Senior political strategist and partner at Ourso Beychok Trey Ourso is joined by former Louisiana state representative and politician Troy Hebert to discuss several political topics including the upcoming governor's race and its candidates as well as the debt ceiling. Scientist from the Pennington Biomedical Research Center Dr. Claire Berryman gives insight into Pennington's research regarding altitudes effect on health.
Eight Louisiana District Attorneys and Sheriffs Endorse Jeff Landry for Governor
Lafayette, La. —Today, Jeff Landry announced that he has received the endorsement of four Louisiana district attorneys and four Louisiana sheriffs. Jeff Landry is a former police officer, sheriff’s deputy, national guardsman, and military police officer. More endorsements from Louisiana law enforcement officials are to come.
Sheriff Endorsements:
"The next Governor’s top priority must be to address the broken laws related to crime. Jeff Landry has my endorsement for Governor because he is the only candidate in this race who I trust to fix the crime problem in our state. He supports our men and women in law enforcement, and he will fight for the safety and well-being of families here in DeSoto Parish. We must prioritize the law abiding citizens and victims in this state,” Sheriff Jayson Richardson - Desoto Parish.
"Jeff Landry has my full endorsement and support for Governor of Louisiana. As a former police officer and sheriff's deputy, there is no better friend of law enforcement than Jeff. He understands what it takes to keep our communities safe, and he is someone we can count on to be the law-and-order governor Louisiana needs,” Sheriff Craig Webre - Lafourche Parish.
"Jeff Landry is the right man at the right time. As a former officer, deputy sheriff, and current attorney general, he has firsthand experience and knowledge to deal with our out-of-control crime problem on his first day in office. He is a fighter who doesn't back down when the best interest of Louisiana is at stake. I personally endorse him, and I am 100 percent certain he will make a great Governor for Bossier and all of Louisiana,” Sheriff Julian Whittington - Bossier Parish.
"Jeff Landry has my full endorsement and support. As a former police officer and sheriff's deputy, Jeff has been a true friend to law enforcement. Jeff will be the law-and-order Governor that Louisiana and Caddo Parish desperately need,” Sheriff Steve Prator - Caddo Parish.
District Attorney Endorsements:
"I am endorsing Jeff Landry for Governor because he is an example of the core values of Louisiana and its citizens. Jeff has continuously supported law enforcement and is a strong advocate of a fair judicial system. He is passionate about upholding the rule of law and protecting and preserving our constitutional rights. Jefferson Davis Parish, and the State of Louisiana, would be well-served by having Jeff Landry as our next Governor. Jeff has the passion and the fortitude to take on the tough issues and challenges that we are facing in the public safety sector and criminal justice system,” Lauren Heinen - 31st JDC - Jefferson Davis Parish.
"Jeff Landry has my endorsement for Governor because he has continuously demonstrated that he will do what it takes to back the men and women of law enforcement in upholding the rule of law, protecting our citizens against criminals and preserving our constitutional rights. I believe the public safety of the citizens of Rapides Parish would be best served by Jeff Landry leading Louisiana as our next Governor,” Phillip Terrell - 9th JDC - Rapides Parish.
"Jeff Landry has my full endorsement and support for Governor of Louisiana. Jeff understands what it takes to keep our communities safe, and he is someone we can count on to be the law-and-order Governor of Louisiana. Iberia, St. Martin and St. Mary Parish will be well served by Jeff,” Bo Duhe - 16th JDC - Iberia, St. Martin, and St. Mary Parish.
“Jeff Landry has my full endorsement and support for Governor of Louisiana. Like me, Jeff understands what it takes to keep our communities safe and he is someone we can count on to be the law-and-order Governor Louisiana and St. Landry Parish needs,” Chad Pitre - 27th JDC - St. Landry Parish.
LAGOP: House Bill 648 Deserves a Vote on the Senate Floor
BATON ROUGE, LA— The Republican Party of Louisiana strongly supports procedural action that will result in a Senate floor vote on House Bill 648 by Rep. Gabe Firment. This legislation would prohibit genital mutilation surgery on minor children in Louisiana.
The Republican Party of Louisiana is deeply disappointed in Senator Fred Mills' tie-breaking vote to kill HB 648 in committee. The LAGOP strongly recommends that the Senate override the committee vote and allow consideration of HB 648 on the floor, where all senators will have the chance to weigh in on this pivotal piece of legislation.
By way of information, HB 648 passed the Louisiana House of Representatives 71-24 with near unanimous Republican support, and the bill is strongly supported by the great majority of Louisiana’s voters. The procedure is banned in states surrounding Louisiana, and failure to pass HB 648 could make Louisiana a destination for such surgeries!
Please call your senator at 225-342-2040 and encourage him or her to bring this bill to the Senate floor as soon as possible. Our children deserve no less!
Louisiana lawmaker who bucked GOP on gender-affirming care ban unphased by national critics
State Sen. Fred Mills is the latest target of national conservative activists after bucking the Republican Party by voting to kill a proposed ban on gender-affirming healthcare for transgender youth But he’s not worried about it.
“Why should I?,” Mills said in an interview after he broke a tie vote Wednesday in the Louisiana Senate Health and Welfare Committee. “They don’t live in District 22. They don’t have a 337 area code.”
“I didn’t run for office to serve those people,” added Mills, a GOP member and pharmacist who represents portions of four rural parishes and New Iberia.
Read more: Louisiana lawmaker who bucked GOP on gender-affirming care ban unphased by national critics
LANDRY: About Those Library Books And Senator Heather Cloud's SB7
Roughly nine months ago, the Louisiana Department of Justice began receiving calls from both parents and librarians concerned about sexually-explicit materials designed for minor children that were easily accessible in our public libraries. Our subsequent investigation discovered library materials that involved graphic illustrations of young adults engaged in sexual activities, detailed descriptions and how-to guides for various sex acts, and graphic descriptions of sexual abuse perpetrated by adults on minors.
If any of these illustrations were broadcast on public television, that network would be contacted by the FCC for violating its rules. If excerpts from any of these books were read aloud on National Public Radio, they too would be contacted, immediately.
In fact, when Senator Heather Cloud had her staffers print redacted images from these books included in our Protecting Innocence report, there were legal concerns at the Capitol and fears of sexual harassment allegations – merely for printing these images, blurred by our staff, as exhibits for SB7.
Yet minor children across Louisiana can walk into their local library right now and see the unredacted images for themselves. And in forty-five of our parishes, any child can check-out these materials for further study at home.
The effects of early sexualization of children are well-known, ranging from poor mental health and isolation to relationship dysfunction and sexual violence. There is an increased risk of sexual abuse, human trafficking, and falling prey to groomers. But the biggest concern was highlighted by research done by Johns Hopkins: the vast majority of children who experience sexual abuse are abused by other children who are only a few years older.
Perhaps this is why protections have been put in place by the FCC and even streaming services like Netflix. In fact. when a parent chooses “Kids Only” content on Netflix, they often place their trust in a cataloging system on the backend of the service that separates sexually-explicit adult material from more age-appropriate options. Yet this simple system has not been properly applied to our State’s public library systems.
Senator Cloud’s bill SB7 would place parental restrictions on what a minor child can and cannot check-out from their local library, enabling parents to serve as content moderators for library material that is brought home. I support this course of action; but I also encourage parents to get involved in their child’s library experience and voice concerns about questionable content that has been given valuable shelf space within the children’s and young adult sections.
By being aware and vocal, parents can ultimately shape the catalogue available to their children so that each public library in every parish can represent the values of that area and its unique community standards. Remember: these are public spaces and they should reflect the needs of the public it serves.
That is why I have always insisted that the parents have control over this issue, ultimately deciding the appropriate time and place for their child’s exposure to sexual content and their subsequent education. SB7 gives parents that power, at least within their own homes. So I am pleased to report that the bill has passed the Education Committee with an 8-3 vote and now heads to the full House.
I am proud to have worked with concerned parents and librarians on this parental rights initiative. Together we will continue to fight for the innocence of our children and the rights of our parents. Because if innocence is not protected, what kind of world will we build?
Jeff Landry
Louisiana Attorney General
BELL: Don’t Let Congress Jeopardize Texas’ Data Security
China wants to undermine our national security. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Texas.
There are credible threats that Chinese nationals are buying up thousands of acres here to spy on American military installations. But the Chinese Communist Party isn’t just interested in our property. It also wants to control our financial services.
Read more: BELL: Don’t Let Congress Jeopardize Texas’ Data Security
'WE ARE DONE WITH YOU' Watch Mayorkas Sit In SILENCE As Clay Higgins EXPLODES On Him
LAGOP: Important Bills Pending Before Our Legislature
Please be aware of these important pieces of legislation that are currently before our legislature, and let your senator and representative know where we stand:
HB 81— Requires the use of the given name for a student that is listed on the birth certificate unless the parent provides written permission to do otherwise.
HB 86— Creates the "Protect Teachers Act," which provides that no school official will be held liable for any act or failure to act in the directing or disciplining of school children under his or her care and supervision, unless such act or failure to act was found to be malicious and willfully and deliberately intended to cause bodily harm.
HB 102/SB 7— Requires parish and municipal libraries to adopt and implement a policy relative to a minor's access to library materials containing sexually explicit content.
HB 103— Requires public high school students to successfully complete one semester of Financial Literacy in order to be eligible to graduate.
HB 125— Provides land protection by restricting any foreign adversary from directly or indirectly owning, acquiring, leasing, or otherwise obtaining agricultural land.
HB 131— Removes the requirement that a person possess a permit from the state in order to carry a concealed handgun.
HB 311— Constitutional Amendment which prohibits the use of funds and resources from a foreign government or a nongovernmental source for the conduct of elections and/or for the functions and duties related to the administration and conduct of elections.
SB 175— Creates the crime of unlawful deepfakes involving minors, which is the creation of any material depicting a minor engaging in sexual conduct using deepfake technology.
SB 63— Constitutional Amendment which provides that the freedom to worship in a church or other place of worship is a fundamental right that deserves the highest protection.
We will send further updates as the legislative session continues.
LANDRY: Honoring Louisiana’s Law Enforcement
This week we are celebrating National Police Week – a time to respect, honor, and remember the brave men and women in law enforcement who protect and serve us. This year’s commemoration comes with the crime epidemic on the minds of so many our neighbors, especially in light of U.S News and World Report recently ranking Louisiana as the worst state in the country for violent crime.
While we only have 4.5 million people in our State, we still experience 60% more violent crime per 100,000 citizens than the national average. And it is our police officers and sheriff deputies who must race to the scenes of the all-too-often carjackings, armed robberies, shootings, rapes, and other violent crimes plaguing Louisiana. There are no trophies and very few accolades for this difficult work; yet, these peacemakers continue to be our first responders.
I know how challenging a career in law enforcement can be, as I started my professional life as a police officer and a sheriff’s deputy. During that time, I worked nights, weekends, and holidays – in the neighborhoods, on the roads, and in the jails. I know that those in uniform experience both the best and the worst communities have to offer. Often, these individuals are on the receiving end of violence as well. It is a career that is hard on your body, your mind, and – in some cases – when you have faced the worst humanity has to offer, it can be hard on your soul.
But all of this can be even harder on the families of those in blue because, while it is rarely covered on the news, behind every brave man and woman in uniform are people who love them. We must not forget that there are often husbands, wives, and children who are also making sacrifices for their communities. These are the ones who feel the stress of time apart, important events missed, and the strain of deep exhaustion brought home at the end of a shift. Then, if a loved one makes the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, they are left with the grief and uncertainty that follows.
This sorrow and anxiety is something that I have seen firsthand. As your Attorney General, I serve as the Chairman of the Law Enforcement and Firemen Survivor Benefits Board. Over the last seven years, I have met with the families of our State’s finest killed in the line of duty. While it is one of the most difficult parts of my job, I am proud to ensure that those families receive all of the assistance that we can legally provide. And since 2016, 117 claims have been approved and over $31 million in benefits have been paid directly to the survivors of our fallen first responders.
Still, Louisiana must do more than honor our fallen and support their families. We must also continue to support law enforcement as they battle the opioid epidemic, fight internet crimes against children, stand against illegal immigration, and work to end domestic violence and sexual assault. We must push back against those who wish to defund the police and disrespect the blue. And we must continue to have the backs of officers who continue to operate within the law.
Our State’s crime problem will not be remedied overnight. A safe Louisiana can only be achieved with the help of law enforcement. Without the sacrifices of our officers and deputies – and their families – we will never fully address violent crime, hold hardened criminals accountable for their actions, or protect our citizens.
That is why, this week, I ask you join me in appreciating Louisiana’s law enforcement. Please be sure to thank those who stand on the thin blue line that divides order and chaos. And please pray with me for these brave men and women to be strong and steadfast. Together, we can make Louisiana a better place.
Jeff Landry
Louisiana Attorney General
LANDRY: Louisiana's Criminal Justice System is Failing Us
Louisiana has 3 cities in the top 10 most dangerous cities in the country.
Letter to the Editor: Stop Aiding Chinese
Dear Editor,
I am deeply concerned about the legislation currently being pushed by liberal Senator Dick Durbin that would benefit Chinese credit card companies at the expense of American small businesses. This bill would require credit card companies to partner with at least two unaffiliated network providers, including China Union Pay, which has deep ties to the Chinese Communist Party.
It is alarming to see how China is trying to steal American data, and this bill would only make it easier for them to do so. Allowing a Chinese credit card company to access our personal information is like inviting a spy balloon to hover over every single American with a credit card and take whatever data they want.
This legislation is a classic example of Democrat policy that hurts Americans rather than helping them. By partnering with China Union Pay, Americans' information will be freely handed over to the CCP, giving China an unfair advantage over our small businesses. This will only make it more challenging for small businesses that are already struggling to compete in the market.
It's crucial to remember that Communist China remains the most significant threat to our country. We need to be careful and vigilant, and the last thing we should be doing is giving them an opportunity to hurt us. I am grateful that Louisiana has Senators Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy who continually put Louisianans' interests first and oppose any pro-China bills that could harm our country.
Senator Durbin and the Chinese Communist Party must be stopped, and I hope that Senators Cassidy and Kennedy will continue to stand firm against this harmful legislation. Louisiana deserves strong leaders who will protect our credit cards from those who wish America ill.
Sincerely,
DK Willard
SWIBER: Back to the Bayou
Stephen Swiber, Louisiana State Senate Candidate, launches BackToTheBayou.com to unite Louisiana family this Mother's Day, as outmigration continues to separate families.
President Donald Trump Endorses Jeff Landry for Governor
Click here to watch President Trump’s endorsement of Jeff Landry.
LAFAYETTE, La. —Jeff Landry, the official endorsed candidate by the Louisiana Republican Party, received the endorsement of President Donald Trump in his race for Governor of Louisiana. This endorsement is part of a growing list of GOP supporters including Congressman Mike Johnson, Congressman Clay Higgins, former Congressman Ralph Abraham, businessman Eddie Rispone, businessman Boysie Bollinger, the Club for Growth, as well as numerous Republican Parish Executive Committees (RPEC) across Louisiana. There will be many more endorsement announcements in the coming weeks.
“I am endorsing your Attorney General Jeff Landry for Governor. He has been a fantastic Attorney General. He wants to stop crime. He loves the people of Louisiana just like I do,” said President Donald Trump
Modernize Medicare by Covering Anti-Obesity Medications
Obesity is a serious health problem for millions of Americans and for our nation where 42% of US adults are living with obesity. The association with other chronic conditions, including heart disease, stroke, and Type 2 diabetes, is incontrovertible.
Obesity also has been identified as one of the greatest risk factors for severe COVID-19 infection and death, and its burden does not fall equally on all communities. It is a particularly significant concern for communities of color.
Read more: Modernize Medicare by Covering Anti-Obesity Medications
The Republican Party of Louisiana Endorses John Fleming for State Treasurer
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 4, 2023
BATON ROUGE, LA— The Republican Party of Louisiana (LAGOP) has announced its endorsement of John Fleming for Louisiana State Treasurer.
John Fleming served eight years as the U.S. Congressman for the 4th Congressional District of Louisiana. After concluding his time in Congress, he was tapped to serve in President Donald Trump's administration as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services. He was next confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. He completed his time in the administration as the White House Deputy Chief of Staff.
John is a military veteran and an experienced medical physician, as well as a successful businessman. He and his wife Cindy have been married 45 years and have four children.
A solid majority of the members of the Republican State Central Committee endorsed John for State Treasurer, which endorsement was made official yesterday afternoon by unanimous vote of the LAGOP's Executive Committee. We congratulate John and urge all Republicans to support his candidacy!
To learn more about John Fleming, visit flemingfortreasurer.com.
LOGA President Mike Moncla Testifies Before House Ways & Means Committee in Support of HB 634
LANDRY: Transparency is Not Racist
The Criminal Justice System Only Works If There’s Accountability
This is incredibly simple: the Truth and Transparency in our Criminal Justice System bill, which was supported by both Republicans and Democrats, passed committee 13-2, and now heads to the House floor, is meant to help us learn.
On the one hand, we have victims and defendants alike whose needs are not being served by our broken criminal justice system; on the other, we have a State with a crime problem and no empirical data to help us make informed decisions on potential solutions.
Yes, the two-year pilot program proposed by this bill will include Orleans, Caddo, and East Baton Rouge Parishes; but those are the largest parishes currently dealing with violent and juvenile crime issues. They are also three out of 38 parishes that maintain electronic records, making our data aggregation system not only cost effective but also possible. Most importantly, these three areas are among the top 10 most dangerous in America, which likely played a huge part in their State Representatives supporting the bill in committee.
But unless you have become a victim of a crime or lost a loved one to violence, you may not know how bad the public’s criminal justice system has become or how difficult it is for victims and defendants to access public records like court dates relevant to their cases. In fact, access to these records can cost an individual anywhere from $300 to $27,000 a year; and roughly half of our Parish Clerk Offices require you manually sift through paper files or physically attend a court hearing in order to gain basic information, such as what, how, or why. That is unacceptable.
While victims deserve rights, and effective advocates exist in pockets across our State, this legislation will enable victims to stand on their own two feet in our justice system through greater transparency – because you cannot exercise your rights unless you know what is going on. As of today, individuals are forced to do their own research, spend their own money, and track down their own court dates while also juggling uncertainty, trauma, and grief. The law promises them justice; our system offers them hell.
For example, Dr. Patrick Dennis was held at gunpoint by a juvenile. He was never notified by the District Attorney of the trial date and later learned that the gunman was released without consequences. Similarly, Mrs. Sherilyn Price testified that she had been lied to and kept in the dark about the murder of her son, comedian Boogie B. These are two stories out of thousands in which greater transparency would have been beneficial.
The law requires us to have a system for public records, but that system must also meet the needs of its users and not further victimize them. Our goal is to make this process easier, clearer, and more direct – with public access granted for free through the Louisiana Department of Justice. This data aggregation system will not be violating confidentiality or abusing sensitive records, and it will be strictly limited to information related to what is happening in court.
That is what the people of our State have requested through their feedback, and I believe that we must work with them if we are going to improve Louisiana. That means we must face some uncomfortable truths regarding our past strategies, find new ways to measure success and failure, and face the cold hard reality about what is not working and why. We need concrete, accurate, and efficient data if we are to make useful decisions rather than hope our good intentions will solve the problem.
Just like the victims of violent crime, lawmakers need to truly understand the problem if we are ever going to provide realistic solutions. That is why we must learn why the juvenile system is failing our kids. How are hardened juvenile offenders allowed to be released to recommit crimes of violence? What judges are setting low bail for violent criminals? And how often are district attorneys refusing or pleading down these cases? Those are the questions we need to be asking, and the answers we plan to find with this legislation.
Because crime does not just affect the victim – it affects the entire community, and that community should know how their judicial system is responding. It is way past time we take action to learn and adjust, rather than simply hope things will change.
Jeff Landry
Louisiana Attorney General
Blake Miguez is Standing Up to BIG TECH and Protecting Integrity in LA Elections!
Support HB 548 (Rep. Blake Miguez with Iberia Medical Center)
In this video, Rep. Blake Miguez describes the importance of protecting 340B funding for rural healthcare access in his community with examples of local services that are made possible at Iberia Medical Center with this funding. “Big PhRMA’s attempt to eliminate these discounts would endanger lifesaving access in our community and potentially increase costs for local and state taxpayers,” said Rep. Miguez. “I support HB 548, which protects Louisiana’s healthcare providers so our friends and neighbors can receive lifesaving care close to home.”
Republican Party to Conduct Massive Election Integrity Operation in Louisiana
BATON ROUGE, LA— Today, the Republican Party of Louisiana (LAGOP) has announced that due to continued Democrat attacks on election integrity in Louisiana, the Republican National Committee (RNC) will be working with the LAGOP to conduct the largest voter integrity operation that the state of Louisiana has ever seen. Michael Whatley met with state party officials on Monday in Baton Rouge to plan the effort.
“Governor John Bel Edwards and Democrats in the state of Louisiana vetoed attempts to improve election laws and created distrust in the election system. Democracy only works if every American has confidence in our election process. That is why we are here,” said Michael Whatley, RNC General Counsel. “Louisiana’s upcoming elections are pivotal to the direction of our country, and we will be on the frontlines to protect the vote of every Louisianan.”
“As Democrats across our state continue to attack our election process, the LAGOP is working hand in hand with the RNC to secure our election integrity and create transparency,” said Louis Gurvich, LAGOP Chairman. “This is a large-scale, sophisticated operation that will be conducted across the entire state. I appreciate the RNC for looking out for Louisiana and bringing integrity back to our ballot box.”
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