CITIZENS FOR LOUISIANA JOB CREATORS: Mayor Convicted of Felony Voted

Photo source: Facebook

Over the weekend, WBRZ Television station in Baton Rouge broke the story that convicted felon, and former mayor of New Roads Robert Myer, voted in the recent federal elections.

If this doesn’t sound right, it’s because it is not!

It is illegal for convicted felons to vote...even if the Governor's political appointees try and allow it. As reported by WBRZ, under the leadership of Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin, prior to every election, he receives a list from the Department of Corrections of criminals who are not eligible to vote. Robert Myer’s name was not on that list. Governor Edwards political appointee Malcolm Myer, Assistant Secretary at the Department of Corrections, and the brother of Robert Myer, did not send the felon’s name to Secretary Ardoin. 

Thankfully Attorney General Landry continues to fight the empty out our jails policy coming from this Administration. Felons voting is just the latest disrespect being shown victims of crime. Our election process is sacred, thank you Attorney General Landry and Secretary of State Ardoin for fighting for accountability.  

Link to WBRZ story here

More Good News for the Oil and Gas Industry in Louisiana

Photo source: Wikipedia

In this piece from the Advocate, Louisiana has signed a deal with the country of Poland for deliveries of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

The state company PGNiG signed the 24-year deal with American supplier Cheniere during a ceremony in Warsaw attended by U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry and Polish President Andrzej Duda.

Read more: Poland signs deal for long-term natural gas deliveries from Louisiana, Texas

LABI: National Report: Households in Louisiana Forced to Pay Some of the Highest Lawsuit Costs in the U.S.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Baton Rouge (Oct. 24, 2018) – Today, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) released a study that reveals the total cost of the U.S. tort system is staggering. The ILR report, Costs and Compensation of the U.S. Tort System, estimates the total cost of tort litigation in each state, totaling $429 billion nationwide in 2016.

Closer to home, the cost of lawsuits in Louisiana are among the highest of any state. Families and businesses in Louisiana were forced to pay nearly $7 billion in expenses related to tort litigation in 2016 - equivalent to more than $4,000 for every Louisiana household. The impact on the Louisiana economy ranks among the top five states in the nation, as litigation costs equate to almost three percent of the state’s GDP.

The ILR report further shows the largest share of Louisiana’s tort costs are a result of automobile accident cases, ringing in at almost $3.4 billion in 2016. Year after year, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) has supported a series of reform bills in the Louisiana Legislature to address this issue and bring costs down for Louisiana businesses and families but faces strong opposition from allies of an entrenched trial bar.

Today, LABI president and CEO Stephen Waguespack joined ILR in Washington for the launch of the report, speaking on a morning panel at the 2018 Legal Reform Summit. The experts took a deep dive into the cost of tort litigation for the average American family and how Louisiana shapes up compared to the rest of the country. Joining Waguespack on the panel was Paul Hinton, Principal of the Battle Group. The panelists were interviewed by Connie Lewis Lensing, Senior Vice President of the Legal Department at FedEx.

“On the heels of yet another negative report, we are staying focused on solutions,” stated LABI president and CEO Stephen Waguespack. “The costs of lawsuits profoundly impacts the ability of Louisiana employers to create jobs and for workers to keep more of their own hard-earned money. Reform to Louisiana’s legal system is a top priority going into next year’s important state election cycle.”

Waguespack continued, “Louisiana must take the opportunity to learn from this latest report. Not just about how our state can be stronger, but what these costs mean for Louisiana wallets and what other states are doing in this arena to ensure plaintiffs have access to a fair system without penalizing all businesses and households. The reality is that lawsuits are not just a technical issue that dies in the state legislature every year; this is a real-world problem that our businesses and families are fighting every day.”

Earlier this year, the ILR ranked Louisiana 51st in the country behind the District of Columbia for the worst legal climate in the nation. The new ILR report focuses specifically on the cost of torts paid in the U.S. tort system, using data on liability insurance premiums and estimates of the liability exposure of businesses and individuals that are uninsured or self-insured.

To read the report, click below:

Costs and Compensation the U.S. Tort System:https://www.instituteforlegalreform.com/research/2018-costs-and-compensation-of-the-us-tort-system

 About the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry

The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry was organized in 1975 to represent Louisiana businesses, serving as both the state chamber of commerce and state manufacturers association. LABI’s primary goal is to foster a climate for economic growth by championing the principles of the free enterprise system and representing the general interest of the business community through active involvement in the political, legislative, judicial and regulatory processes. Find out more information at http://www.labi.org 

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. 

Louisiana Old School Electioneering Is Back

Photo source: KLFY

In a blatant attempt at electioneering, one Lafayette City-Parish Councilman has proposed free bus rides on election day. While not expressly bringing folks to the polls, the rides will surely be used in an attempt to sway votes and at getting more voters to the polls in an attempt to influence the election.

What could possibly go wrong????

Read more: Possible free bus rides on Election Day causes controversy

LLAW: Study Shows Impact Of Excessive Civil Tort Costs On Louisiana Economy

Baton Rouge, LA — Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch (LLAW) today released the 2018 Economic Benefits of Tort Reform, an assessment measuring the impact of excessive civil court costs on Louisiana’s economy. The study, conducted by The Perryman Group for Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA), found that Louisiana is losing jobs and revenue because of the state’s civil justice system. The assessment included extensive survey data, industry information and a variety of corroborative source material. The Perryman Group analyzed outcomes in the state using Ohio, which has engaged in notable tort reform in the recent past, as a benchmark.

The total current impact of excessive tort costs on the Louisiana economy amounts to estimated losses of $1.1 billion in annual direct costs and $1.5 billion in output (gross product) annually. About 15,556 jobs are lost when dynamic effects are considered. All major industry groups are negatively impacted, with retail trade, business services, health services and other service industries showing the greatest losses. The yearly fiscal losses (as of 2018) are estimated at $76.4 million in state revenues and $64.3 million to local governments. These effects are based on the current size of the state’s population and economy and can be expected to rise over time in the absence of meaningful civil justice reforms.

The assessment found that an inadequately balanced justice system can be counterproductive. A system that generates exorbitant levels of damages or numbers of awards may result in negative impacts through the misallocation of society’s scarce economic and human resources. Some of these negative effects include increased costs and risks of doing business in an area; disincentives for innovations which promote consumer welfare; enhanced incentives to file lawsuits of questionable merit resulting in increased inefficiencies; higher insurance premiums than would exist under a more balanced approach; and increased health care costs and declining availability of medical services, among others.

“These findings clearly show that civil justice reform must be a priority in Louisiana. Frivolous lawsuits and exorbitant plaintiff awards impact all sectors of our economy and hurt Louisiana families, as costs are ultimately passed down to them in the form of higher prices for goods and services,” said LLAW Executive Director Lana Venable.

Civil justice reforms that have resulted in the greatest reduction in losses are those aimed at reducing frivolous lawsuits, capping appeal bonds, setting negligence standards and limiting non-economic damages. These reforms have been shown to enhance innovation and increase productivity, as well as to improve judicial efficiency and economic performance.

According to the assessment, when working properly, the judicial system provides a critical institutional framework that provides a fair and equitable forum for resolving disputes, compensates plaintiffs who have been legitimately harmed and deters undesirable behavior.

“A healthy legal system should ensure fairness for both truly impaired individuals and small and large businesses operating in Louisiana. Imbalances in the system lead to unpredictability for consumers and businesses, costing jobs and resulting in constrained economic growth,” according to Louisiana Coalition for Common Sense Executive Director Jim Harris.

Louisiana was ranked 50 th in the US Chamber Institute for Legal Reform’s 2017 Lawsuit Abuse Climate Survey, which measures the reasonability and balance of each states’ tort liability systems. Louisiana also earned the number eight ranking in the American Tort Reform Foundation’s 2017-18 Judicial

Hellholes Report based on systematic application of civil laws and court procedures.

About Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch (LLAW)

Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch (LLAW) is a high-impact watchdog group with nearly 20,000 supporters across the state dedicated to fixing Louisiana’s broken legal system through transparency, accountability and lawsuit reform. Visit us on Facebook, Twitter (@ReformLouisiana) and www.llaw.org.

About the Louisiana Coalition for Common Sense (LCCS)

The Louisiana Coalition for Common Sense (LCCS) is a group of professional associations, companies and individuals committed to ensuring a fair legal climate for both truly impaired individuals and small and large businesses operating in Louisiana.

About The Perryman Group (TPG)

An economic and financial analysis firm, The Perryman Group (TPG provides clients with well-documented, carefully considered answers to even the most complex questions. For more than 30 years,

The Perryman Group has met the challenges of thousands of clients through a systematic approach and a level of performance that assures a consistent standard of excellence. The firm has been involved in scores of major events shaping the economic landscape, from crucial corporate locations to landmark legislation to important regulatory policies to notable judicial decisions.

Corps of Engineers Reform Bill Headed to White House

Photo source: Wikipedia 

WASHINGTON, DC – Landmark legislation produced under the leadership of House Water Resources Subcommittee Chairman Garret Graves (South Louisiana) to reform the U.S. Corps of Engineers will be signed into law this week. The America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018, which unanimously passed the U.S. House of Representatives on September 13, 2018, will be voted on today in the U.S. Senate, and the president is expected to sign the bill into law later this week.

This is the first Corps reform bill produced with Graves serving as chairman over the House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over the Corps of Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies. 

“On our current trajectory, the Corps will finish its $100 billion of backlogged, federally authorized projects approximately never,” said Graves. “We have to stop pushing paper and start turning dirt. Fundamental changes are needed, and this bill begins moving us in that direction.”

The America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (AWIA)is the latest in a portfolio of legislative achievements that Graves has been implementing as part of his broader strategy to replace the federal government’s wasteful spending of billions of dollars after disasters with smart, pre-disaster investments that better prepare and protect our communities at a much lower cost to taxpayers. Other strategy components include the Disaster Reform and Recovery Act, which was signed into law last Friday; full funding for the Comite flood protection, West Shore hurricane protection and other important projects announced in July; and Graves’ bill to increase offshore energy revenue sharing funding that passed through the Natural Resources Committee in September. AIWA paves the way for major reforms of how the nation plans, designs, constructs and funds flood control, hurricane protection, navigation, coastal/ecosystem restoration and other projects. 

“This bill is about delivering proactive solutions so that communities actually benefit from projects instead of having to endure decades of studies and inaction,” added Graves.

AIWA focuses on four major themes:

·Cutting the red-tape and bureaucracy associated with Corps of Engineers’ projects

·Preventing redundancies and excessive costs

·Providing greater project roles to state and local governments

·Changing the Corps of Engineers focus from process and procedure to project completion

Provisions inserted in the House and final bill by Graves include:

·Providing the State of Louisiana an estimated $500,000,000 in credit for coastal restoration and other projects in the state. This credit can be used by the state in lieu of cash cost shares required by the state.

·Beginning a process to transition the Corps of Engineers’ mission to a civilian infrastructure agency where it can be a top agency priority.

·Forcing the Corps to disclose internal costs and expenses.

·Requiring a reanalysis of the Old River Control Structure in Louisiana to end the static 70% Mississippi River, 30% Atchafalaya River split of flow. Under the new model, the Corps would migrate toward a dynamic operations plan to maximize navigation, flood control, coastal restoration and other objectives.

·Allowing the state and levee districts to construct authorized Corps projects without re-permitting environmental and other project considerations.

·Eliminating the requirement that the state and levee districts go through a duplicative regulatory and permitting process when building authorized projects without the Corps of Engineers.

Graves continued: “There are literally tens of billions of dollars in authorized Corps of Engineers projects in Louisiana. If we are going to restore our coast and protect our communities, we must change the way these projects are developed and delivered.”

Other Louisiana-centric provisions include (provision sponsors):

·Preventing the purchase of property from private landowners when projects can be constructed using an easement, donation or other less expensive means (Higgins/Graves)

·Expanding upon opportunities to use material dredged from rivers and bayous for coastal restoration (Higgins/Graves)

·Expediting Feasibility Studies and Advancing Project Design:

oJ. Bennett Johnston Waterway project improvements (Abraham/Johnson)

oNorthshore flood risk reduction (Scalise/Cassidy/Kennedy)

oOuachita-Black Rivers navigation improvements (Abraham/Cassidy/Kennedy)

oBaptist’s Collette Bayou channel deepening (Scalise/Cassidy/Kennedy)

oHouma Navigation Canal Deepening (Scalise/Graves/Cassidy/Kennedy)

oExtend the construction deadline for a hydropower facility on the J. Bennett Johnston Waterway (Abraham/Johnson)

“This bill is good for our infrastructure, good for jobs, and good for America,”added Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA).

Graves recently secured $3,000,000,000 in new federal funding from five sources to fully fund numerous decades-stalled Corps of Engineers projects in Louisiana. This bill complements those efforts, which will together produce better protection for our homes, communities and businesses; better federal performance; and cost savings to the American people.

MOST PLAQUEMINES PARISH VOTERS OPPOSE PARISH’S OIL AND GAS LAWSUIT; 99% SAY INDUSTRY IS CRITICAL TO ECONOMY

Photo source: GrowLACoalition Twitter

Plaquemines Parish residents are speaking loud and clear: they stand with the oil and gas industry and want to see it continue to play a vital role in their community and their future. The oil and gas industry provides more than 1,500 jobs in Plaquemines Parish with a $264 million payroll, paying $20 million annually in parish property taxes.

Read more: MOST PLAQUEMINES PARISH VOTERS OPPOSE PARISH’S OIL AND GAS LAWSUIT; 99% SAY INDUSTRY IS CRITICAL TO ECONOMY

LANDRY: Allowing Louisianans To Make Their Own Healthcare Choices

Opinion by Jeff Landry, Attorney General of Louisiana

Source: Parish News Acadiana

Recently, I participated in a national TV interview on CNN regarding an important lawsuit. I joined this lawsuit with 17 other Attorneys General and two Governors on the legality of the Affordable Care Act. It is an important topic.

Unfortunately, while our lawsuit is focused solely on the rule of law, the television producers used my time on air in a farcical attempt just to attack the strategy and get a soundbite. Though I anticipated some sky-is-falling hysteria that has become a staple of extremists when discussing the ACA, I felt strongly someone needed to get the truth to CNN’s flailing audience.

That truth is the Republican state officials who signed onto this suit are resolved in our efforts to fight unconstitutional policies, and we understand that the remains of the unconstitutional ACA need to be dismantled before their inevitable collapse does any further damage to families and businesses.

Rising costs, undesirable plans, and declining choices have been the status quo since the 2,300-page ACA was forced onto the American people. While a fortunate few in Louisiana may finally see, for the first time since 2011, less painful premium hikes – we know something different must be done to reduce the crippling financial burdens and to ensure our people can once again have the freedom to choose their own doctors.

But make no mistake about it: those involved in the lawsuit are not attacking sound law based on its policy failures. Policy decisions are for the Legislative Branch, which is something the Governor and his allies had to learn the hard way when I became Attorney General.

The ACA is unconstitutional. When the Supreme Court ruled on NFIB v. Sebelius – they found the individual mandate unlawful on its own, but legally permissible if attached to the federal government’s taxing authority. And since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 has been signed into law, the tax penalty has been removed and the mandate now stands alone.

The hoops that the Supreme Court jumped through to uphold the individual mandate telegraphed the true extent of the ACA’s constitutional problems. Now that those hoops have been removed, the rule of law must prevail and the ACA must fall. This should be welcomed by all who cherish the Constitution and support our great republic.

If our lawsuit is successful and the ACA is removed from the books, states will be allowed to implement their own healthcare plans for their own citizens. Maine may be able to employ its previously preempted framework; Nebraska may realize the full potential of its direct primary care option for state workers; and most importantly, Louisiana – through our Legislature – would be free to enact rules and restrictions without fear of conflict pre-emption. In essence, Louisiana could use a system that works for Louisiana.

While I, like the overwhelming majority of my fellow Republicans, believe those with pre-existing conditions should be protected; I know that decision is up to our Legislature. If our lawsuit is successful, our own Legislature will craft future regulations and policies. Our own Louisiana House and Senate can work on better solutions to our healthcare problems, right here in our State. I stand ready to assist them.

As I have done since filing the lawsuit in February, I will continue discussions with our legislators. And as I have always done, I will keep fighting against government overreach and keep doing all that I legally can to make Louisiana an even better place to live, work, and raise our families.

Jeff Landry is the Attorney General of Louisiana. Originally from St. Martinsville, General Landry holds a Law Degree from Loyola University, he is a veteran of Desert Storm, and a former member of the United States House of Representatives.  www.agjefflandry.com

Source: Allowing Louisianans To Make Their Own Healthcare Choices

Sen. Bill Cassidy Handles Another Liberal Regarding Kavanaugh

Photo source: Long Room

As captured in the below video, another liberal is in the face of a conservative member of the US Senate, this time our own, Sen. Bill Cassidy.

Sen. @BillCassidy confronted by Anti-Kavanaugh protester & asked why he would put a "rapist" on the Supreme Court.

His response stuns: "If it was your husband, your son, your father, whose life has been destroyed by uncorroborated, would you like that?"https://t.co/oJGTRShyX2 pic.twitter.com/3dy4UwBDRD

— Benny (@bennyjohnson) October 2, 2018

However, rather than cowering like Jeff Flake did, in the video below, Sen. Cassidy bravely defended his decision to support Kavanaugh and defended the judge’s good name, which has been smeared throughout this process by the Democrats.

Sportsman’s Paradise Under Attack

Photo source: Faces of Lawsuit Abuse

This video highlights the damaging effects of unfounded coastal erosion lawsuits on citizens who live – and make their living – along our Louisiana waterways. Our Sportsman’s Paradise is under attack by the  trial lawyers pursuing  these lawsuits. Almost anyone is a target – from fishermen and boat operators to landowners. These suits have prompted many of private landowners to cut off public access to waterways and channels over fear of litigation. Earlier this year, a bill that would have opened up closed waters for public access and navigation failed in the Legislature, and the largest fishing organization in the world announced it would no longer host Bassmaster tournaments here.  

Enough is enough. We must defend our way of life in Louisiana.

Read more: Sportsman’s Paradise under attack

Louisiana Right to Life: Pro-Life Leaders Celebrate Rulingon Admitting Privileges Law

For Immediate Release

Sept. 26, 2018
Contact: Benjamin Clapper

504-228-4273

bclapper@prolifelouisiana.org

Today, a federal appeals court panel ruled that a 2014 Louisiana law requiring abortion providers to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital passes constitutional muster.
The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals three-judge panel recognized a similar law struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2016, but by a 2-1 decision they said the Louisiana Unsafe Abortion Protection Act (Act 620) does not impose the same "substantial burden" on women as the Texas law.
Judges Smith and Clement analyzed the law's impact on Louisiana, separating it from the Texas-based facts presented in the Supreme Court's 2016 Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt decision.

The ruling reverses the 2017 ruling of federal district court Judge John deGravelles, who blocked the law.

"Louisiana Right to Life celebrates today’s 5th Circuit decision upholding Louisiana’s Unsafe Abortion Protection Act as a victory for women’s health and safety," said Benjamin Clapper, Executive Director of Louisiana Right to Life. "Ever since we began working with State Rep. Katrina Jackson (D-Monroe) to introduce HB 388 in 2014, the goal of requiring abortion providers to have admitting privileges at local hospitals was always about protecting women by ensuring the continuity of care in cases of emergency. Our law should never create special loopholes so that abortion facilities can operate in a sub-standard manner. These facilities and their physicians should be held to the same standard as all outpatient surgical facilities.

"Louisiana Right to Life commends Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry and Solicitor General Elizabeth Murrill for their persistent leadership in defending Louisiana's bipartisan 2014 law, especially in the face of other states choosing to dismiss their defense of similar admitting privileges laws."
Dorinda Bordlee, Senior Counsel of Bioethics Defense Fund, added, "In light of a U.S. Supreme Court opinion that unjustly struck down a similar Texas admitting privileges law, today’s 5th Circuit ruling is a huge win. The abortion industry has failed in its attempt to use the federal courts to undermine customary health standards for women who are physically injured by the known medical risks of abortion, such as uterine puncture or cervical tearing. This pro-woman, pro-life legislation recognizes the reality that abortion endangers the lives of both women and children."

Is 2020 the Year the Oilfield Turns Around?

One Acadiana hosted "An Expert's Perspective," an event focused on the economic growth of Acadiana. 

Dr. Loren Scott was the keynote speaker of the event. He spent the last three decades focused on economic matters. Dr. Scott is the President of Loren c. Scott & Associates, Inc, a 34-year old economic consulting firm whose clients include such large national firms as BP, Entergy, ExxonMobil, Nucor, Sasol, Chespeake Energy, and a diversity of others.

Read more: Economic consultant predicts 2020 the comeback year for oil and gas industry in Acadiana

Citizens for Louisiana Job Creators: AG Jeff Landry: Red River Waterway Appointment Unlawful

Photo source: NOLA.com

This week, Attorney General Jeff Landry exposed Governor Edwards' backroom deal when he appointed his friend, Michael DeVille, to the Red River Waterway Commission.

Based on the opinion released Wednesday by the Louisiana Department of Justice, which was requested by the Caddo Levee District and state Senators Greg Tarver and Barrow Peacock, the pertaining law states that the governor shall appoint from a list of nominees. Carolyn Prator, wife of Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator, was unanimously nominated by the entities responsible for providing the Governor with names to select from for the appointment. Michael DeVille was not a nominee.

Governor Edwards refusal to follow the law is the latest move by the governor to punish his adversaries as it has been widely reported that Governor Edwards refusal to appoint Mrs. Prator is due to the fact that she is the wife of Sheriff Prator who has publicly criticized the Governor's "criminal justice reform" bills that let criminals out of jail every month. 

It has become apparent in the 33 months since John Bel Edwards took office, that the checks and balances the Landry Justice Department provides is needed. 

Thank you General Landry for holding the Edwards Administration accountable.
ICYMI AG Landry TV Clip here: https://www.ksla.com/2018/09/19/la-ag-jeff-landry-make-announcement-shreveport/

Copyright © 2018 Citizens for Louisiana Job Creators, All rights reserved.

GOP Lawmaker Thinks Congress Should Be Subjected To Random Drug Testing Too

Photo source: Yahoo

Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) introduced a resolution last week requiring senators and representatives to undergo random drug tests once every term.

“Elected officials in Washington, D.C. should be subject to the same kind of random drug screenings that blue-collar, working-class Americans have to endure,” Higgins said in a statement.

“Congress shouldn’t get to live by a different set of rules,” he said. “This effort is about maintaining accountability and ensuring sober service to We, the People.”

Read more: GOP Lawmaker Thinks Congress Should Be Subjected To Random Drug Testing Too

KENNEDY: Kavanaugh Hearings an “Intergalactic Freak Show”

Photo source: Daily Wire

Sen. John Kennedy called the confirmation hearings for Judge Brett Kavanaugh “an intergalactic freak show” and said he was embarrassed for Congress by the accusations of sexual misconduct leveled at the Supreme Court nominee.

 “So far, it’s pretty much been an intergalactic freak show,” Kennedy, R-La., told Chris Wallace on “Fox News Sunday.” “Most Americans are looking at this – most mainstream Americans – and they’re thinking that Congress has hit rock bottom and started to dig.”

Read more:  Kavanaugh confirmation process has been an ‘intergalactic freak show’, Sen. Kennedy says

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.  

Graves Advances Bill to Increase Louisiana’s Energy Revenues, Funding for Coastal Restoration

Photo source: Twitter

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Garret Graves (R – South Louisiana) advanced legislation out of the House Committee on Natural Resources today that would increase the share of offshore energy revenues for Gulf Coast states.  Graves’ bill would provide a substantial increase in funding for Louisiana’s coastal restoration and flood protection projects. 

“After working on this for 20 years I can tell you:  what happened today is historic,” said Graves. “Moving this bill is a big deal and has enormous implications for South Louisiana.”  

Graves’ H.R. 6771 amends the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act 2006 (GOMESA) to bring Gulf offshore energy revenue sharing in line with levels that onshore energy producing states enjoy – an effort long pursued by Louisiana’s congressional delegation. The bill was considered today in conjunction with the Restore Our Parks and Public Lands Act, which proposed using Gulf offshore energy revenues to address the maintenance backlog of the National Park Service and other agencies across the country.

“Louisiana is battling the largest historical, ongoing and prospective loss of coastal wetlands we’ve ever seen, and it’s a national crisis. Diverting Louisiana’s energy revenues away from efforts to improve the resiliency of the people, communities and ecosystems responsible for generating the resources in the first place is a fundamentally flawed approach to addressing the maintenance backlog in national parks,” said Graves. “Our bill ensures that these increased revenues will be committed to projects that restore the coast, protect our coastal communities from hurricanes and other disaster and, ultimately, reduce our nation’s outrageous disaster response costs.”

For nearly a century federal law has discriminated against coastal energy producing states. While states producing energy onshore federal lands get to retain 50 percent of the energy revenues, coastal states have received a small fraction. H.R. 6771 solves this problem. 

Energy production in the Gulf of Mexico accounts for 18% of total U.S. crude oil production and 4% of total U.S. dry production of natural gas. In 2016 alone, this production generated $2.7 billion in royalty revenue for the U.S. Treasury. Of that amount, only 0.407% ($11 million) was given back to those states through revenue sharing programs.

Click the image below to watch a clip from today’s markup. View the markup in its entirety here.

CLIMATE LAWSUITS MAY DRIVE THOUSANDS OF JOBS OUT OF THE US, BUSINESS LEADER SAYS

Photo source: National Journal

LABI President and CEO Stephen Waguespack warns that the mounting legal costs and hostility to business will force manufacturers out of select states and could push businesses out of the country altogether.

Lawsuits targeting oil and gas producers over Louisiana’s coastal environment have been “in vogue” in the state since 2013, according to Waguespack. Since then, Louisiana’s manufacturing sector has fallen behind surrounding states.

Read more: CLIMATE LAWSUITS MAY DRIVE THOUSANDS OF JOBS OUT OF THE US, BUSINESS LEADER SAYS

​VENABLE: Lawsuit Abuse in Louisiana: Time to Turn Up the Heat

Photo source/ Facebook  

By Lana Venable, Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch Executive Director

Some things never change – it’s been another long, hot summer in Louisiana, and aggressive plaintiff’s attorneys continue to pull out all the stops to advance what has become a cottage industry – unfounded lawsuits. A seemingly endless array of billboards along Louisiana roadways introduce drivers to many of the state’s trial lawyers, promising quick cash to sue and quickly settle accident claims. 

From abusive litigation that impacts consumers to plaintiff-friendly judges handing out large payouts, Louisiana has earned a longstanding reputation as one of the most litigious states in the country. It should come as no surprise that the Pelican State has consistently garnered one of the top spots in the American Tort Reform Foundation’s annual Judicial Hellholes Report.

Unfounded lawsuits hurt businesses, both large and small, while generating exorbitant fees for attorneys. But many people don’t connect that these contingent fees and large plaintiff awards drive up the cost of doing business. Consequently, we customers are at the lower end of the stick are paying the price with drastic increases in prices for products and services.

Our state is home to a prime example – the high cost of auto insurance. Last year, Louisianans paid the second-highest auto insurance rates in the U.S., with an annual average premium of around $1,920. Most Louisiana drivers are uninsured or underinsured, which encourages drivers involved in accidents to sue. To compensate for this onslaught of lawsuits, Louisianans who do carry insurance are forced to pay higher premiums. Not only are drivers feeling the effects, but insurers are as well – several companies have left Louisiana over the past two years due to the unprofitability of the auto insurance industry.

Auto lawsuit abuse affects everyone in this state. On top of that, Louisiana has also earned the distinction of having the nation’s highest jury trial threshold, while 36 states have no threshold at all.  Put simply, this means that Louisiana civil cases valued at less than $50,000 are tried without benefit of a jury. In these cases, a judge, rather than a jury, determines a verdict. This simply gives plaintiff-friendly local judges too much power over lawsuit outcomes. Perhaps it is no coincidence that 53 percent of claims in Louisiana are under $50,000, allowing trial lawyers to go “judge shopping” for favorable venues and denying many citizens their fundamental right to a trial before a jury. A settlement is often agreed to without risk of going to court. 

Another area of concern is the rising number of claims targeting small businesses for minor violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Data from 2016 shows the filing of disability-access complaints in Louisiana has increased more than 360 percent from 2011 – 2016.  Money-seeking plaintiffs typically target local and state governments, shopping centers and other small businesses and file claims without giving notice to the defendants. The businesses of Louisiana towns do not have a chance or the opportunity to resolve the slight issue and instead are faced with the high cost of defending themselves against frivolous lawsuits. In many areas, this trend has forced many small business owners to close shop. This shameful approach violates the spirit in which this important statute was written.

These are just a few examples of how deeply our legal climate is flawed. This state should look to improve these policies to drive down costs for consumers and businesses and contribute to the its overall economic health.

As a first step, it’s not too early to begin thinking about the historic turnover in the Legislature next year, with more than a third of the current body term-limited. LLAW urges concerned citizens to get engaged in the process to reform our legal climate and use your votes to turn up the heat in 2019.