruN2LfTRn

— John Kennedy (@SenJohnKennedy) June 15, 2023

Congress Needs to Weigh Obesity as a National Security Concern

From Eastern Europe to the Taiwan Strait, the global geopolitical situation is increasingly unstable, and our long-term alliances and friendships are coming into focus. Nowhere is that clearer than in Europe, where it’s reassuring to see our allies firmly in alignment and stepping up to meet their NATO commitments. As a retired Army officer who served in West Germany, a longtime US representative to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, and an outspoken champion of this critical alliance, I’m thrilled to see the West united in this uncertain time.

But after some in Washington spent years lecturing NATO members about their treaty obligations, I’m concerned that the United States may soon be unable to fully meet our own commitments, particularly as it matters most: the ability to put boots on the ground if needed. That’s because the United States is facing a growing, and mostly unaddressed, crisis of military readiness. We have the best weapons and men and women in the uniform, but too many Americans in the cohort most likely to enlist – those 17 to 24 years of age – are unable to do so.

Read more: Congress Needs to Weigh Obesity as a National Security Concern

Rep. Dodie Horton Statement on Budget Boondoggle

Crooked, lying, power-hungry politicians continue to hold Louisiana back, making us last in the South and last across the country in almost every category. It is long past time to change this, and we all know it in our hearts. Our beloved Louisiana is having the life sucked out of it, causing a population drain of our finest young people to other states. And our politicians keep doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result. We all know what that means: insanity.

The claim is that the Jimmie Davis Bridge funding was removed from the budget because, along with Raymond Crews and Alan Seabaugh, I voted against a measure to bust the budget spending cap that is in our constitution. Our “leadership,” and I use the term leadership loosely, would not tell us how that money would be spent before that vote took place. They refused to tell us how much over the spending limit they intended to spend. How much of your tax dollars would be one-time projects and how much would be recurring expenditures?

They wouldn’t even tell us if they would give the teachers a pay raise, something Republican members overwhelmingly supported. Conservatives previously offered teacher pay raises in two different alternative budget plans we tried to get our leaders to adopt, but it fell on deaf ears. And, of course, leadership didn’t end up giving that pay raise, just a stipend.

We never got any answers to those and many more questions until they gave us the budget five minutes before we had to vote on it. That’s right we only had five minutes to review hundreds of pages containing more than $50 billion of spending. That’s what our leadership thinks of us and of you. You only deserve five minutes for your representatives to try to read hundreds of pages to decide on the future of your children and our state.

All of this is not just about my vote opposing that un-democratic, budget-busting bill they demanded we vote on to find out what’s in it. They were acting like Nancy Pelosi, something no Republican should ever do. I voted against busting the spending cap, but I voted for the budget, because I wanted to avoid a special session, handing the liberals another bite at the apple to spend even more. We had to trust at the last minute that the bill prioritized important infrastructure projects, but we were sold false promises. Senators Robert Mills and Barrow Peacock, who both voted in favor of busting the spending cap, also voted for the budget. In spite of all of that, they couldn’t keep the project in there either. Reps. Glover, Jenkins, Phelps and Pressly all voted to bust the spending cap and also to pass the budget. They are being “punished,” too.

Louisiana has already signed a contract for the Jimmie Davis Bridge that has a start date. I have full confidence the funding will be restored. The Jimmie Davis Bridge defunding fiasco reveals to our constituents just how far these corrupt politicians will go in an attempt to negatively impact my re-election campaign. I have never ceased to support our infrastructure which is reflected in my voting record.

Right now, these crooked politicians are trying to purge the legislature of conservatives who will fight for a better government, a government that gives true value for the expenditure of your tax dollars. This is their fear because they want the gravy train to continue. They’re addicted to spending your money to buy their own power. It’s time to prioritize our tax dollars on critical infrastructure projects like the Jimmie Davis Bridge that have the largest return on investment for our citizens. We can no longer allow the good ole boys system to just continue to spend your money on helping more of their cronies get elected.

I will stand in their way along with the rest of the Louisiana Freedom Caucus. We conservatives will grow our numbers. We are not going away. God willing, we will get a real Republican governor next year, and this state will have a chance to move forward. I need your help! A new day is coming, Louisiana. Vote conservative and join our fight to fix our beloved state.

###

Editors Note: Rep. Dodie Horton represents District 9 (Bossier Parish) in the Louisiana House of Representatives. As a founding member of the Louisiana Freedom Caucus, we are sending this to be used as an op-ed or quotes may be pulled and used in appropriate articles.

Chaotic End to Regular Session in Baton Rouge

With four minutes to spare before the Louisiana Legislature's final deadline to pass bills, lawmakers approved a sweeping spending package Thursday in a series of chaotic votes marked by angry yelling at the House Speaker, confusion in the Senate and accusations of backdoor deal-making. 

The approximately $45 billion bundle approved Thursday includes the state's main spending bill, a budget for major construction projects and a supplemental spending measure dealing with a $2.2 billion glut of extra cash the state hauled in over the past two years. The bills move next to the desk of Gov. John Bel Edwards, who put his stamp on the session by pushing for higher teacher pay and funding for early childhood education.

Read more: Louisiana Legislature approves budget in chaotic vote marked by yelling, confusion

Today marked the end of the 2023 Regular Session. To say this day was an embarrassment for our state is an understatement. The Speaker of the House and his leaders waited until 5:35 pm, 25 minutes before the deadline, to release the conference amendments to the budget,

— Larry Frieman (@FriemanLarry) June 9, 2023

LANDRY: Why We’re Suing FEMA

Louisiana is no stranger to floods. In fact, our State probably has the most expertise in the Nation on flooding, flood mapping, flood surges, and flood protection. We know how to decrease risk and protect our communities without waiting for guidance from the federal government. That is why we have taken initiative, collected tax dollars, and built sprawling levee systems in our most vulnerable areas with great success. And every Hurricane Season, when we remind our people to be prepared, our State has taken heed of that message. 
 
Unfortunately, when we tried to warn the Federal government that their plans for flood insurance premiums would decimate entire economies – especially along the Gulf Coast – they refused to listen. Now, after years of consistent flood insurance premiums, transparency, and reliable flood maps, homeowners are suddenly seeing a sharp spike in their flood insurance costs.  
 
For example, Russell Hebert and his wife built their home back in 1972; Steve Bourgeois and his family have lived in theirs for 57 years. Both enrolled in the National Flood Insurance Program, which is mandatory for government-backed mortgages. They both live in a parish where tax dollars have gone towards mitigating the risk of hurricanes and floods with levees constructed, pumps installed, and other protection mechanisms completed. Yet Russell’s flood insurance, which costs a little over $3,000 two years ago, now requires him to pay $5,600 for the exact same coverage. Steve, whose premium was a little over $600 is now over $6,000 – all thanks to FEMA’s Risk Rating 2.0, also known as “Equity in Action.” 
 
At the root of this problem is gross speculation. For instance, Steve’s property has never flooded and has never been considered part of a flood zone before; but FEMA has repeatedly refused to explain why their flood map has changed or how their calculations were made. What's more: FEMA is refusing to take into account all of the risks mitigated through local investment and planning like building levees, elevating homes, and more. Before Equity in Action, those mitigation measures would have resulted in discounted premiums; now, premiums are more expensive than ever, based on a secret program with secret math. 
 
FEMA used their legacy rating system for 52 years, basing flood insurance premiums on historical, discernible data in order to achieve what Congress dictated back in 1968: make flood insurance coverage affordable and available so that flood victims would not be overly-reliant on post-flood financial aid or disaster relief. Today, Risk Rating 2.0 is its own disaster both in Louisiana and across our country, where roughly 50% of people live and work near water. 
 
This is why Solicitor General Liz Murrill and I are leading a broad coalition of 10 states, 43 parishes, 12 levee boards, and a couple of municipalities in suing FEMA. Naturally, we are grateful for the assistance Louisiana has received from the federal government after many natural disasters; and there are certainly good people who work at these agencies. But Risk Rating 2.0 violates the transparency mandate that Congress specifically required. Even worse, it puts too many families at risk of bankruptcy or foreclosure. 
 
So my legal petition asks the court for relief – not only for the people of Louisiana, but also for every American who risks losing their home and shutting down their small business after doing everything right.
 
It is unfortunate that it had to come to this; but after years of trying to negotiate, our only choice was to sue FEMA for relief or stand back and watch as our citizens hand over the keys to their homes and small businesses. We have chosen to fight for you. 

Jeff Landry
Louisiana Attorney General

Rep. Blake Miguez Receives Huge Endorsement

Rep. Blake Miguez share the below on his Facebook page this morning;

I am deeply honored to receive the endorsement of the Louisiana Committee for a Conservative Majority (LCCM), a conservative group chaired by U.S. Senator John Kennedy that is committed to advancing a business-friendly environment in Louisiana through the support of fiscally and socially conservative leaders. This support represents not just a belief in my candidacy, but in our shared vision for a thriving Louisiana. Let's bring this home, District 22! #MiguezForSenate