Mills on Speaker Mike Johnson

I have seen numerous attacks on US House Speaker Mike Johnson in the last few weeks regarding his vote on funding the government and intelligence-driven security measures. Those attacks are short-sighted, poorly reasoned and severely lacking in context. I know Mike very well. He is an honorable man, a trustworthy leader and an engaged statesman. 

Admittedly, the circumstances America finds herself facing and the political remedies being offered are not ideal! Johnson is one of 435 votes in the US House and enjoys a single vote Republican majority. The GOP’s one-vote margin gives colorful critics like Marjorie Taylor Greene (R) enormous opportunity to find a camera with a light on or reporter trying to capture a salacious moment to opine or call attention to a lesser or unpassable measure. 

If an expulsion attempt is made, and the mainstream media would like you to believe it might be, the dissociative GOP disorder could allow a renegade GOP’er to cut a deal with opposition for a Democrat Speaker. We may actually have a Democrat-controlled House with a GOP majority…all while Iran attempts to initiate World War 3!   

I can only imagine that China, Russia and Iran, along with illegal immigrants, traffickers and terrorist plants, would be thrilled by a motion to remove the Speaker. I can further imagine that Israel, Ukraine and the rest of liberty lovers throughout the free world would simply mourn.  

Let me assure you, as one who knows Mike: he is dependable, humble and possesses the highest integrity. Besides, He was hand-selected by God as America's Daniel for this moment. Be patient; something Spirit-led is underway. We will witness the fruit of Mike’s leadership very soon!

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR STATE, NATION, WORLD AND SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON!

Gene Mills
Louisiana Family Forum

MILLS: Another Extraordinary Week in BR

Another extraordinary week for LFF and our allies at the Louisiana Capitol! Even this week’s inclement weather could not topple nor delay the passage of excellent legislation! On Wednesday, despite tornados, heavy winds and a deluge of rains, the House Education Committee chaired by Rep. Laurie Schlegel assembled and passed HB 121 by Rep. Raymond Crews and HB 122 by Rep. Dodie Horton, bills which prohibit the sexualization of children in public schools. Before the House departed for the weekend, lawmakers passed overwhelmingly the Women’s Safety and Protection Act to provide for the security of women in private spaces by prohibiting men from entering those spaces. Rep. Roger Wilder did an excellent job presenting this bill on the House floor! See how your representative voted on this bill here. Watch the Rep. Wilder's testimony at this video.

“To each of the men in this body… Why have we as men allowed this to get to this point?”

Representative @RogerWilderIII gives a fiery close on the 'What is a Woman' bill codifying the two sexes into LA law, HB 608. The bill passed 79-16! Next stop, Senate! #LAFreedomCaucus… pic.twitter.com/HitoyykdtF

— Louisiana Freedom Caucus (@LAFreedomCaucus) April 11, 2024

Next week is the halfway point of this Session!

 HB 71 Rep. Horton - Requires Ten Commandments displayed in every public K-12 classroom. Does not require that public funds be used. PASSED HOUSE

HB 98  HB 126 Rep. M Landry - Deletes Louisiana Marriage Amendment of 2004 in Constitution. Allows marriage between any two persons. DEFERED IN HOUSE CIVIL LAW

HB 114 Rep. Farnum - Requires Secretary of State to conduct annual canvass of registered voters. PASSED HOUSE

HB 121 Rep. Crews - Requires public school employees to use “given names” and pronouns for students unless parents provide written permission. PASSED HOUSE ED

HB 122 Rep. Horton - Prohibits a public-school employee at K-12 schools from discussing sexual orientation or gender identity with students. PASSED HOUSE ED

HB 234 Rep. Boyd - Creates a protected class employment based on sexual orientation and gender identity. FAILED HOUSE LABOR

HB 334 Rep. Amedee - Authorizes schools boards to provide for chaplains to serve in public schools as employees or on a volunteer basis. PASSED HOUSE. 86-6

HB 288 Rep. Amedee - Requires coroner to include immunization records in autopsy report for infants under the age of one year who die unexpectedly. PASSED HOUSE JUDICIARY

HB 515 Rep. Horton - Prohibits government restriction of freedom of choice regarding the purchase of any vehicle by a private citizen based on the fuel source. PASSED HOUSE 98-4

HB 548 Rep. Amedee - Students who complete approved home study programs and satisfy TOPS core curriculum and GPA requirements to the same ACT requirements as graduates of public and approved non-public high schools. PASSED HOUSE EDUCATION

HB 608 Rep. Wilder - Provides for the distinction between males and females and provides for protections for women and girls against threats from men. PASSED HOUSE 80-17

HB 644 Rep. Dickerson - Provides that students enrolled in home study programs may try out for and participate in public school activities, including but not limited to extracurricular activities and interscholastic athletics. PASSED HOUSE 98-2

SB 194 Sen. Miguez - Parish or local ordinances for firearms cannot be any more restrictive than state law. PASSED SENATE 28-11

SB 276 Sen. Pressly - New crime of attempting to poison a pregnant woman with an abortion-inducing drug to the list of racketeering crimes. 

SB 277 Sen. Duplessis - Reduction in employee and salary requirements of New Orleans casino operating contract. PASSED SENATE JUDICIARY B 

SB 325 Sen. Edmonds - Compatible with Love Empowerment Act - Ensure that individuals facing the news that unborn child has a fetal genetic anomaly receive information that can assist them in caring for their child both before and after birth. PASSED SENATE 30-7

SB 388 Sen. Hodges - Creates the crimes of unlawful entry and unlawful reentry by an illegal alien into this state. PASSED SENATE 28-11

This is likely the most productive week in public policy in my 35-year tenure at the Capitol!

Gene Mills
Louisiana Family Forum

LOUISIANA FAMILY FORUM: LFF Releases 2023 Legislative Scorecard

Louisiana Family Forum (LFF) has released its 2023 Legislative Scorecard, surveying votes cast during the 2023 Regular Session of the Legislature as well as the Veto Override Session.

This year, LFF evaluated support or opposition for: religious and personal liberty, the protection of children against sexual politics, experimental and harmful “gender-care,” election integrity, school choice and busting the expenditure cap.

Eighteen (18) representatives earned the Outstanding Family Advocate Award by scoring 100 percent on LFF’s Scorecard. These legislators will receive LFF’s esteemed Patrick Henry Award at the LFF 2023 Legislative Annual Gala planned for Thursday, September 28th, at Healing Place Church Arena in Baton Rouge. Additionally, 67 lawmakers will be honored with the Family Advocate Award for scoring 80-99 percent on LFF’s Scorecard.

Ten lawmakers earned the prestigious Life and Liberty Award for authorship of key new laws:

• Senator Heather Cloud - SB7 - Protection of Children in Public Libraries

• Senator Beth Mizell - SB63 - Religious Freedom Amend. and SB41 CPC tax credit

• Senator Caleb Kleinpeter  SB 94 - Regulation of Kratom

• Representative Raymond Crews - HB457 - Certificate of Non-Viable Birth Act

• Representative Rick Edmonds - HB443 - Adoption Credit, HB462 School Transparency

• Representative Valarie Hodges - HB68 - Allows History & Literature of Bible in schools

• Representative Dodie Horton - HB8 - "In God We Trust" in every classroom

• Representative Blake Miguez - HB311 - Prohibition of private funds for Elections

• Representative Chuck Owen - HB291 - No Patient Left Alone Act

• Representative Laurie Schlegel - HB61 and HB77 - Protecting Children on the Internet

LFF’s highest award, the 2023 Gladiator of the Year, goes to Representative Gabe Firment for HB648, The Stop Harming Children Act.  Rep. Firment’s perseverance led to a historic override of the Governor’s veto and allowed Louisiana to protect minors from medical experimentation in the form of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and irreversible surgeries.

LFF Awards Gala is the highlight of our year as we host pastors, partners, and friends from across Louisiana to honor public servants who just wrote the most recent chapter of Louisiana public policy. This year will be especially memorable as LFF celebrates its Silver Anniversary.  So secure your sponsorship today for the LFF Awards Gala.

The full 2023 LFF Legislative Scorecard is available online.

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.

LOUISIANA FAMILY FORUM: Lockdown Hurts Louisiana's Youngest

Last week, the Louisiana Department of Education released its annual Reading Report for children in kindergarten through third grade. The report revealed that older students are showing improvement, but younger children show a decline.

What’s the cause? Some think that “emergency” closures of schools and early learning centers coupled with mandatory masking delayed speech development and language acquisition.

Jeff Sadow writes: “The tail end of the cohort that caught the beginning of the pandemic restrictions in their crucial learning period are first graders today, while kindergartners are the first to bear the full brunt of restrictions. As it was, third graders scoring satisfactorily on reading were up 1.3 percent and second graders 1.9 percent, but first graders managed only a 0.6 percent gain in numbers and kindergartners dropped 2.3 percent.”

Public policy has consequences. 

LOUISIANA FAMILY FORUM: New Poll on Children Obtaining Transgender Procedures

A new poll from the Trafalgar Group surveyed Americans on their beliefs regarding children obtaining “transgender” procedures.

“Do you believe underage minors should be required to wait until they are adults to use puberty blockers and undergo permanent sex change procedures?” the poll asked. 

The results remind us that most Americans hold a common sense viewpoint on the issue, despite the media narrative saying otherwise, with 78.7% of respondents saying minors should be required to wait until they are adults to obtain the procedures.

Even 53.2% of Democrats agreed, and unsurprisingly, 96.8% of Republicans agreed as well.

The media does not paint an accurate picture of how Americans really feel on the issues of our moment!

Louisiana Family Forum President Mills Address The Press Club

Louisiana Family Forum Statement on HB813

LFF was founded on the cornerstone of the sanctity of human life:

• We affirm the personhood of the unborn child as created in the image of God.

• We affirm that life begins at conception and should be protected through the entire pregnancy.

• We affirm that life, both born and unborn, is a human right entitled to legal protections.

• We affirm that Roe v Wade was a tragic mistake and should be overruled.

We have supported carefully planned, drafted, and legally defendable pro-life legislation in Louisiana for several decades. Our chief concern being the protection of human life, both the mom’s and the child’s.

LFF also has labored with the pro-life community to provide a network of pregnancy centers and adoption agencies to provide compassionate care to women. From the Choose Life License plate to the Alternatives to Abortion program, Louisiana has demonstrated that we care for both unborn children and their mothers, as evidenced by the resources directed toward those efforts.

We support, in principle, the affirmation of the personhood of the unborn child in HB 813. However, structural issues within the bill ensure that it will immediately be challenged and then enjoined. 

Some of those issues are as follows:

1. The enforcement provisions of the bill are overly broad and legally vague. It gives enforcement authority to the state, which is the duty of the Attorney General. This requires a constitutional amendment, not a statute.

2. The bill violates the separation of powers enshrined in both the Louisiana Constitution and the U.S. Constitution. The legislature would instruct judges in how they must rule in a case interpreting a statute. The legislature does not possess ‘jurisdiction’ to prevent a state court judge from enjoining, staying, overruling, or voiding any provision of the statute, or threatening impeachment for simply fulfilling judicial responsibilities.

3. It violates the supremacy of U.S. statutes and U.S. federal court decisions under the U.S. Constitution. We believe in the rule of law, the Louisiana Constitution, and the Constitution of the United States, both of which legislators took an oath to uphold. HB 813 directs Louisiana to defy rulings of the U.S. Supreme Court. While we wholeheartedly disagree with the ruling in Roe, HB 813 is not a workable solution.

Louisiana law protects babies from abortion when Roe v. Wade is overturned through our 2006 Human Life Protection Act (RS 40.1061), commonly referred to as the “Trigger Law.” Current Louisiana law would hold accountable with criminal and civil penalties those individuals performing the abortion or selling or providing the chemical abortion drugs, not the woman having the abortion. The tragedy of abortion isn’t limited to the unborn child who loses her life. The mother who aborts her child also suffers devastating physical and psychological damage following an abortion.

We live in an unprecedented moment where hope abounds that the Roe v. Wade decision will be overruled by next month with a final U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Dobbs case. Simply stated, the filing and passage of this bill would be untimely, unnecessary, and unhelpful in a post-Roe Louisiana.

Roe v. Wade is a cancer that has been eating away at our nation since 1973 and has resulted in the death of over 60 million babies. That cancer needs to be excised and the right to life of the unborn restored.

We have great respect for proponents of this bill and we heartily support the concept of making Louisiana abortion-free. We believe that with patience and prayer, that will happen very soon with the existing pro-life framework of laws in our state. In our effort to do the right thing concerning a respectful life ethic, we must also seek the right manner and the right time.

HB 813 in its current form is simply not the right manner nor is it the right time.

In His Service,
Gene Mills
President
Louisiana Family Forum

LOUISIANA FAMILY FORUM: A Post-Roe Louisiana?

Late yesterday evening, Politico broke the news that they had obtained a draft opinion of the Dobbs case which indicated that the U.S. Supreme Court had voted to overturn Roe v. Wade. The story linked to a draft written by Justice Samuel Alito. While the draft does in fact appear to be in the style of Alito and the headline reads justices voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, please note that this is not final nor a final vote. To be certain, it is curious at every level!

The Supreme Court of the United States has never experienced a political maneuver of this sort in its history. It is unprecedented for a draft opinion to be leaked to the public. I listened to news reports with shock that a draft U.S. Supreme Court opinion had been leaked to the press - then fielded a dozen or more calls and texts seeking assurances of its validity. This political stunt is misguided on every level. This morning I am confident Chief John Roberts will gather the court and demand answer as to which staffer is responsible; the leaker will be identified and fired. The desperation of those who favor legalized abortion is apparent. My concern is that this stunt may be an effort to change sentiment before the final and official report is released.

For background, here is how the SCOTUS methodically operates. The Court's hearing on Dobbs was Tuesday, December 1. (Myself and allies from around the country were there, praying for a favorable hearing.) Next the justices met in conference the following Friday to take a preliminary vote on the case. (With the Solicitor General and AG of Mississippi and 350 of America's top legal brass, we knelt and prayed...and cried out to God to end America's holocaust!) Depending on that vote, the longest servicing justice in the majority would have assigned a justice to write the draft opinion. That would be Justice Clarence Thomas as it appears Chief Justice Roberts might be in the minority.

If the Politico story is accurate, Justice Alito was assigned to draft the opinion. The Alito leaked draft is dated February 10. Since that date, the other justices would have made comments with possible edits to the draft opinion. 

Because it is a leaked, first draft opinion, I would caution against premature celebration of what would, no doubt, be a huge victory. If the opinion holds, there will be reason and time to celebrate, but we must take a wait and see approach to this unprecedented development.

The Mississippi’s Attorney General, who argued the Dobbs case, said in a released statement: “We will let the Supreme Court speak for itself and wait for the Court’s official opinion.”

I want to see the actual opinion released by the court before I celebrate. For now, I and others will read and evaluate the 96 page draft opinion and speculate. And pray.

If the court does overturn Roe, and we trust it will, the pro-life movement in Louisiana has to be ready to serve women facing unplanned pregnancy and their babies. We must be ready for this election season to stand together for babies and their mothers. We must be ready for any other court challenge, mischief and perhaps mayhem from the pro-abortion industry and their radical allies.

See life after Roe here.

To God be the Glory...

Gene Mills
President, Louisiana Family Forum

MILLS: A Tale of Two Governors

Photo source: YouTube

The following was penned by Gene Mills, President of the Louisiana Family Forum:

I’ve worked with numerous governors over my 30+ years around Louisiana’s political landscape, including Louisiana’s current Governor. Throughout those years, I have tried to hold public officials accountable while personally modeling the respect due to each civil government official as Scripture requires (Romans 13). It is in that spirit that I respectfully offer these thoughts.

Governor John Bel Edwards and I, though often public policy opposites, remain friendly and co-operative when common ground is found. The most recent example of that is Criminal Justice Reform. My involvement was at his request, and I served out of respect for his office and a shared belief that of the 18,000 inmates released each year in Louisiana, that a 42% recidivism rate within five years was too high. I respect Governor Edwards family and his lovely and talented wife. His pro-life and pro-second amendment platform won the Louisiana electorate in 2016, and many had high expectations for this deep-south Democrat going forward.

Last week, while launching his reelection campaign Governor Edwards took a swing at an old foe of his and a good friend of mine – former Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal. I understand that it is said that “all is fair in love and war… and politics.” However, it is political season predictable to me when one joins the chorus of others - making a ghost of the past argument – which oversimplifies and misrepresents a good man’s tenure. Among other things, Bobby Jindal understood the importance of regularly inviting socially conservative, Evangelical, Protestant, and Catholic pastors to his table to discuss policies which were impacting their cities, their churches and the shared responsibility we have to minister. We prayed together, communicated concerns, and listened to his responses. When hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit Louisiana, the reaction from this conversation was tangible. By our small network’s account, tens of millions of dollars of goods and services moved, at no taxpayer expense, through this group of communicating and cooperating friends who ministered to the impacted families.

I can offer a few additional things Bobby Jindal did very well:

1. He earnestly supported traditional family values. Governor Jindal refused to extend executive actions from his predecessors affirming the LGBTQ+ agenda and bringing sexual politics into state government. Governor Edwards signed an executive order expanding LGBTQ+ rights. Only Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry and three failed court appeals stopped JBE’s executive advocacy.

2. Governor Jindal was a staunch defender of religious liberty. He supported and signed our state’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act (2010). John Bel Edwards, as a legislator in 2009, had deep concerns with a constitutional amendment on religious liberty and he voted against the amendment. Then Rep. Edwards did vote for the 2010 version of the bill.

3. Governor Jindal served as a firewall protecting our state from the incessant encroachment of gambling interests. It was well known in the industry that he would oppose both de-regulation as well as the expansion of gambling. Under Governor Edwards, gambling bills filed and passed has exploded – including new forms of gaming.

Yes, there are significant differences in the governance and ideology of these two men. However, it’s disingenuous for Governor Edwards to oversimplify the past while ignoring the context that the policies of both President Obama and President Trump have had on our economic and political landscape.

I urge Governor Edwards and his surrogates to focus on the present reality. From LFF’s vantage point, much work remains before Louisiana is known as a place where God is honored, families flourish, liberty is cherished, and state government is laser-focused on its constitutional imperatives. Bobby Jindal has not been the Governor for nearly four years. Surely, there are present indicators which assist the Governor in making his case to the voters of Louisiana. In the meantime, I will continue to remind our state of the remarkable legacy of Bobby Jindal.

Gene Mills
President
Louisiana Family Forum

MILLS: A Tale of Two Governors

I’ve worked with numerous governors over my 30+ years around Louisiana’s political landscape, including Louisiana’s current Governor. Throughout those years, I have tried to hold public officials accountable while personally modeling the respect due to each civil government official as Scripture requires (Romans 13). It is in that spirit that I respectfully offer these thoughts.

Governor John Bel Edwards and I, though often public policy opposites, remain friendly and co-operative when common ground is found. The most recent example of that is Criminal Justice Reform. My involvement was at his request, and I served out of respect for his office and a shared belief that of the 18,000 inmates released each year in Louisiana, that a 42% recidivism rate within five years was too high. I respect Governor Edwards family and his lovely and talented wife. His pro-life and pro-second amendment platform won the Louisiana electorate in 2016, and many had high expectations for this deep-south Democrat going forward.

Last week, while launching his reelection campaign Governor Edwards took a swing at an old foe of his and a good friend of mine – former Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal. I understand that it is said that “all is fair in love and war... and politics.” However, it is political season predictable to me when one joins the chorus of others - making a ghost of the past argument – which oversimplifies and misrepresents a good man’s tenure. Among other things, Bobby Jindal understood the importance of regularly inviting socially conservative, Evangelical, Protestant, and Catholic pastors to his table to discuss policies which were impacting their cities, their churches and the shared responsibility we have to minister. We prayed together, communicated concerns, and listened to his responses. When hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit Louisiana, the reaction from this conversation was tangible. By our small network’s account, tens of millions of dollars of goods and services moved, at no taxpayer expense, through this group of communicating and cooperating friends who ministered to the impacted families.

I can offer a few additional things Bobby Jindal did very well:

1. He earnestly supported traditional family values. Governor Jindal refused to extend executive actions from his predecessors affirming the LGBTQ+ agenda and bringing sexual politics into state government. Governor Edwards signed an executive order expanding LGBTQ+ rights. Only Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry and three failed court appeals stopped JBE’s executive advocacy.

2. Governor Jindal was a staunch defender of religious liberty. He supported and signed our state’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act (2010). John Bel Edwards, as a legislator in 2009, had deep concerns with a constitutional amendment on religious liberty and he voted against the amendment. Then Rep. Edwards did vote for the 2010 version of the bill.

3. Governor Jindal served as a firewall protecting our state from the incessant encroachment of gambling interests. It was well known in the industry that he would oppose both de-regulation as well as the expansion of gambling. Under Governor Edwards, gambling bills filed and passed has exploded – including new forms of gaming.

Yes, there are significant differences in the governance and ideology of these two men. However, it’s disingenuous for Governor Edwards to oversimplify the past while ignoring the context that the policies of both President Obama and President Trump have had on our economic and political landscape.

I urge Governor Edwards and his surrogates to focus on the present reality. From LFF’s vantage point, much work remains before Louisiana is known as a place where God is honored, families flourish, liberty is cherished, and state government is laser-focused on its constitutional imperatives. Bobby Jindal has not been the Governor for nearly four years. Surely, there are present indicators which assist the Governor in making his case to the voters of Louisiana. In the meantime, I will continue to remind our state of the remarkable legacy of Bobby Jindal.

Gene Mills


President


Louisiana Family Forum

LOUISIANA FAMILY FORUM: Heartbeat Bill Passes!

BREAKING NEWS!

The Louisiana House of Representatives has passed the Heartbeat Bill, SB184 by Senator John Milkovich (D) Shreveport, which bans abortions in Louisiana after a medically detectable heartbeat is present. This law awaits the signature of Governor John Bel Edwards and only goes into effect once a similar Mississippi law makes its way through the court system.

Louisiana has once again demonstrated a pro-life ethic that respects women and determines to preserve and protect life.

The bill, carried by Representative Valarie Hodges surrounded by other pro-life women legislators, passed with a 79 to 23 vote.

LOUISIANA FAMILY FORUM: Oppose Louisiana ERA Bill

Photo source: Baptist Message

LFF OPPOSES SCR 2 by Sen. J.P. Morell (D New Orleans) and the ratification of the 1972 Equal Rights Amendment. This dangerous resolution, which could codify a right to abortion into the U.S. Constitution, will be heard as early as next week.

It is important that your State Senator hears from you today! Click here to find your Senator and urge them to VOTE NO on SCR2!

How does this amendment ERAse women’s’ progress?

1. ERA would codify a federal right to abortion into the constitution.

2. Every pro-life law on the books in Louisiana and across the nation would be in jeopardy, including restrictions on taxpayer funding of abortion.

3. ERA would empower the federal courts to re-define “sex” beyond biology.

4. Biological sex at birth will be re-negotiated giving sexual politics constitutional status.

5. ERA threatens fundamental religious freedom.

6. People who disagree with new gender definitions and want to live out their faith peacefully could be subject to criminal penalties. Church tax exempt status would be in jeopardy over policies and practices regarding all-male clergy.

7. ERA jeopardizes privacy and safety.

8. By removing traditional gender norms like separate bathrooms, locker rooms, hospital and nursing home rooms, women’s shelters and other private spaces will be integrated.

9. ERA would integrate prisons and require that women be assigned to military combat.

10. ERA would do away with separate women and men’s sports teams.

Laws that prohibit discrimination based on sex already exist in the 5th and 14th amendment as well as federal and state anti-discrimination laws. Under these protections, we continue to make progress when issues come to light.

The legal deadline to ratify the ERA was 37 years ago. Call your Senator and/or email them and let them know that Louisiana celebrates women, and not to ERAse the progress we have made. Urge them to VOTE NO on SCR2!

Click here! Find your Senator and urge them to VOTE NO on SCR2!

Louisiana Represented at Annual March for Life in DC

On January 18th, the nation, once again, came together for the annual March for Life. This event has been taking place every year for over 40 years and is a reminder of the barbaric practice of killing the unborn and an overturn of Roe v. Wade. Louisiana was represented in this event, with several pastors, including Gene Mills of the Lousiana Family Forum. 

Democrat Katrina Jackson, from the Pelican State, also addressed the crowd at the rally. Jackson has unequivocally been a stalwart for life in Louisiana.  

All of Louisiana’s Republican congressional delegation have stood firm in the support of life.  

Per Louisiana Family Forum, several pro life events will be taking place throughout the state. The dates and locations are below:

• Jan. 22, 2019: Southwest, Lake Charles
• Jan. 26, 2019: South, Baton Rouge
• Jan. 26, 2019: Northwest, Shreveport-Bossier
• Jan. 27, 2019: Northeast, West Monroe-Monroe
• Feb. 2, 2019: Cenla, Pineville-Alexandria

More information on Louisiana Right to Life can be found here.  

2018 Louisiana Voter Guides Are Out

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. 

Abraham Hamilton III Invites you to LFF's 20th Year Gala Celebration!

Over the last 20 years, Louisiana Family Forum has secured many victories for families in our state.

For tickets to this event, click here.  

Louisiana Family Forum: Landry Leads on Life and Design!

Photo source: LifeNews

Led by Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, Attorneys General in 17 states defended an Indiana law Thursday thatrequires abortion facilities to offer women the chance to see an ultrasound of their unborn baby prior to their abortion.

The state leaders submitted their brief this week to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the Huntingdon News reports. Planned Parenthood challenged the law in 2016, and a 7th-Circuit panel sided with the abortion chain in July.

Additionally, Landry has joined 15 other Republican attorneys general and governors asking the U.S. Supreme Court to reject workplace protections that would prevent transgender people from being fired for their gender identity.

Landry signed onto a legal brief asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a lower court ruling that determined a Michigan woman was unlawfully fired from the funeral home where she worked for being transgender. The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that federal laws prohibiting discrimination based on sex protected her and that her employer's religious beliefs cannot be used to justify her firing.

Read more: 17 States Defend Laws Allowing Women to See Ultrasound of Baby Before Abortion

Louisiana Family Forum: Edwards' Tax Gets Second Shot!

Photo source: Louisiana Family Forum

From LFF 60-Second Brigade Alert System
June 2016

Last week, the The House Ways and Means Committee voted 11-10 to stop a key aspect of the Edwards' tax plan.

On Wednesday, the committee will again vote on an identical measure, HB38 by Rep. Malinda White (D) of Bogalusa.

The fiscal note on the bill indicates it would cost taxpayers $643 million over 5 years.

The Agenda indicates the measure is "Subject to Rules Suspension."  This should indicate that a 2/3 majority of House members present must vote for suspending the rules in order to consider this new tax proposal.

It's no secret that the Governor has been individually lobbying members of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, trying to persuade them to flip favorable on their vote.

If you think $643 million in new taxes on the shoulders of middle Louisiana is too much, then now is the time to speak up. HB38 is a short bill, so read it carefully.

Here's what it does: HB38 empowers the state to eliminate a percentage of federal itemized deductions from individual state taxes. The deductions that would be dramatically reduced include:

• Federal Taxes Paid,
• Medical Expenses,
• Charitable Donations, and
• Mortage Interest.

Contact House members of the Ways and Means Committee here and express your concern!.

Louisiana Family Forum Urges Citizens to Petition Governor and Attorney General Regarding Restroom Issue

Photo source: Protect Louisiana Children

As per the email sent out to their supporters this afternoon, the Louisiana Family Forum urges citizens to take part in a petition to Gov. Edwards and AG Landry over the Obama administration's decision to implement radical changes regarding gender issues within the state of Louisiana:

If you thought the Obama administration would gently ride off into the sunset, think again.

The Departments of Justice and Education are once again exceeding their lawful authority by sending a letter to every public school district in America threatening loss of federal aid if local districts do not adopt genderless bathroom policies, which would allow self-identified transgendered students to use facilities such as restrooms, showers, and locker rooms of the opposite biological sex. Under the farce of "protecting students from discrimination," these federal bullies have painted a bulls-eye on little girls and boys.

If Louisiana does not speak up now, there's no limit to what the President will do next. Please join LFF in signing the petition below urging Governor Edwards and Attorney General Jeff Landry to protect the safety of Louisiana children. 11,000 have signed the petition so far. Let your voice be heard today! SIGN NOW and forward to your friends!

A Louisiana Pro-Life Champion Passes Away

Per the Louisiana Family Forum, Dr. Al Krotoski, MD, a champion for the unborn in the State of Louisiana, passed away on Jan. 1.  The piece from LFF is below as well as the obituary for Dr. Krotoski.

R.I.P. – Dr. Al Krotoski

Photo source: The Advocate

LFF Commentary
January 2016

"Today LFF's prayers and thoughts are with the family of Dr. Al Krotoski, a pro-life giant, who forever changed the life landscape in the Louisiana Legislature, nationally and internationally," Gene Mills, President of Louisiana Family Forum said.

Wojciech “Al" Antoni Krotoski, M.D., Ph.D, M.P.H., pro-life leader, Nobel nominee, faithful husband and beloved father, went to his eternal reward on January 1, 2016. Dr. Krotoski was devoted to Hippocratic respect-for-life activities, including being a leader of statewide professional and local pro-life organizations. He was also the co-founder of The Hippocratic Resource.

In 2008, New Orleans Right to Life honored Dr. Krotoski with their Proudly Pro-Life Award given for his lifetime of pro-life work. Especially memorable about Dr. Al is that he continually reminded us that words have meaning. He refused to refer to the practice of abortion with sanitized words. He consistently referred to “abortion clinics” as “abortion facilities” emphasizing the truth that “clinics" are life affirming and life saving whereas “abortion facilities” are not.

Dr. Krotoski frequently testified on behalf of life at the Louisiana legislature. In his committee testimonies, he often provided in-depth scientific information which was invaluable in presenting a pro-life perspective on a variety of bills dealing with life from conception until natural death.

Al Krotoski will be remembered and honored as a voice “for an ever-greater respect for all human life, from fertilization until natural death.”

Please click here for more information on the funeral arrangements for Dr. "Al" Krotoski.