PELICAN INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY: Louisiana Education Dashboard

Understanding the data is extremely important in evaluating trends associated with, and the performance of, Louisiana’s elementary and secondary education system. Despite spending the most per student in the southeast U.S., Louisiana consistently ranks at the bottom of the country in public school educational outcomes. While there has been incremental progress, it’s been very slow, and generations of kids have been shortchanged in the knowledge and skills they’ve acquired for their future. Positive change can only happen when there’s honesty and transparency about current performance, high standards for student achievement, a strong plan for school improvement, and a system of choice that empowers parents to select the school that best meets their child’s needs.

With this in mind, the below dashboard provides insights and comparable data on student enrollment, finances, and academic performance. View local data by selecting your parish or school system from the drop-down menu. Individual pages can be printed using the icons at the top right of the dashboard.

Read more: LOUISIANA EDUCATION DASHBOARD

Three Gubernatorial Races to Watch in 2023

State Attorney General Jeff Landry (R) is so far the only GOP candidate to announce a run, while other Republicans are expected to join the race. Sen. John Kennedy (R) has said he is seriously considering a gubernatorial bid, while others weighing a run include Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser (R), Sen. Bill Cassidy (R), Rep. Garret Graves (R), state Sen. Sharon Hewitt (R) and state Treasurer John Schroder (R), according to the Lafayette Daily Advertiser.

No Democrats have yet officially joined the field, but as the Hill noted, a Democrat candidate would likely face an uphill battle, as the last time the state elected a Democrat governor before Edwards was in 2003.

Read more: Three Gubernatorial Races to Watch in 2023

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser Accused of Whistleblower Harassment

Sen. John Kennedy Slams Biden Immigration

RELEASE: FORT POLK MASTER SERGEANT FILES SUIT AGAINST BIDEN ADMINISTRATION OVER RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION DENIAL FOR VACCINE MANDATE

New Orleans–Today, the Pelican Center for Justice filed suit against the Biden Administration in the Western District of Louisiana. The suit was filed on behalf of Master Sergeant Robert W. Galey, Jr., and seeks an injunction against the administration’s unjust COVID-19 vaccine mandate for members of the United States Army.

Driven by his Christian faith, Master Sergeant Robert W. Galey, Jr., chose a life of service in the U.S. Army. That’s why he’s given sixteen years of his life as an active-duty infantry soldier and deployed eight times to combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan.

When the Army first told service members that they must receive the vaccine, Master Sergeant Galey began to research the production process. He discovered that the vaccine they would have to take was tested and produced in a way that violated his profession of faith. His first request for exemption was denied, as was his appeal. He received a final notice that he will be separated from the Army.

Due to his refusal to take the vaccine on religious grounds, he’s been denied training opportunities and promotions, and has now received notice that he will be discharged from the Army, which will include the loss of his retirement benefits, including pension and medical care for his family.

“Courts across America have continually ruled against the administration over this mandate, choosing to protect the religious liberty of Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who have made religious accommodation requests,” said Sarah Harbison, General Counsel at the Pelican Institute. “The Army should be no different.”

Some believe the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) will render a suit of this kind unnecessary due to a provision Republicans added rescinding the military’s COVID-19 mandate. Yet even the NDAA is not preventing Master Sergeant Galey’s unit from continuing to seek his separation from the Army.

Moreover, even if President Biden does sign the bill, what cannot be forgotten is two years of damages inflicted on faithful service members who chose not to take the vaccine for the sake of their faith. Many have already been separated or had their careers permanently damaged by the loss of promotion or training opportunities and are not addressed by the NDAA.

“When the President signs the bill, the news cycle will no doubt try to move on,” said James Baehr, Special Counsel at the Pelican Institute. “Yet what will be left behind are real damages that continue to affect real people—including those who serve God and our country with the utmost devotion. What happened to Master Sergeant Galey and other men and women of principle should never happen in this country again. The Pelican Institute will not stop fighting for them.”

The suit claims these actions clearly violate the Religious Freedom Restoration Act as well as First Amendment, and Master Sergeant Galey is seeking to vindicate the law and Constitution.

“I am grateful that Congress has recognized the harm that the COVID-19 vaccine mandate is having on the Army, but the NDAA changes won’t make me whole,” said Rob Galey, “I have missed out on training opportunities, been removed from leadership, and had my orders to an important follow-on assignment deleted, all for simply expressing my faith.”

The suit was filed in the Western District of Louisiana. This is the second case in which the Pelican Center for Justice has represented a servicemember over this unjust, unconstitutional vaccine mandate.

'She's Either Not Telling The Truth Or She's Day-Drinking': John Kennedy Roasts Karine Jean-Pierre

At a press briefing yesterday, Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) slammed the Biden Administration's record on the border.

Secretary Ardoin Takes Stand Against TikTok

In another significant move towards securing our elections, Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin has taken a stand against Tik Tok. This week the Secretary joined with State Representative Daryl Deshotel to institute a BAN on TikTok on all state-owned smartphones. 

Over the past few years, Tik Tok has become one of the most popular social media networks, but at the cost of the American people's data security. The Chinese-based tech firm is partly owned and run by the Chinese government - meaning that all data collected on the app is going straight to President Xi and his goons. 

By banning Tik Tok on all state government devices, Ardoin will further secure our state's elections and confidential information.

Ardoin released a statement on the initiative earlier this week: 

"I am grateful to be teaming up with Representative Deshotel after his announcement that he would pre-file a bill to ban the Chinese-owned TikTok on state-issued devices. TikTok is a threat to our citizens' personal data and has no business on any device owned by the State of Louisiana. Representative Deshotel and I believe we should be doing everything we can to protect our constituents' personally identifiable information. This bill will help do just that."

This common-sense bill will go before the legislature this spring. We look forward to making it law and defending our state from Communist Chinese data breaches. 

Steve Scalise privately being prepped by Republicans to snatch gavel from McCarthy: Report

As House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy seeks to fend off intraparty opposition to his bid to become the next House speaker, several Republicans are reportedly huddling behind another top member of their party for a possible leadership challenge.

A group of lawmakers has approached No. 2 Republican Rep. Steve Scalise (LA) about running for House speaker in the next Congress should McCarthy’s bid fail, telling him to “just be ready,” sources familiar told Politico. Scalise could offer a more agreeable alternative to McCarthy, as the House minority leader has faced opposition from a handful of Republicans that has threatened to derail his speakership bid.

Read more: Steve Scalise privately being prepped by Republicans to snatch gavel from McCarthy: Report

Gov. John Bel Edwards | End of The Year Press Conference

Violent tornado damages hospital, homes in New Iberia, Louisiana

NEW IBERIA, La. – Cleanup is underway after a violent tornado roared through New Iberia, Louisiana. Damage forced 60 families out of their homes in the city limits.

The tornado touched down near the Southport subdivision and damaged several homes there. Across town, it tore windows out of a medical center and the glass and debris rained down on the parked cars.

Read more: Violent tornado damages hospital, homes in New Iberia, Louisiana

HENRY: Give Our Vets The Best Care!

Written by Senator Cameron Henry - Cameron Henry is a member of the Louisiana State Senate representing District 9, which includes Jefferson and Orleans parishes.

In 2014, the Louisiana State Legislature passed House Bill 1065, authorizing optometrists to perform eye surgery despite the fact that they are neither medical doctors nor trained surgeons. I opposed that bill then and still oppose the policy.

Now, eight years later, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is taking steps in the same direction, which could put the health and safety of our nation’s heroes at risk. Optometrists are licensed to practice optometry, which involves services like primary vision care, including eye exams and fittings for glasses and contacts, as well as diagnosing and monitoring certain eye conditions. While optometrists play an extremely important role in eye care delivery, they are not qualified to perform eye surgery, including laser surgical procedures. Optometry’s education model doesn’t require students to attend any surgical residency, and any optional surgical courses available to optometrists don’t involve extensive training or procedures on live patients.

Read more: HENRY: Give Our Vets The Best Care!

Is Congress Going to Kill Credit Card Rewards?

Credit card rewards are so common these days — so expected, even — that they can seem untouchable. But that could change.

Legislation that’s winding its way through Congress is intended by its sponsors to encourage “competition in electronic credit transactions.” But if lawmakers end up passing the measure, known as the Credit Card Competition Act of 2022, opponents say it could also torpedo the rich rewards and perks that cardholders have enjoyed for years.

“Will consumers lose? Probably,” wrote Brian Riley, director of the credit advisory service at Mercator Advisory Group, in an August post to the Mercator blog. “Their reward programs will dry up, just as they did with debit cards.”

Here’s what’s behind the measure and what it could mean for your wallet if it passes.

Read more: Is Congress Going to Kill Credit Card Rewards?

Congressman Clay Higgins Endorses Jeff Landry for Louisiana Governor

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. 

Kennedy: Biden’s policies a cancer on the American Dream

Supporting Port Fourchon, Protecting Louisiana's Coast

Partnership for Our Working Coast is an alliance of industry and environmental partners collaborating to contribute to the coastal resiliency of our community, the environment and industry. Port Fourchon’s plan to dredge Belle Pass to 50 ft. will result in millions of cubic yards of dredged material that can be used to strengthen critical coastal infrastructure. The goal of the partnership is to identify beneficial, nature-based solutions for this material to contribute to Louisiana’s coastal sustainability efforts, protect communities and support America’s Working Coast.

Louisiana, Missouri Release Full Fauci Deposition Transcript

“Fauci’s recent deposition only confirmed what we already knew: federal bureaucrats in collusion with social media companies want to control not only what you think, but especially what you say,” said Attorney General Landry. “During no time in human history was this more obvious than during the COVID-19 crisis where social engineering tactics were used against the American public, not to limit your exposure to a virus, but to limit your exposure to information that did not fit within a government sanctioned narrative.”

“Missouri and Louisiana are leading the way in exposing how the federal government and the Biden Administration worked with social media to censor speech. In our deposition with Dr. Fauci, it became clear that when Dr. Fauci speaks, social media censors,” said Attorney General Schmitt. “I invite everyone to read the deposition transcript and see exactly how Dr. Fauci operates, and exactly how the COVID tyranny that ruined lives and destroyed businesses was born.”

The deposition can be read here: Fauci Deposition

Read more: Louisiana, Missouri Release Full Fauci Deposition Transcript

PAR Guide to the 2022 Constitutional Amendments

The 2022 Guide covers the potential impact of 11 constitutional amendments the public will consider on the Nov. 8 and Dec. 10 ballots. This nonpartisan, educational review helps you understand the issues and the proposed changes so you can develop your own positions on each proposition. To view the 2022 Guide, please visit the links below.

Click here to download the one-page PAR Guide to the December 2022 Constitutional Amendments.

Read more: PAR Guide to the 2022 Constitutional Amendments

LAGOP: The Republican Party Continues to Grow

While Republicans were not as successful around the country as we had been led to believe by the pollsters, we certainly exceeded expectations here in Louisiana. Congratulations are in order to Senator Kennedy for his magnificent victory with just under 62% of the votes cast despite running against a field of no less than twelve opponents!

Congratulations are also in order to our five Republican members of Congress, all of whom received well over 60% of the vote in their respective elections or ran unopposed. Steve Scalise is on track to return as the House Majority Leader, the second ranking member of Congress, and Mike Johnson will also return as Vice Chair of the Republican Conference, the fifth ranking GOP House leader.

Elsewhere, our former LAGOP Chairman Mike Francis was handily re-elected to the Public Service Commission. Don’t forget to welcome our new Republican State Senator, Caleb Kleinpeter. We also have a host of new, conservative school board members from around the state. Let all of them know how much you appreciate their sacrifices on our behalf!

But don’t forget that we have another election just over a week away (Dec. 10th, and early voting has already begun). In addition to three more constitutional amendments (more on that below), and several important judgeship races (including two pivotal seats in East Baton Rouge Parish), the mayorship of our third largest city, Shreveport, will also be on the ballot. Tom Arceneaux is running under our banner, and he has plenty of support from Democrats, independents, and Republicans. Please support our candidates on December 10th!

P. S. Our party continues to grow. The latest registration statistics indicate that we now have 1,007,718 registered Republicans in Louisiana.

Louis Gurvich, Chairman

Republican Party of Louisiana

Biden judicial nominee says she no longer believes Christian Coalition member are 'bigots' when pressed by GOP

A Biden nominee for a District Court in California told senators Wednesday that says she no longer believes members of the Christian Coalition are "bigots," something she asserted in an essay when she was a senior at Harvard.

The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings for six of President Joe Biden’s nominees for judgeships and other positions in his administration. Several GOP members drilled into the nominees’ records, including Sen. John Kennedy , R-L.A., who questioned Judge Rita F. Lin about her college writings in which she called members of a Christian political organization "bigots." Lin has been nominated to be a judge in Northern District Court of California.

Read more: Biden judicial nominee says she no longer believes Christian Coalition member are 'bigots' when pressed by GOP