Cajun Conservatism
Photo source: Cajun Conservatism
“These kind of lawsuits will only continue to move Louisiana in the wrong direction and further weaken the state’s struggling economy, which has lost thousands of jobs and major manufacturing projects in recent years,” Venable said.
Read more: COASTAL LAWSUITS MOVING STATE IN WRONG DIRECTION, LOUISIANA LAWSUIT ABUSE WATCH SAYS
Remember when Jim Acosta made a complete ass off himself and, as a result, has his White House Press credentials revoked? Where, here is a reminder of Acosta claiming that these “migrants” were not invaders and would not be jumping walls.
The overlaid video footage by Benny Johnson of The Daily Caller is pure gold.
Jim Acosta lectured President Trump about the migrant caravan saying:
— Benny (@bennyjohnson) November 26, 2018
- Not an invasion
- Hundreds of miles away
- Would not jump border wall
I overlaid actual footage from today of the migrant caravan storming the border to invade the US over Jim's question.
I hope you enjoy: pic.twitter.com/p3vQogWnIJ
While most of the nation is breathing a sigh of relief that the federal elections are over, for now, Louisiana politicos woke up on November 7th with one reality: the race for Governor starts now. That's right folks, we are officially in the 2019 electoral cycle. Sure, pieces of this puzzle started coming together months ago, but now plans and preparations, for what will no doubt be a highly contested governor's race, will be sent into over drive.
The race for Louisiana's top job will quickly take shape over the next few weeks. Governor Edwards will officially announce his intent to seek re-election, Baton Rouge businessman Eddie Rispone will officially kick off his campaign, and Senator John Kennedy will make a final decision before the end of the month.
With his approval rating currently sitting in the area of 40%, JBE will stop at nothing to avoid a repeat of Governor Blanco's "one and done" experience. He will pull out all the stops to ignite his base and reaffirm his position with the trial lawyers that helped secure the 4th floor of the state capitol for him in 2015. He will continue to cozy up to his union cronies, push for teacher pay raises, and sacrifice the abundance of Louisiana's natural resources by way of destroying our economy to satisfy the leftist, liberal activist, like General Honore's GreenARMY, that have swept the state during his first term.
We have already seen evidence of this detrimental partnership when the administration caved to environmentalists demands when they forced the Governor’s hand to nix the plans of Explosive Services International (ESI) to keep the burn chamber at Camp Minden functioning. And then again when he put a stop to plans to bring another burn chamber to the Slaughter area. This project, which had major, bi-partisan support from local officials, would have provided high quality jobs to a rural area.
One has to wonder how many companies, with high quality, blue collar jobs, are going to pack their bags? We have already seen companies refusing to reinvest in Louisiana because of the legal climate that the Edwards Administration has fostered. Between the legacy lawsuits that run rampant, the lack of corporate tax incentives, and the eroding quality of life in Louisiana, is it really any surprise that the Pelican state suffers from an out-migration issue?
If all this sounds a little doom and gloom, it’s probably because it is. Don’t let that 40% approval rating make you comfortable. The trial lawyer money is flowing, the environmental activists are activated and ramping into full gear for 2019 and this show is just getting started. Conservatives need to unite behind one candidate and beat John Bel. A rerun of the 2015 Republican primary will only help assure the Governors re-elect.
Chris Gary - Cajun Conservatism
Photo source: LAGOP
11/13/2018
Today, Louisiana Republican officials across the state joined together to express support for Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin in his runoff election scheduled for December 8, 2018. Members of the executive branch of Louisiana, and the Republican members of the Congressional delegation, announced their endorsements of Secretary Ardoin for the December 8 runoff.
“It is vital that we keep a conservative Republican as our Louisiana Secretary of State. We cannot afford a liberal progressive in that office who would weaken our voter ID laws and undermine the integrity of our elections,” Republican Party of Louisiana Chairman Louis Gurvich said. “It's critical that all Louisiana Republicans show up to support and vote for Secretary of State Ardoin on December 8. No one should take this election for granted!”
“Look at what’s happening in Florida and Georgia, where the incompetence of local election officials is casting serious doubt on the results of the elections in those states. This cannot be allowed to happen in Louisiana. I will continue to ensure the security of our elections, and fight the radicals who wish to change our election laws,” declared Secretary of State Ardoin.
Secretary Ardoin placed first in the November primary. Early voting for the runoff election takes place November 24-December 1, and Election Day is December 8.
The list of Republican officials who have endorsed Secretary Ardoin are as follows:
Republican Party of Louisiana
Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D.
Senator John Kennedy
Congressman Steve Scalise
Congressman Ralph Abraham
Congressman Clay Higgins
Congressman Mike Johnson
Attorney General Jeff Landry
Treasurer John Schroder
Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Mike Strain
Commissioner of Insurance Jim Donelon
Photo source: Facebook
Over the weekend, WBRZ Television station in Baton Rouge broke the story that convicted felon, and former mayor of New Roads Robert Myer, voted in the recent federal elections.
If this doesn’t sound right, it’s because it is not!
It is illegal for convicted felons to vote...even if the Governor's political appointees try and allow it. As reported by WBRZ, under the leadership of Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin, prior to every election, he receives a list from the Department of Corrections of criminals who are not eligible to vote. Robert Myer’s name was not on that list. Governor Edwards political appointee Malcolm Myer, Assistant Secretary at the Department of Corrections, and the brother of Robert Myer, did not send the felon’s name to Secretary Ardoin.
Thankfully Attorney General Landry continues to fight the empty out our jails policy coming from this Administration. Felons voting is just the latest disrespect being shown victims of crime. Our election process is sacred, thank you Attorney General Landry and Secretary of State Ardoin for fighting for accountability.
Link to WBRZ story here
Photo source: FDA
As part of the crackdown, called Operation Pangea XI, the FDA sent warnings to seven different networks operating 465 websites that were offering up misbranded or unapproved drugs. This is the 11th annual operation.
Some of the domains include seemingly innocuous names like bestgenericstore.com or top-meds-discounts.com.
Read more: FDA Launches Global Crackdown on Websites Selling Illicit Opioids and Drugs
Photo source: Wikipedia
In this piece from the Advocate, Louisiana has signed a deal with the country of Poland for deliveries of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
The state company PGNiG signed the 24-year deal with American supplier Cheniere during a ceremony in Warsaw attended by U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry and Polish President Andrzej Duda.
Read more: Poland signs deal for long-term natural gas deliveries from Louisiana, Texas
Photo source: Life Persona
Illegal Fentanyl is flooding the southern border. According to a recent report, the illegal drug comes from two main sources: China and Mexico. It arrives in two ways: U.S. consumers order it directly from laboratories in China or Chinese companies ship it to smugglers in Mexico, where the goods are then shipped into the U.S. via popular trucking routes.
Read more: Border wall needed to protect against a 'caravan' of a different kind: drugs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Baton Rouge (Oct. 24, 2018) – Today, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) released a study that reveals the total cost of the U.S. tort system is staggering. The ILR report, Costs and Compensation of the U.S. Tort System, estimates the total cost of tort litigation in each state, totaling $429 billion nationwide in 2016.
Closer to home, the cost of lawsuits in Louisiana are among the highest of any state. Families and businesses in Louisiana were forced to pay nearly $7 billion in expenses related to tort litigation in 2016 - equivalent to more than $4,000 for every Louisiana household. The impact on the Louisiana economy ranks among the top five states in the nation, as litigation costs equate to almost three percent of the state’s GDP.
The ILR report further shows the largest share of Louisiana’s tort costs are a result of automobile accident cases, ringing in at almost $3.4 billion in 2016. Year after year, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) has supported a series of reform bills in the Louisiana Legislature to address this issue and bring costs down for Louisiana businesses and families but faces strong opposition from allies of an entrenched trial bar.
Today, LABI president and CEO Stephen Waguespack joined ILR in Washington for the launch of the report, speaking on a morning panel at the 2018 Legal Reform Summit. The experts took a deep dive into the cost of tort litigation for the average American family and how Louisiana shapes up compared to the rest of the country. Joining Waguespack on the panel was Paul Hinton, Principal of the Battle Group. The panelists were interviewed by Connie Lewis Lensing, Senior Vice President of the Legal Department at FedEx.
“On the heels of yet another negative report, we are staying focused on solutions,” stated LABI president and CEO Stephen Waguespack. “The costs of lawsuits profoundly impacts the ability of Louisiana employers to create jobs and for workers to keep more of their own hard-earned money. Reform to Louisiana’s legal system is a top priority going into next year’s important state election cycle.”
Waguespack continued, “Louisiana must take the opportunity to learn from this latest report. Not just about how our state can be stronger, but what these costs mean for Louisiana wallets and what other states are doing in this arena to ensure plaintiffs have access to a fair system without penalizing all businesses and households. The reality is that lawsuits are not just a technical issue that dies in the state legislature every year; this is a real-world problem that our businesses and families are fighting every day.”
Earlier this year, the ILR ranked Louisiana 51st in the country behind the District of Columbia for the worst legal climate in the nation. The new ILR report focuses specifically on the cost of torts paid in the U.S. tort system, using data on liability insurance premiums and estimates of the liability exposure of businesses and individuals that are uninsured or self-insured.
To read the report, click below:
Costs and Compensation the U.S. Tort System:https://www.instituteforlegalreform.com/research/2018-costs-and-compensation-of-the-us-tort-system
About the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry
The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry was organized in 1975 to represent Louisiana businesses, serving as both the state chamber of commerce and state manufacturers association. LABI’s primary goal is to foster a climate for economic growth by championing the principles of the free enterprise system and representing the general interest of the business community through active involvement in the political, legislative, judicial and regulatory processes. Find out more information at http://www.labi.org
In a recent email to supporters and constituents, Congressman Clay Higgins highlights the 100% voting record he has in Congress concerning the Right to Life:
As children of God, we are called to protect the most innocent, the unborn. Over the last 22 months, my office has supported and fought for pro-life legislation that includes:
H.R. 7, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act
H.R. 36, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act
H.R. 490, the Heartbeat Protection Act
H.R. 4712, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act
No American should ever worry that their tax dollars are being used to fund organizations that perform abortions, which is why I have also supported every effort to defund Planned Parenthood and advance pro-life protections. I will continue to support legislative efforts like this in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Photo source: Fortune
Fentanyl, 50 times more potent than heroin, and related laboratory-crafted drugs have become the No. 1 cause of opioid-related overdose deaths. And rogue chemical companies in China -- operating openly and outside the reach of U.S. authorities -- are the largest single source of the deadly drugs, law enforcement officials say.
"People in labs in China are producing this substance that is killing Americans," Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein said in an interview. "This is a real crisis. The Chinese government has the ability to stop this if they want to. We believe they should want to do that."
Read more: Fentanyl Smuggled From China Is Killing Thousands Of Americans
Photo source: NOLA
The annual voter guide reports from PAR and the Louisiana Family Forum are out and can be read here and here.
The reports have become a resource for many of the Louisiana voting public and outline where candidates stand on various social and economic issues, as well as the amendments that are on the ballot and the significance for supporting or opposing those amendments.
Photo source: KLFY
In a blatant attempt at electioneering, one Lafayette City-Parish Councilman has proposed free bus rides on election day. While not expressly bringing folks to the polls, the rides will surely be used in an attempt to sway votes and at getting more voters to the polls in an attempt to influence the election.
What could possibly go wrong????
Read more: Possible free bus rides on Election Day causes controversy
Photo source: Gossipela
Alethea Torrellas Shapiro had been using her children regularly to harass senators, such as Sen. Bill Cassidy, on Capitol Hill. According to the Daily Caller, Shapiro is “an activist who calls extremist feminist activist Linda Sarsour her hero and regularly goes on profanity-laced tirades against GOP senators like Chuck Grassley.”
Read more: Sen. Bill Cassidy Chastises Protester for Using Children as Political Props
Baton Rouge, LA — Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch (LLAW) today released the 2018 Economic Benefits of Tort Reform, an assessment measuring the impact of excessive civil court costs on Louisiana’s economy. The study, conducted by The Perryman Group for Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA), found that Louisiana is losing jobs and revenue because of the state’s civil justice system. The assessment included extensive survey data, industry information and a variety of corroborative source material. The Perryman Group analyzed outcomes in the state using Ohio, which has engaged in notable tort reform in the recent past, as a benchmark.
The total current impact of excessive tort costs on the Louisiana economy amounts to estimated losses of $1.1 billion in annual direct costs and $1.5 billion in output (gross product) annually. About 15,556 jobs are lost when dynamic effects are considered. All major industry groups are negatively impacted, with retail trade, business services, health services and other service industries showing the greatest losses. The yearly fiscal losses (as of 2018) are estimated at $76.4 million in state revenues and $64.3 million to local governments. These effects are based on the current size of the state’s population and economy and can be expected to rise over time in the absence of meaningful civil justice reforms.
The assessment found that an inadequately balanced justice system can be counterproductive. A system that generates exorbitant levels of damages or numbers of awards may result in negative impacts through the misallocation of society’s scarce economic and human resources. Some of these negative effects include increased costs and risks of doing business in an area; disincentives for innovations which promote consumer welfare; enhanced incentives to file lawsuits of questionable merit resulting in increased inefficiencies; higher insurance premiums than would exist under a more balanced approach; and increased health care costs and declining availability of medical services, among others.
“These findings clearly show that civil justice reform must be a priority in Louisiana. Frivolous lawsuits and exorbitant plaintiff awards impact all sectors of our economy and hurt Louisiana families, as costs are ultimately passed down to them in the form of higher prices for goods and services,” said LLAW Executive Director Lana Venable.
Civil justice reforms that have resulted in the greatest reduction in losses are those aimed at reducing frivolous lawsuits, capping appeal bonds, setting negligence standards and limiting non-economic damages. These reforms have been shown to enhance innovation and increase productivity, as well as to improve judicial efficiency and economic performance.
According to the assessment, when working properly, the judicial system provides a critical institutional framework that provides a fair and equitable forum for resolving disputes, compensates plaintiffs who have been legitimately harmed and deters undesirable behavior.
“A healthy legal system should ensure fairness for both truly impaired individuals and small and large businesses operating in Louisiana. Imbalances in the system lead to unpredictability for consumers and businesses, costing jobs and resulting in constrained economic growth,” according to Louisiana Coalition for Common Sense Executive Director Jim Harris.
Louisiana was ranked 50 th in the US Chamber Institute for Legal Reform’s 2017 Lawsuit Abuse Climate Survey, which measures the reasonability and balance of each states’ tort liability systems. Louisiana also earned the number eight ranking in the American Tort Reform Foundation’s 2017-18 Judicial
Hellholes Report based on systematic application of civil laws and court procedures.
About Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch (LLAW)
Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch (LLAW) is a high-impact watchdog group with nearly 20,000 supporters across the state dedicated to fixing Louisiana’s broken legal system through transparency, accountability and lawsuit reform. Visit us on Facebook, Twitter (@ReformLouisiana) and www.llaw.org.
About the Louisiana Coalition for Common Sense (LCCS)
The Louisiana Coalition for Common Sense (LCCS) is a group of professional associations, companies and individuals committed to ensuring a fair legal climate for both truly impaired individuals and small and large businesses operating in Louisiana.
About The Perryman Group (TPG)
An economic and financial analysis firm, The Perryman Group (TPG provides clients with well-documented, carefully considered answers to even the most complex questions. For more than 30 years,
The Perryman Group has met the challenges of thousands of clients through a systematic approach and a level of performance that assures a consistent standard of excellence. The firm has been involved in scores of major events shaping the economic landscape, from crucial corporate locations to landmark legislation to important regulatory policies to notable judicial decisions.
Photo source: Imgflip
Pulling no punches regarding the Mueller investigation, President Trump jabs at CBS News and 60 Minutes.
Like a boss……………………..
On #60Minutes, Lesley Stahl asked President Trump if he will make a pledge to not shut down the Mueller investigation.
— Mike (@mike_Zollo) October 15, 2018
Trump responded: “I don’t make pledges to anyone, and if I was going to make a pledge it wouldn’t be to you”.
This man is a GODSEND. pic.twitter.com/bDvxSzBxkX
Photo source: Twitter
As a survivor of a politically motivated attack, it is tragic to think this is an acceptable state of political discourse in our country. I refuse to stand for this and I will continue to call for an end to it. A healthy, strong democracy is not possible if anyone lives in fear of expressing their views.
If this is going to stop, it must start with Democratic leaders, who need to condemn, rather than promote these dangerous calls to action.
Photo source: Wikipedia
WASHINGTON, DC – Landmark legislation produced under the leadership of House Water Resources Subcommittee Chairman Garret Graves (South Louisiana) to reform the U.S. Corps of Engineers will be signed into law this week. The America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018, which unanimously passed the U.S. House of Representatives on September 13, 2018, will be voted on today in the U.S. Senate, and the president is expected to sign the bill into law later this week.
This is the first Corps reform bill produced with Graves serving as chairman over the House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over the Corps of Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies.
“On our current trajectory, the Corps will finish its $100 billion of backlogged, federally authorized projects approximately never,” said Graves. “We have to stop pushing paper and start turning dirt. Fundamental changes are needed, and this bill begins moving us in that direction.”
The America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (AWIA)is the latest in a portfolio of legislative achievements that Graves has been implementing as part of his broader strategy to replace the federal government’s wasteful spending of billions of dollars after disasters with smart, pre-disaster investments that better prepare and protect our communities at a much lower cost to taxpayers. Other strategy components include the Disaster Reform and Recovery Act, which was signed into law last Friday; full funding for the Comite flood protection, West Shore hurricane protection and other important projects announced in July; and Graves’ bill to increase offshore energy revenue sharing funding that passed through the Natural Resources Committee in September. AIWA paves the way for major reforms of how the nation plans, designs, constructs and funds flood control, hurricane protection, navigation, coastal/ecosystem restoration and other projects.
“This bill is about delivering proactive solutions so that communities actually benefit from projects instead of having to endure decades of studies and inaction,” added Graves.
AIWA focuses on four major themes:
·Cutting the red-tape and bureaucracy associated with Corps of Engineers’ projects
·Preventing redundancies and excessive costs
·Providing greater project roles to state and local governments
·Changing the Corps of Engineers focus from process and procedure to project completion
Provisions inserted in the House and final bill by Graves include:
·Providing the State of Louisiana an estimated $500,000,000 in credit for coastal restoration and other projects in the state. This credit can be used by the state in lieu of cash cost shares required by the state.
·Beginning a process to transition the Corps of Engineers’ mission to a civilian infrastructure agency where it can be a top agency priority.
·Forcing the Corps to disclose internal costs and expenses.
·Requiring a reanalysis of the Old River Control Structure in Louisiana to end the static 70% Mississippi River, 30% Atchafalaya River split of flow. Under the new model, the Corps would migrate toward a dynamic operations plan to maximize navigation, flood control, coastal restoration and other objectives.
·Allowing the state and levee districts to construct authorized Corps projects without re-permitting environmental and other project considerations.
·Eliminating the requirement that the state and levee districts go through a duplicative regulatory and permitting process when building authorized projects without the Corps of Engineers.
Graves continued: “There are literally tens of billions of dollars in authorized Corps of Engineers projects in Louisiana. If we are going to restore our coast and protect our communities, we must change the way these projects are developed and delivered.”
Other Louisiana-centric provisions include (provision sponsors):
·Preventing the purchase of property from private landowners when projects can be constructed using an easement, donation or other less expensive means (Higgins/Graves)
·Expanding upon opportunities to use material dredged from rivers and bayous for coastal restoration (Higgins/Graves)
·Expediting Feasibility Studies and Advancing Project Design:
oJ. Bennett Johnston Waterway project improvements (Abraham/Johnson)
oNorthshore flood risk reduction (Scalise/Cassidy/Kennedy)
oOuachita-Black Rivers navigation improvements (Abraham/Cassidy/Kennedy)
oBaptist’s Collette Bayou channel deepening (Scalise/Cassidy/Kennedy)
oHouma Navigation Canal Deepening (Scalise/Graves/Cassidy/Kennedy)
oExtend the construction deadline for a hydropower facility on the J. Bennett Johnston Waterway (Abraham/Johnson)
“This bill is good for our infrastructure, good for jobs, and good for America,”added Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA).
Graves recently secured $3,000,000,000 in new federal funding from five sources to fully fund numerous decades-stalled Corps of Engineers projects in Louisiana. This bill complements those efforts, which will together produce better protection for our homes, communities and businesses; better federal performance; and cost savings to the American people.
Photo source: GrowLACoalition Twitter
Plaquemines Parish residents are speaking loud and clear: they stand with the oil and gas industry and want to see it continue to play a vital role in their community and their future. The oil and gas industry provides more than 1,500 jobs in Plaquemines Parish with a $264 million payroll, paying $20 million annually in parish property taxes.
