Kennedy cosponsors bill to close loophole that allows China to exploit U.S. military expertise

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) has cosponsored the No People’s Liberation Army in Logistical Operations and Other Pertinent Humanitarian Operations Leading to Endangered Security (NO PLA LOOPHOLES) Act to close a loophole in U.S. law that allows the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) access to vital U.S. military training and expertise.

“The Chinese military is more than happy to take advantage of American altruism to boost its combat abilities, and we can’t allow Beijing’s ruthless regime to do that. The NO PLA LOOPHOLES Act would help ensure Communist China can’t exploit American military strengths to advance its oppressive, genocidal agenda,” said Kennedy.  

The NO PLA LOOPHOLES Act would prevent China from using a legal loophole to improve the PLA’s combat abilities. Under current law, the U.S. military cannot engage in military-to-military exchanges with the PLA in any way that would give the PLA access to vital U.S. military training and expertise. The law, however, permits U.S.-Chinese military cooperation on search-and-rescue and humanitarian missions and exercises. The PLA has gained access to traditional U.S. military training under the guise of engaging in these humanitarian exercises. 

The bill would ban this form of cooperation.

Posted on September 15, 2022 by Christopher J. Gary and filed under John Kennedy and tagged China john kennedy.

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) Helps Pass Once-In-A-Generation Tax Cuts For The American People

“This bill will help every single Louisiana family, and I am proud to be a part of this historic moment.” –said Sen. Kennedy

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) voted today to pass a once-in-a-generation series of tax cuts.  By voting for the bill, Sen. Kennedy made sweeping reforms to America’s antiquated tax code while delivering on his campaign promise to lower taxes and help get the economy moving again. 

“This bill helps every single Louisiana family by putting more dollars into their paychecks instead of federal coffers.  New jobs get created when families spend those dollars.  It’s Economics 101,” said Sen. Kennedy.  “We doubled the standard deduction.  We more than doubled the child tax credit.  We lowered tax rates.  I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: This bill is about tax cuts, jobs, and more jobs.  We have delivered on both.  We’ve finally given families and businesses meaningful tax cuts.  We’re giving them the tools to dream and to build and to prosper. ”

Highlights from the legislation:

  • Increases Take-Home Pay: The typical family of four will receive a tax cut of $2,059.

  • Lowers Tax Brackets: The new tax brackets are 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%.

  • Doubles the Standard Deduction: For an individual, the standard deduction goes from $6,350 to $12,700.  For a married couple, it goes from $12,000 to $24,000.

  • Doubles the Child Tax Credit: The child tax credit is doubled from the current $1,000 to $2,000, and more parents are allowed to claim the credit.

  • Repeals Obamacare’s Individual Mandate: Repealing this unpopular tax will help provide additional relief to low- and middle-income families.

    • 135,510 people in Louisiana paid the individual mandate tax penalty in 2014 rather than purchase insurance.

    • Builds Families: The Adoption Tax Credit is preserved, which ensures that the adoption process remains accessible and affordable.

    • Supports Teachers: The Educator Expense Deduction is retained, allowing teachers to claim a deduction for money they spend out of pocket on their classrooms.  This tax deduction helps teachers who selflessly spend their own money on school supplies.

    • Preserves Historic Tax Credit: By preserving the Historic Tax Credit (HTC), Louisiana’s historic properties and communities will continue to be revitalized and create new economic opportunities.

    • Provides A Two Year Boost In GOMESA Funding: Under current estimates, Louisiana will receive an additional $100 million in revenue under the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act until 2020 and 2021.  This would allow our state to invest in priorities such as coastal restoration and hurricane protection.

Posted on September 15, 2022 by Christopher J. Gary and filed under John Kennedy, Taxes and tagged taxes john kennedy.

Kennedy, Republican senators introduce resolution calling on Biden to fight crime, secure border

Photo source: Senate

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today joined more than 15 other Republican senators in introducing a resolution highlighting rising crime rates in the U.S. and calling on President Biden to combat crime and secure the southern border.

“The Biden administration seems to think that when a criminal commits a crime, it’s not really the criminal’s fault. Under President Biden’s watch, crime rates have gone up, drugs are pouring across the border and criminals are murdering cops. The White House must do something to keep American communities safe,” said Kennedy.

The resolution points out that the murder rate in America rose by 30 percent from 2019-2020, the largest single-year increase in more than a century. In addition, there was a 59 percent increase in the number of police officers murdered last year. At least 16 American cities set record for the number of murders in 2021.

More than 2.5 million illegal immigrants have been caught trying to cross the U.S. southern border since January 2021, and overdose deaths have reached an all-time high as the flow of illegal drugs across the southern border is putting communities at risk across America.

Text of the resolution is available here.

Posted on September 15, 2022 by Christopher J. Gary and filed under Immigration, John Kennedy and tagged immigration john kennedy.

LOGA Responds to BOEM’s Reinstatement of Lease Sale 257 Bids

In compliance with the Inflation Reduction Act, the Bureau of Energy Management (BOEM) announced today that the 307 highest value bids from Lease Sale 257 held in November of 2021 would be reinstated, totaling $189,888,271. The bids had been invalidated by a federal judge earlier this year.

In response Louisiana Oil & Gas Association President Mike Moncla issued the following statement:

“This has been a long time coming. On behalf of the Louisiana Oil & Gas Association, I want to thank Attorney General Jeff Landry for his strong, capable leadership that helped make this lease sale possible.

While the oil and gas industry focuses on creating jobs and fostering economic investment in Louisiana, President Biden and the Democrats continue to promote harmful regulations that hurt American families.

The President fought as hard as he could to stop this sale from happening. But through the work of Jeff Landry, justice has prevailed.

This lease sale is an important victory, not only for the 250,000+ oil and gas workers in the state but for every American who is facing high energy costs as a result of our diminished oil and gas supply.

We look forward to working with Attorney General Landry as we continue our opposition to the Biden administration’s failed energy policies that have hindered our true potential as the energy powerhouse of the world.”

Posted on September 14, 2022 by Christopher J. Gary and filed under Oil and Gas, Louisiana and tagged LOGA oil and gas.

Hearing in Ways and Means Committee on Eliminating Louisiana Income Tax

Photo source: Louisiana House Page

The Louisiana House Ways and Means Committee met Tuesday to begin study of a proposal to eliminate the state’s individual and corporate income taxes. During the 2022 regular session, the legislature passed House Resolution 178, sponsored by Rep. Richard Nelson, R-Mandeville, to study the state’s tax structure and recommend whether state income taxes should be eliminated and how the state’s many tax exemptions and credits could be reformed.

At Tuesday’s hearing, Nelson told the committee the state’s complicated tax structure is a reason why it continues to lose population. Louisiana has not added a congressional seat since 1910 and instead loses an average of one district every 20 years, he noted.

“At the end of the day, we’re a banana republic that’s run out of bananas,” Nelson said.

Read more: Nelson pitches end of Louisiana income tax to lawmakers


Brought to you by Cajun Conservatism
Posted on September 14, 2022 by Christopher J. Gary and filed under Louisiana and tagged louisiana.

Exclusive—Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry: Hunter’s Laptop Sets Lady Justice Ablaze

There was once a philosopher who described communication as sharing “pictures of facts.” He outlined that the role of language is to help us form the correct image in the minds of others. Without the right image, how could we possibly communicate anything of value?

That is both the blessing and the curse of our modern world.

When communication channels are open, when there is a great diversity of ideas, when claims are supported by facts, and each individual can form the correct “picture” in their minds – that is when knowledge can become power.

And that is exactly why knowledge is being controlled.

Read more: Exclusive—Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry: Hunter’s Laptop Sets Lady Justice Ablaze

Posted on September 14, 2022 by Christopher J. Gary and filed under Jeff Landry and tagged jeff landry.

SCALISE: So Much for the Inflation Reduction Act

With a report this morning indicating that inflation is still red-hot and Americans are feeling the pinch, Minority Whip, Steve Scalise, had this to say regarding the Inflation Reduction Act.

Posted on September 13, 2022 by Christopher J. Gary and filed under Inflation, Steve Scalise and tagged steve scalise Inflation.

GABBARD: Biden Treats GOP Like They're Terrorists

Posted on September 13, 2022 by Christopher J. Gary and filed under Joe Biden, Tulsi Gabbard and tagged Tulsi Gabbard Joe Biden.

Louisiana Comes in 9th on Heritage's Education Freedom List

Posted on September 12, 2022 by Christopher J. Gary and filed under Education, Louisiana and tagged louisiana education.

Higgins Urges Department Of Transportation To Approve Mega Grant For I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) is calling on Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to schedule H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act, for a vote on the House floor.
 
The bill, which would repeal the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), exceeded 290 co-sponsors in July and was moved to the consensus calendar. However, the bill has not been formally scheduled for a vote and could be delayed until the end of November.
 
“We are respectfully asking Speaker Pelosi to bring the Social Security Fairness Act for a vote on the House floor. If you pay into Social Security, you should be able to collect your fair share when the time comes,” said Congressman Higgins. “Too many seniors are unfairly penalized by the GPO and WEP, and this injustice must be corrected. I am a co-sponsor of the bill, and we strongly support its passage.”

Posted on September 12, 2022 by Christopher J. Gary and filed under Clay Higgins, Louisiana and tagged clay higgins lake charles.

Higgins Reintroduces Legislation To Combat Foreign Seafood Dumping

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) has reintroduced H.R. 8732, the Imported Seafood Safety Standards Act of 2022, which protects American consumers and small businesses from foreign seafood dumping.

The bill prohibits the import of foreign seafood that fails to meet U.S. standards for seafood manufacturing, processing, and holding. It also establishes a program for foreign seafood inspection and imposes real penalties for importers and countries that routinely violate U.S. laws.

Historically, only a small percentage of seafood imports have been inspected as they enter the United States, and foreign bad actors often use illegal additives while relying on enslaved workers to harvest seafood. These bad actors are notorious for falsely labeling imports to avoid detection by the FDA. This irresponsible and illegal dumping of seafood imports hurts American consumers and the Gulf seafood industry.

The full bill text is available here.

Congressman Higgins issued the following statement:

"Congress must act against illegal seafood dumping. Foreign seafood imports should be held to American standards. The seafood industry is a critical part of Louisiana’s culture and economy. This legislation combats illegal foreign seafood dumping and protects American producers.”

Posted on September 12, 2022 by Christopher J. Gary and filed under Clay Higgins, Louisiana and tagged clay higgins louisiana.