The Louisiana Freedom Caucus joins Governor Jeff Landry in urging all college boards, including Regents, to put into place a policy that would require student athletes be present for the National Anthem played at their venues before a game or risk their athletic scholarships. Respect for the American flag and the people who have fought and died to preserve our freedoms is fundamental to the survival of America in freedom.
Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans Task Force Report to Governor Jeff Landry
Attached is the final report from the Sewerage and Water Board Task Force to Governor Jeff Landry.
Read the report here.
Kennedy, Republican colleagues call out Democrats’ political meddling in oil and gas mergers
“We respectfully request that the FTC conduct a fair and unbiased review of these mergers that is rooted in the facts, economic realities, and precedent. The oil and gas industry (like any other industry) should not be subject to unfair investigations or heightened antitrust scrutiny in order to further a political agenda that seeks the end of fossil fuel production.”
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and 34 other Republican colleagues in calling on Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairwoman Lina Khan to conduct a fair and unbiased review of recently announced oil and gas mergers.
On Nov. 1, 2023, Senate Democrats requested that the FTC investigate major energy acquisitions while citing misleading and false allegations, including that companies are discrediting “climate science” through oil and gas production. In their letter, Republicans explain that conducting an investigation based on Democrats’ unfounded claims would be an FTC overreach, but demand that any such investigation must be unbiased.
“We write to urge the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to follow the law and the facts in its review of the recently announced oil and gas industry mergers. As is the case with any merger review, including those in the industrial sector, mergers must be assessed under a fair and unbiased standard grounded in sound economics and law that protects American consumers, and does not impose policy preferences to further political ends,” the senators wrote.
“Unfortunately, some of our Democratic colleagues do not want you to apply relevant facts or antitrust precedent fairly to these mergers, as demonstrated through their letter. Their letter makes specious and speculative claims about what these mergers would allegedly portend for ‘climate science’ and ‘climate legislation,’ among other things. . . . Incredibly, the letter also asked the FTC to simply ignore the parties’ plan to produce an additional one billion barrels of oil over the life of the assets beyond what could be achieved if the parties acted separately. In other words, the letter deliberately ignored evidence of what would be a clear benefit to consumers, workers, and our nation’s energy security: greater production,” they continued.
“We respectfully request that the FTC conduct a fair and unbiased review of these mergers that is rooted in the facts, economic realities, and precedent. The oil and gas industry (like any other industry) should not be subject to unfair investigations or heightened antitrust scrutiny in order to further a political agenda that seeks the end of fossil fuel production,” the senators concluded.
Full text of the letter is available here.
Beaullieu and Landry: Prime the Pump of Louisiana Oil and Gas
Kennedy: Laken Riley Act would help stem chaos at border
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today joined Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and colleagues in hosting a press conference on the Laken Riley Act, which Kennedy helped introduce in the Senate.
The Laken Riley Act would require the Biden administration’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain illegal immigrants who commit theft, burglary, larceny or shoplifting offenses until they are removed from the country.
Illegal aliens have victimized people in Louisiana. Last month, law enforcement in Louisiana arrested an illegal immigrant for allegedly stabbing a man while robbing him and for raping a 14-year-old girl. Kennedy called on President Biden to “stop putting out a welcome mat for criminal aliens who sneak into America and victimize innocent people.”
Kennedy’s key remarks are below.
“In opening up the southern border—and that’s clearly what President Biden and the Democrat Party [have] done—he and they have clearly summoned spirits that they can’t control.”
. . .
“Many, many members of the Democratic Party believe that vetting people at the southern border is racist. Most Americans don't agree with that. They think it's prudent.”
. . .
“The [Laken] Riley Act is yet one more attempt by the Republican Party to try to stem the chaos at the border, and—make no mistake—the border is chaotic by design.
“The Democratic Party, led by President Biden, now clearly believes in no distinction between legal and illegal immigration. If—according to the Biden administration—if you are a Nigerian doctor or a German engineer and you want to come to the United States legally and you filled out all the forms and you've undergone the vetting and you're waiting patiently in line, you're a chump. You're a chump because this administration believes there should be no distinction between legal and illegal immigration.
“There’s another provision in the [Laken] Riley Act that you should pay very close attention to because it would be far reaching, and that is this [bill] would create a cause of action for a state—probably through its attorney general—that can prove damage to sue federal officials who do not enforce America's immigration laws.”
Background:
In February, Kennedy demanded answers from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas about why Riley’s suspected murderer, José Ibarra, was paroled into the U.S.
Earlier this month, Kennedy called for the Senate take up impeachment charges against Mayorkas. The House of Representatives charged Mayorkas for his failure to make case-by-case parole determinations for illegal immigrants.
In Nov. 2023, Kennedy helped introduce the Southern Border Transparency Act, which would require the DHS to disclose its catch-and-release data, including the number of migrants that the Biden administration has paroled into the country.
Watch Kennedy’s full remarks here.
Governor Landry Creates Office of the State Public Defender
Announces Appointments to the Louisiana Public Defender Oversight Board
Baton Rouge, LA – After signing the bill to create the office of the State Public Defender, Governor Jeff Landry announced his selection to serve as the State Public Defender as well as his appointments to the Louisiana Public Defender Oversight Board.
State Public Defender:
Rémy V. Starns
Public Defender Appointments:
Hon. Paul J. deMahy
Hon. Phyllis M. Keaty
Hon. Freddie Pitcher Jr.
Peter M. Thomson
Higgins Provides Update on Social Security Fairness Act
WATCH: 'Not a gun expert': Biden pick self-destructs when asked to define 'assault weapon'
United States District Judge Nancy Maldonado of the Northern District of Illinois struggled to respond when asked by Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana to define the term “assault weapons” during a Wednesday confirmation hearing.
Read more: WATCH: 'Not a gun expert': Biden pick self-destructs when asked to define 'assault weapon'
Kennedy in Daily Advertiser: Congress must support parents who protect children from irreversible gender procedures
“We shouldn’t, however, allow children to go through irreversible physical changes to address what, statistically, is likely a temporary season of confusion or anxiety.”
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) penned this op-ed in the Daily Advertiser detailing how activists have pressured parents to allow their children to undergo irreversible gender procedures. Kennedy commended the Louisiana legislature for outlawing the use of these extreme procedures on minors and urged Congress to do more to support parents who wish to protect their children from these harmful treatments.
This piece also appeared in the Shreveport Times, Houma Today, The Daily Comet, The Town Talk, The News-Star, The Weekly Citizen and Daily World.
Key excerpts of the op-ed are below:
“Those who advocate for minors to be able to change genders believe powerful medications and surgery are the only way to help gender dysphoric children. Most parents in Louisiana, however, believe that irreversible medical procedures could harm these children in the future if they change their minds about changing their sex.”
. . .
“It’s tough to be a kid, and there are many reasons children might question who they are and who they want to be. School is challenging, bullies are mean, and puberty is awkward for most boys and girls.
“We shouldn’t, however, allow children to go through irreversible physical changes to address what, statistically, is likely a temporary season of confusion or anxiety. The Louisiana state legislature was wise to pass a bipartisan bill, H.B. 648, which outlawed these irreversible treatments on Louisiana’s children until they are of the majority age.”
. . .
“In some states, parents can lose custody of their children for refusing to affirm the child’s stated gender preference. Other states allow minors to access puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones without parental consent. Parents shouldn’t be punished for choosing to protect their children from extremists.
“That’s why I’m cosponsoring the Families’ Rights and Responsibilities Act, a bill that would help parents fight back if they are attacked for opposing the transgender agenda. Supporting parents who want to protect their children and help them make the right decision if they are gender confused is the safest, strongest way to lift up our kids and foster healthy families.
“There are too many stories of minors who end up regretting taking puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones or undergoing sex-change surgery, and I fear that many more stories are going to come to light. I’m going to do all I can to allow kids to be kids until they are old enough to decide for themselves.”
Background:
The population of transgender children in the United States nearly doubled between 2017 and 2020. In Louisiana, 13-to-17-year-olds are nearly three times more likely to say they identify as transgender than adults aged 25 to 64.
Most young children outgrow their gender dysphoria. According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, roughly 85% of children diagnosed with gender dysphoria at a young age did not remain dysphoric after adolescence.
Many gender-confused children also suffer from mental health issues. Children who identify as transgender are up to 13 times more likely to have ADHD, depression or anxiety than non-transgender children. A study out of the United Kingdom found that 35% of the children who received gender treatment had moderate or severe autism.
Still, many activists encourage parents to “affirm” their children’s gender dysphoria no matter how young their children may be. Activists also encourage parents to allow their children to receive “gender-affirming care,” including puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and surgeries. These drugs and surgeries can inflict irreparable harm on children.
Puberty blockers are hormone-based injections or implants given to children as young as 8 years old to delay the onset of puberty. Gonadotropin, the hormone used in puberty blockers, is the same hormone used to chemically castrate sex offenders. It can leave children with diminished bone density and harm their future fertility.
Cross-sex hormones begin to transition children to appear more like the other gender. Boys take estrogen, which can cause infertility, blood clots and heart problems. Girls take testosterone, which can also cause infertility, male-pattern baldness and high blood pressure. Adults have given cross-sex hormones to children as young as 13 years old.
Sex-reassignment surgeries, including mastectomies, phalloplasty and vaginoplasty, are largely irreversible. They can result in infertility and loss of sexual function. Activists have advocated for 15-year-old girls to access double mastectomies and 17-year-old boys to receive vaginoplasties.
Activists claim that “gender reaffirming care” improves the mental health of children with gender confusion. However, a study in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that there is no significant reduction in mental health issues following hormone treatments or sex-reassignment surgeries.
American parents have struggled to protect their children from these radical procedures. Parents in some states can lose custody of their children for refusing to abide by the transgender ideology. In Oregon, children as young as 15 years old can receive Medicaid-funded hormone treatments without their parents’ consent.
Kennedy is a co-sponsor of the Families’ Rights and Responsibilities Act, a bill that would help parents defend themselves when radical bureaucrats attack them for refusing to comply with the transgender agenda.
Read Kennedy’s full op-ed here. Read more about the Families’ Rights and Responsibilities Act here.
Kennedy, Britt introduce Laken Riley Act to require Biden admin’s ICE to detain criminal aliens before they commit more crime
“President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas may be determined to let dangerous lawbreakers come here illegally and roam our communities, but Congress isn’t. The Laken Riley Act would get criminal aliens out of our country before they further victimize innocent Americans.”
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today joined Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) in introducing the Laken Riley Act to require the Biden administration’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain illegal immigrants who commit theft, burglary, larceny or shoplifting offenses.
“There’s no reason that Laken Riley’s accused murderer was allowed to walk free after officials arrested him for other crimes. President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas may be determined to let dangerous lawbreakers come here illegally and roam our communities, but Congress isn’t. The Laken Riley Act would get criminal aliens out of our country before they further victimize innocent Americans,” said Kennedy.
The Laken Riley Act is named after a 22-year-old nursing student whom an illegal immigrant allegedly murdered. Prior to Riley’s murder, the suspect had been arrested for shoplifting, but ICE did not detain him. The legislation would require ICE to detain illegal immigrants who commit theft or similar offenses until they are removed from the country.
The Laken Riley Act would also ensure that states have standing to bring civil actions against federal officials who do not enforce immigration law or who violate the law.
The legislation is a companion bill to the House of Representative’s H.R. 7511, which passed last week in a bipartisan vote of 251-170.
“Make no mistake—Laken Riley’s heartbreaking murder was a direct, preventable consequence of willful open border policies by President Biden and his administration. This commonsense legislation would ensure ICE detains and deports criminal illegal aliens, so more innocent American families do not have to face this kind of unimaginable tragedy. I am grateful for Representative Collins’ strong leadership and for Senator Budd’s partnership in introducing this Senate companion bill. Senator Schumer should bring this bill to the Senate floor immediately,” said Britt.
Background:
In February, Kennedy demanded answers from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas about why Riley’s suspected murderer was paroled into the U.S.
Earlier this month, Kennedy called for the Senate take up impeachment charges against Mayorkas. The House of Representatives charged Mayorkas for his failure to make case-by-case parole determinations for illegal immigrants.
In Nov. 2023, Kennedy helped introduce the Southern Border Transparency Act, which would require the DHS to disclose catch-and-release data, including the number of migrants that the Biden administration has paroled into the country.
Full text of the Laken Riley Act is available here.
OPINION: Protect Louisiana Small Business Owners and Consumers
The current economic climate has forced Americans to pinch pennies any way they can. One of the most common ways individuals save money, but also make responsible investments, is building credit. Researching which credit card is right for you is a vital component in ensuring you’re making the smartest financial decisions. One of the greatest perks consumers look for in a credit card is the perks and rewards associated.
The Credit Card Competition Act is an ongoing debate in Congress. This legislation seeks to expand on an existing credit card policy that provided large retailers with a shocking profit increase. On the surface, more competition sounds like a great idea - but not at the expense of small business owners and consumers. Essentially, banks will be mandated to offer retailers two unaffiliated networks to process credit card transactions.
Those in support of the Credit Card Competition Act claim this will lower credit card fees. In theory, of course, that sounds like a great idea. However, the actual repercussions of this legislation are costly. If passed, these regulations will limit the ability of credit card companies to generate revenue- forcing them to find compensation elsewhere like raising fees and interest rates. Higher costs will drive consumers away from the businesses that have unfortunately been left with no choice.
Leaders in Washington should be doing everything in their power to protect the small business owners - the backbone of our economy. My daughter and son-in-law’s family own a convenience store and have experienced firsthand how tough today’s economic conditions have impacted small businesses. Credit cards offer small businesses, like theirs, flexibility in their expenses and purchasing. Stricter regulations will limit the types of credit cards that small businesses, such as theirs, can accept, which will drive consumers away and towards big box retailers, such as Walmart and Target, who can withstand such drastic changes.
The effects of the Credit Card Competition Act will negatively impact small businesses in Louisiana, such as our family’s, for many years to come. I urge US Senator John Kennedy and US Senator Bill Cassidy to protect Louisiana’s small businesses and consumers.
Quin Bates
Marrero, LA
Badon switches political parties
Photo source: Facebook
Former New Orleans Representative Austin Badon, who’s been appointed by Governor Jeff Landry to serve as Assistant to the Commissioner of the Office of Motor Vehicles, switched political parties and said he’s one the state’s newest Black Republicans. When asked if Landry asked him to join the GOP…
“I’m a big boy, I can make my own decisions and I don’t need any influence from anybody else and he had no influence on me at all,” said Bandon.
But Badon said he did text Landry and let me know that he’d changed parties last week.
The driving factor to why he chose to leave the Democratic Party, Badon said, was the immigration issue at the Texas border.
“This whole migrant situation was basically driving me and it’s something that has been on my mind for many years,” said Badon.
Read more: Badon switches political parties
Kennedy: Senate must hold Mayorkas impeachment trial
“If the Senate dismisses these charges without a trial, as if it's just a parking ticket being fixed by some politician, it will be the first time—the very first time—in the Senate's long history that it has dismissed impeachment charges against an official it has jurisdiction over, without that official first resigning.”
WASHINGTON — Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today explained on the Senate floor that it would be unprecedented for the Senate to dismiss the impeachment charges the House has leveled against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas without holding a full, fair trial.
Key excerpts from Kennedy’s speech are below:
“In its first article of impeachment, the House alleges that Secretary Mayorkas has, quote, ‘willfully and systematically refused to comply with federal immigration law.’ The House says that Secretary Mayorkas has refused to detain some illegal Immigrants, as the law requires him to do, and has instead embraced his own catch-and-release scheme in which he has released huge numbers—I think any fair-minded American would call 8.6 million people huge—huge numbers of illegal immigrants into the United States.
“The House says that Secretary Mayorkas has refused to follow unambiguous and clear federal laws that require him to detain illegal immigrants who are subject to deportation for engaging in criminal or terrorism-related behavior. The House says that Secretary Mayorkas has failed to make case-by-case parole determinations, which the law clearly requires—clearly—and, instead, he has—on his own—he has paroled millions of people illegally into the United States en masse.
“In its second article of impeachment, the House alleges that Secretary Mayorkas has breached the public’s trust in two respects: by knowingly making false statements to Congress that the border is, quote, ‘secure,’ and that the Department of Homeland Security has, quote, ‘operational control’ of the border, and by failing to comply with subpoenas issued by congressional committees seeking to exercise oversight over DHS activities.”
. . .
“Any fair-minded person can see that these are serious charges, and they demand a full trial.”
. . .
“The Senate must let the House present its case, and then we must do our job and give that case careful consideration.
“If the Senate dismisses these charges without a trial, as if it’s just a parking ticket being fixed by some politician, it will be the first time—the very first time—in the Senate's long history that it has dismissed impeachment charges against an official it has jurisdiction over without that official first resigning.”
. . .
“The United States Senate cannot and should not turn a deaf ear to the democratically elected members of the United States House of Representatives by dismissing their charges against Secretary Mayorkas without a full and fair trial.
“Precedent demands a trial. . . . Respect for the House of Representatives demands a trial. . . . Respect for the law, Mr. President, demands a trial . . . and the American people demand a trial, and they deserve it. The United States Senate should do its job.”
View Kennedy’s full speech here.
Governor Landry Holds Signing Ceremony for Bills Passed During His Special Session on Crime
Baton Rouge, LA- Today, Governor Jeff Landry signed 11 bills that were sent to his desk by the Legislature during the Special Session on crime. This special session has been Governor Landry’s top priority since day one. The bills signed today are listed below.
SB 9: Preserving Prosecutions for Rape
HB 3: Expanding Access to Drug Courts
HB 6: Justice for Victims
HB 9: Probation and Parole Violations
HB 10: Truth in Sentencing
HB 11: Offender Rehabilitation
SB 1: Constitutional Carry
SB 2: Concealed Carry Permit Immunity
SB 7: DUI Penalties
HB 4: Post Conviction Reform
SB 5: Pardon and Parole Reform
“Today, we made good on our promise to deliver sweeping reforms to our criminal justice system. Reforms that put the interests of victims before the interests of criminals. Reforms that uplift and support our police officers. Reforms that deliver true justice to the victims of crime. Reforms that make our streets and communities safer for all. I am proud of the work we have accomplished, and I am thankful to the victims of crime, the legislature, and all those involved in this special session. This is just the beginning of our work for a safer Louisiana,” said Governor Jeff Landry.
LANDRY: Crime Special Session is a Success
Louisiana will put the safety of our citizens and the victims of crime first, before the criminals!
Last year I promised the people of this state, if elected Governor, I would do everything within my power to improve the safety of our communities through legislative and executive action.
I can proudly say we have kept that promise.
Victims finally have a voice and will receive the justice our state promised them a long time ago; our law enforcement officers will be supported, and there will be truth and transparency in our criminal justice system.
The good citizens of Louisiana who work hard and play by the rules will be able to pump their gas without fear.
I appreciate the Legislators who worked hard to pass these bills, as well as the victims of crime who had the courage to share their stories.
Governor Jeff Landry
MIGUEZ: Constitutional Carry a "Fundamental Right"
Sen. Blake Miguez had this to say after passage of his historic 2nd Amendment bill regarding carrying of firearms last week:
This past week marks a historic bi-partisan victory for the people of Louisiana as the House passed SB1, the “Constitutional Carry” bill with overwhelming support. Grateful to my colleagues in both chambers and across the aisle for backing this fundamental right. Eagerly awaiting Governor Jeff Landry's signature to officially make Louisiana the 28th state to embrace permitless carry. This is a testament to our commitment to the Second Amendment and the right of law-abiding citizens to protect themselves and their families without undue government interference.
Kennedy, Landry in Shreveport Times: We must return law and order to Louisiana
“Louisianans shouldn’t have to live in fear when pumping their gas, getting groceries or walking in their own neighborhoods.”
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Gov. Jeff Landry penned this op-ed in The Shreveport Times to explain how soft-on-crime policies have harmed Louisiana residents. Kennedy and Landry commended the state legislature for working to restore law and order in the state. This piece also appeared in The Daily Advertiser, Houma Today, The Daily Comet, The Town Talk, The News-Star, The Weekly Citizen and Daily World.
Key excerpts of the op-ed are below:
“Louisianans are some of the most hospitable, fun-loving people on earth, and they deserve to live in safe communities where their families can thrive. Yet in far too many parishes, rampant crime has left families too scared to pump their own gas or sit with their children on their front porches.
“This crime wave didn’t appear overnight. It was written into law. The Louisiana Justice Reinvestment Act, a legislative package former Gov. John Bel Edwards championed seven years ago, prioritized the comfort of violent criminals over the safety of Louisiana families. It shortened prison sentences, reduced penalties on repeat offenders and expanded parole options for suspected criminals—all while trying to paint criminals as ‘misunderstood.’
“Look where we are now: Louisiana has the second-highest homicide rate and three of the top 10 most dangerous cities in the country. Criminals steal one car every hour in some parts of our state. Unless we make the necessary changes, an estimated one out of every 14 Black men under age 35 in New Orleans will be murdered.
“As leaders, we cannot sit on our hands and allow failed policies to tear apart more Louisiana families. That is why the Louisiana Legislature’s Special Session on reducing crime was so important.”
. . .
“What you allow is what will continue. Under the Louisiana Justice Reinvestment Act, criminals in Louisiana knew they can destroy property, steal cars and shoot people without facing any serious consequences. And Louisianans live in fear because they knew these criminals wouldn’t face any consequences, too.”
. . .
“Louisianans shouldn’t have to live in fear when pumping their gas, getting groceries or walking in their own neighborhoods. This special session was the first step to taking back our streets and empowering our citizens.”
Read the full op-ed here.
Democrat cuts Kennedy off while he highlights horror of abortion: “Do you support abortion up to the moment of birth?”
“It's real simple: you either support abortion for a healthy mother and baby up to the moment of birth, or you don't—and I don't think it's a difficult question.”
WASHINGTON – A Democrat today cut off Sen. John Kennedy (R-La), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, in a hearing as he defended life and highlighted the horrors of abortion.
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) chaired the committee.
Key remarks from Kennedy’s exchange with Caitlin Myers and Leilah Zahedi-Spung, whom committee Democrats brought as witnesses, are below. Kennedy also questioned Leslie Ford, a witness for Republicans.
Kennedy: “My good friend Senator Whitehouse said, I want to quote, ‘Reproductive justice is economic justice.’ Close quote. Do you agree with that?”
Myers: “I might, as an economist, use the word ‘rights,’ but yeah, I do agree with that.”
Kennedy: “Okay, that’s not true for the baby, is it?”
Myers: “Well, first of all, I would refer to a ‘fetus,’ not a ‘baby.’”
Kennedy: “Well, a ‘fetus’—I refer to it as a ‘baby’—that's not true for the baby, is it?
. . .
Myers: “I'm sorry. I don't really understand . . . I'm not here to talk about ethics, assignment of personhood. That’s not my role.”
Kennedy: “Well, but you said you agreed with the chairman's statement that, ‘Reproductive justice is economic justice.’ There is no economic justice for the baby because the baby's dead, right?”
Myers: “I don't really know how to answer your question.”
Kennedy: “Well, is the baby dead or alive?”
. . .
Myers: “The fetus would be dead after an abortion.”
Kennedy: “All right. If the if the mother is healthy and the baby is healthy, do you support abortion up to the moment of birth?”
Myers: “You know, I think that’s a really hard question to answer because that just doesn’t happen. You’re asking me about something that simply doesn’t happen—”
Kennedy: “Well, actually, I will tell you, it’s legal in Vermont, New Jersey, Oregon, Colorado, New Mexico, Alaska and the District of Columbia, and the loon wing of the Democratic Party supports abortion up to the moment of birth. So, do you support that or are oppose it?”
. . .
Kennedy: “It’s real simple: You either support abortion for a healthy mother and baby up to the moment of birth, or you don’t—and I don’t think it’s a difficult question.”
. . .
Kennedy: “This is a baby at 21 weeks, okay? The baby can feel pain, right?”
Ford: “Yes.”
Kennedy: “And the baby’s pretty developed, right?”
Ford: “Yes.”
Kennedy: “And, do you know the name of the procedure that the doctor would use to abort that baby at 21 weeks? . . . It's called dilation and evacuation, is that right?”
Ford: “As far as I understand it.”
Kennedy: “Yeah, and, first, the doctor would dilate the cervix, and then the doctor would take what's called [a sopher] clamp. It's really a pair of pliers with sharp teeth on the end, and, without giving the baby any pain medication, the doctor would go through the vagina, through the uterus, and start tearing the baby apart, is that right?”
Ford: “As far as I understand the procedure.”
Kennedy: “And [the doctor] might start with the legs and pull them out, and the arms and pull them out, right? And then she might go for the heart or the spine and just pull the baby out piece by piece. Is that right? Without giving the baby pain medication?”
Ford: “That's what I understand the procedure to be.”
Kennedy: “Okay, but then you've got to get the head out. The baby's dead. Maybe not. Maybe it's still in pain, but then you've got to get the head out, and—even with the cervix dilated--you've got to get the head out, which is hard. So, then the doctor would go in and use those pliers to crush the baby's head. Is that right?”
Ford: “As far as I know.”
Kennedy: “And then she'd pull the head out, the crushed skull out, right?”
Whitehouse: “Senator Kennedy, your time has expired here . . .”
Kennedy: “Well, you gave the others plenty of time, Mr. Chairman.”
Whitehouse: “Just letting you know your time's expired. [We have] other senators waiting.”
Kennedy: “Well, [I] was waiting when you were letting others—I'm sorry you don't want to hear about what happens in an actual abortion, but [I thought] that was what we were here to talk about.”
Whitehouse: “No one else has gone over. Some of the witnesses went a little bit long, but on both sides.”
Kennedy: “I thought we were here about protecting mothers and killing babies.”
Whitehouse: “I'm going to turn to Senator Stabenow.”
Kennedy: “Well, I'm sorry you don’t want to hear it.”
View full remarks here.
Kennedy questions Bureau of Prisons on early release of criminals: “You don't have the slightest idea how many of them committed another crime and came back?”
“The director let 30,000 of these folks go and can't tell me today how many have come back. . . . It takes my breath away.”
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned Colette Peters, the director of the Bureau of Prisons, about the recidivism rate associated with criminals released under the First Step Act.
Kennedy: “How many criminals have you released under the First Step Act?”
. . .
Peters: “We have about 30,000 individuals that have been released since the passage of the First Step Act.”
Kennedy: “All right, so you've released 30,000 criminals under the First Step Act, okay? . . . Before you released them, did you contact any of their victims to say, ‘We're about to let this guy out’?”
Peters: “Senator, it's my understanding that that notification happens through the U.S. Attorney's Office, but I will check into that and get back to you.”
Kennedy: “You don't know?”
Peters: “Senator, I don't.”
. . .
Kennedy: “Wow. Okay, of the 30,000 criminals you let free, how many of them have come back, have committed a crime again, hurt somebody else?”
Peters: “So, that number is one that we're still looking at as it relates to the recidivism rate for those that were released on the First Step Act.”
Kennedy: “You don't have any idea?”
Peters: “No, Senator.”
. . .
Kennedy: “So let me get this straight: The First Step Act was passed in 2018. This is 2024, am I right so far?”
Peters: “That's correct.”
Kennedy: “That's six years, and, in six years, you've let 30,000 criminals go, right?”
Peters: “That's correct.”
Kennedy: “And you don't have the slightest idea how many of them committed another crime and came back?
Peters: “I don't have that number in front of me, sir.”
Kennedy: “And you run the Bureau of Prisons?”
Peters: “That's correct.”
. . .
Kennedy: “You know, [we] were told that it would save money and it would be in the interest of public safety to release criminals from prison. I didn't vote for it, but the majority rules, and so Congress did it.
“And Ms. Peters, Director Peters at the Bureau of Prisons, and her colleagues released 30,000 criminals, all of whom are there for a reason, okay? They didn't just go to prison for a free toaster. They were there for a reason.
“And, so, her department let them go, and, after six years, we don't have the slightest idea. Not a single one of the 40,000 of her employees [knows] how many have committed a second crime and come back. So, how the hell are we supposed to figure out whether it worked?”
. . .
Kennedy: “The director let 30,000 of these folks go and can't tell me today how many have come back. . . . It takes my breath away.”
View full remarks here.
OPINION: Protect Funding of Medicare Advantage
Dear Editor,
Enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan empowered me to take charge of my life and prioritize my health and well-being. With this program, I can finally afford the health services that enable me to feel healthy and embrace a fulfilled lifestyle. So, when I heard there could be cuts to the program, I was left speechless.
When I initially retired, I enrolled in a fee-for-service Medicare plan. Unfortunately, I soon realized I couldn't afford my essential prescription drugs and doctor's appointments through this health plan. That's when I decided to try Medicare Advantage, and now I always feel confident that my health care costs will remain within my budget. Under this health plan, I get comprehensive prescription coverage, ensuring I can access all my necessary medications. With this coverage, I know I can always afford the care that supports my daily life, which is extremely comforting. Medicare Advantage also caps my out-of-pocket costs, offering reassurance that no matter what happens down the line, my financial situation won't stand in the way of my access to essential care.
Despite being a lifeline for many, there could be cuts to the program that might affect our access to care. I urge Louisiana's leaders to protect the funding of Medicare Advantage so that people like me can continue to receive the quality care we deserve.
Best,
Melanie Evans
New Orleans, Louisiana
