In true gutless, Louisiana political fashion, a majority of those that “serve” the citizens of the state decided to stay home and do nothing to fight back against a liberal Governor. Bills vetoed by “Honor Code” Edwards, that were overwhelmingly supported by legislators, will not have the chance to be overridden in special session.
Posts filed under Louisiana
Louisiana Abortion Ban Back in Effect
Louisiana’s abortion ban has been put back into effect and the case has been transferred to East Baton Rouge Parish.
Louisiana State Trooper Pulls Over Head of State Police; No Citation Issued
The head of Louisiana State Police (LSP) was stopped for speeding along a dangerous stretch of a Louisiana interstate last month, a state police spokesman confirmed Thursday, July 7.
Col. Lamar Davis was driving an unmarked Louisiana State Police vehicle to a meeting in Lake Charles when an LSP trooper pulled him over on June 28 on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge along Interstate 10 near Ramah.
LANDRY: Defending Pro-Life Laws in Louisiana
State Treasurer John M. Schroder Calls For Statewide Online Payment Options
“This is about what is most convenient for our customers - the taxpayers of the state of Louisiana,” he said. “What it’s not about is what is easiest for agencies – the status quo.”
Read more: State Treasurer John M. Schroder calls for statewide online payment options
The “Voice of Louisiana” Heard Across the USA on The Dan Bongino Show
Moon Griffon, whose voice is syndicated across the state, was tapped to guest host the nationally-syndicated Dan Bongino Show on Tuesday, a day after the Fourth of July.
And there were no shortages of Louisiana references on the show.
Read More: The "Voice of Louisiana" Heard Across the USA on Dan Bongino Show
LOGA Responds to SCOTUS Ruling on EPA's climate powers
BATON ROUGE, LA (June 30, 2022) - Today, The United States Supreme Court ruled that the Clean Power Plan implemented under President Obama that sought to administratively determine power sector emission levels exceeded executive authority under the Clean Air Act.
In response, LOGA President Mike Moncla issued the following statement:
“Today’s decision by the Supreme Court is a step in the right direction for our great nation. This decision takes governmental overreach from appointed bureaucrats and puts it back into the hands of legislators.
The EPA’s actions and regulations have been in lockstep with the left wing’s green agenda. These types of actions cost Americans at the pump, as they continue to tighten the noose on producers and refiners, making it harder to drill for oil and gas, and more expensive to refine it. We applaud this Supreme Court decision and look forward to more balanced decisions toward our industry in the future.”
LFF: BREAKING: SCOTUS Terminates Roe v. Wade!
June 24, 2022
Today is the day that pro-lifers have anticipated for 50 years and I have worked for my entire adult life! Finally, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) has restored justice and overturned the egregious decision of Roe v. Wade with its Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision.
Held: The Constitution does not confer a right to abortion; Roe and Casey are overruled; and the authority to regulate abortion is returned to the people and their elected representatives.
ALITO, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which THOMAS, GORSUCH, KAVANAUGH, and BARRETT, JJ., joined. THOMAS, J., and KAVANAUGH, J., filed concurring opinions. ROBERTS, C. J., filed an opinion concurring in the judgment. BREYER, SOTOMAYOR, and KAGAN, JJ., filed a dissenting opinion.
The court has rejected the erroneous narrative that a “right” to abortion exists in the U.S. Constitution, meaning individual states are at liberty to establish jurisdiction and limits over abortion. LFF’s efforts to protect the unborn are no longer hindered by a fraudulent and misguided Supreme Court ruling which invented a non-existent “right.”
This is a monumental victory for LFF’s “Respect Life Ethic” and warrants celebration. We should praise God for answered prayer and the termination of the legal nightmare that was Roe.
The legal trigger mechanism is set to take effect – in Louisiana, abortion is banned! In twenty-six states, robust protections for the unborn are in effect.
While this is a major victory, LFF’s work is far from complete. The court has done its job, but it cannot do ours. We are simply entering a new phase of the struggle for life. The “culture of death” that Roe fostered needs to be systematically deconstructed.
Abortion now must be made unthinkable. Only through compassionate outreach, intentional education, and principled advocacy will hearts and minds be transformed so that life may be protected at every stage of development.
Now we must exercise extraordinary compassion toward every expecting mother in unplanned and difficult circumstances. Churches and their members must offer help and hope to abortion-vulnerable women. We must fortify pregnancy care centers by adopting them as a charitable cause, direct assistance to moms in need, and walk with those that are in need.
LFF will speak the truth in love about the unborn and create a culture of deep care for all life in Louisiana and beyond. Debates surrounding this decision will become more intense, and we need to be prepared to defend the sanctity of life at all times.
Because of this decision, some will resort to acts of violence, as they have pledged to do. Proponents of the respect life ethic will face challenges like never before. Stand firm in the truth and remember, the incoming flack is because we are directly over an imperative target.
Please also keep the safety of Supreme Court justices, Louisiana and America in your prayers.
In His Service,
Gene Mills
President
Louisiana Family Forum
Coach Tony Robichaux Inducted Into 2022 LA Sports Hall of Fame
Former Louisiana Ragin’ Cajun baseball coach Tony Robichaux will be one of 3 Acadiana Natives inducted into the 2022 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.
Over 30 State Leaders to Supreme Court: Let States Decide Abortion Rules
Craig DeRoche, CEO and President of Family Policy Alliance, said, “Here’s what this case is about: Planned Parenthood wants to force taxpayers to fund their abortion business, and they’ll do whatever it takes to make that happen. But states should be able to tell Planned Parenthood ‘no,’ just as they should be able to say no to abortion itself. This case is about states’ rights under the Medicaid statute to make those critical decisions.”
Randy Wenger, Chief Counsel at Independence Law Center, said, “States are permitted to decide what providers are qualified under Medicaid. If states like South Carolina want to use limited resources to promote holistic healthcare rather than providers that are focused only on abortion and related services, they should be free to do so. That’s the best way to provide high quality healthcare to the women of our states.”
Read more: Over 30 State Leaders to Supreme Court: Let States Decide Abortion Rules
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:
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.
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.
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
LOGA Responds to Biden Administration's Cancellation of GOM Lease Sales
BATON ROUGE, LA (May 12, 2022) - The Biden Administration has announced the cancellation of the last remaining lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico from the most recent Five-Year offshore drilling plan.
In response, Louisiana Oil & Gas Association President Mike Moncla released the following statement:
“The cancelling of the last remaining lease sales from the most recent renewal of the Five-Year Plan is not really news, since the Biden Administration has already said that we will not move forward with any new lease sales, but I’m glad this has made the news cycle. The cancelling of the sale of leases 259 and 261 in the Gulf of Mexico puts a beautiful exclamation point on the absolute devastation that this administration has caused to our industry, and to our nation.
We are suffering from a war overseas. Prices at the pump are at an all-time high. The only way to bring those prices down is to increase domestic energy production. It is nothing short of hypocritical that the Biden administration bans Russian energy imports, while at the same time doing everything it can to stop any and all future production in the Gulf of Mexico.
We desperately need a renewal of the Five-Year offshore leasing plan. Sadly, as long as Joe Biden is in office, his pattern of behavior indicates devastating effects on Gulf of Mexico production for years to come."
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.
To God be the Glory...
Gene Mills
President, Louisiana Family Forum
HIGGINS: Combating Biden's Anti-American Energy Policies
Knowing of our shared concern regarding rising energy and fuel costs, I am providing an update on my efforts in the U.S. House of Representatives to restore American energy independence.
President Biden’s anti-American energy policies have greatly injured the oil and gas industry, killed American jobs, and caused energy prices to rise. President Biden's policies revoked the Keystone XL pipeline permits while lifting sanctions on Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline. He enacted a drilling moratorium on federal lands and waters while calling on OPEC and Russia to boost their crude oil production. He enacted policies that rescinded Trump-era federal permitting improvements, increased regulatory burdens, threatened to increase federal royalty rates, and slowed federal approval of new energy projects and infrastructure. This administration’s energy policies have jeopardized our energy security and raised costs for American families.
To combat President Biden's disastrous energy policies, I have cosponsored numerous pieces of legislation that would protect Louisiana energy jobs and help reestablish American energy independence and American energy dominance. This includes:
H.R. 522, the Conservation Funding Protection Act, which would require annual lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico region of the outer Continental Shelf to protect offshore drilling activity and related conservation efforts.
H.R. 543, the Protecting our Wealth of Energy Resources (POWER) Act, which would prohibit the president or his secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture, and Energy departments from blocking energy or mineral leasing and permitting on federal lands and waters without congressional approval.
H.R. 684, the Keystone XL Pipeline Construction and Jobs Preservation Act, which would authorize the Keystone XL project and clarify that a presidential permit is not required for the construction, connection, operation, or maintenance of the outlined pipeline and border facilities.
H.R. 6947, the Freedom from Russian Energy Enterprise and Domestic Oil Maximization (FREEDOM) Act, which would ban imports of crude oil, petroleum products, and LNG from Russia, authorize the Keystone XL pipeline, and nullify President Biden's executive order that paused oil and gas leasing on public lands.
H.R. 7115, the Small Scale LNG Access Act, which would expedite application and approval processes for exports of natural gas.
H.Res. 940, which calls on President Biden to restore U.S. energy security and take necessary actions to increase domestic energy production.
Further, I am working closely with my colleagues on the House Energy Action Team (HEAT) to advance pro-American energy solutions. We recently delivered a HEAT letter to President Biden demanding he ends the ideological war on American energy producers and outlining several policy initiatives required to restore energy dominance and lower costs for American families.
The oil and gas industry employs roughly 6.8 million Americans and impacts every part of modern society. Congress must reverse the Biden administration’s disastrous economic and energy policies. This is especially true for Louisiana, which is one of the top oil & gas producers in the nation and. Nearly 250,000 Louisianans are employed by this industry. My office will use every legally available action to combat President Biden's injurious policies and support legislation to protect American workers and their livelihoods.
It is an honor to serve you in Congress. Please be assured my office will continue working to promote America first policies. Additionally, should you or your family ever need help with a federal agency, please contact my Lafayette office at 337-703-6105 or my Lake Charles office at 337-656-2833.
Respectfully,
Clay Higgins
Member of Congress
Louisiana Right to Life Tracking 11 Pro-Life Bills as 2022 Legislative Session Begins
The 2022 Louisiana Legislative Session begins March 14 and ends June 6. Louisiana Right to Life will be at the Capitol throughout the session to protect life, promote adoption, and fight against anything that destroys human life! Without question, our legislative activity has been a hallmark of our organization since 1970, and we are proud to represent babies, mothers, and you as we advocate. Please pray for the success of our efforts!
Our first priority this session is ensuring Louisiana law is ready for Roe v. Wade to be overturned if done through Dobbs vs Jackson Women’s Health allowing us to protect all babies. We are also supporting the Louisiana Heartbeat Act that mirrors the Texas law that is saving babies right now and stopping the online mail-order sale of chemical abortion pills through our new “Stopping Illegal Sale of Chemical Abortion Act” authored by Senator Sharon Hewitt (R-Slidell). We also have legislation to safeguard a patient’s right to obtain life-sustaining care and legislation to promote transparency in vaccines that are produced with abortion-derived cells.
Review below many of the current bills Louisiana Right to Life is tracking.
Read more: 2022 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
HIGGINS: FIGHTING FOR AMERICAN ENERGY PRODUCTION
In an email sent to constituents today, Congressman Clay Higgins had the following to say regarding rising oil prices and need for domestic oil production.
Domestic energy costs have been steadily increasing since Biden took office in January 2021. This is a direct result of anti-American energy policies coming from the Biden White House. Rising energy and fuel costs are hurting American families. I and many of my colleagues on the House Energy Action Team (HEAT) have called on President Biden to end his war on America's oil and gas industry. We outlined a number of necessary actions including: approving the permit for Keystone XL, lifting the leasing moratorium on federal lands and waters, fast-tracking new LNG permits, and ending the regulatory assault on domestic oil and gas production. Read our letter here.
I also fully support an import ban on Russian energy products. Every purchase of Russian energy product provides financial support for Putin's barbaric war on Ukraine. The U.S. House of Representatives considered legislation this week on the issue. However, it was far too weak. The bill would allow Russian oil and gas imports to continue for another 45 days, and it doesn't include any provisions to support American energy production. We need swift, immediate action to hold Russia accountable and reestablish American energy independence. Read more about the vote here.
LOGA Responds to Biden Administration Ban on Russian Energy Imports
BATON ROUGE, LA (March 8, 2022) - Today, President Joe Biden is expected to ban Russian oil, natural gas and coal imports to the US.
In response, Louisiana Oil & Gas Association President Mike Moncla released the following statement:
“Today’s ban on Russian energy imports is an important step in applying pressure on Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.
It’s clear that the Biden Administration hasn’t had domestic energy’s best interest in mind thus far.
Let’s not forget – the price of oil had doubled and the price of a gallon of gas had tripled before Russia invaded Ukraine’s sovereign borders.
That being said, today’s action is a positive step that Republicans and Democrats alike in Congress made possible.
Fighting against Russian aggression shouldn’t be a partisan issue. This is something that we can all come together on."
Congressman Troy Carter Discusses Mardi Gras on the Floor of the House of Representatives
Congressman Troy Carter of Louisiana brought a taste of South Louisiana and Mardi Gras to the floor of the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
WATCH: LOGA President Mike Moncla on KLFY Discussing the Biden Administration’s Halting of New Oil & Gas Leases
St. Bernard Parish President Guy McInnis Switches to Republican
BATON ROUGE- The Republican Party of Louisiana is proud to announce St. Bernard Parish President Guy McInnis has officially become a Republican.
McInnis has served as St. Bernard Parish President since 2015 as an Independent. After a recent trip to Washington D.C., McInnis returned to Louisiana side by side with Congressman Steve Scalise to announce his switch.
"I've been a conservative my entire life and have voted Republican in every presidential election over the past few decades. However, seeing what's happening to our country has led me to make this move," said McInnis.
LAGOP Chairman Louis Gurvich said, "We are excited to welcome President McInnis to the Republican Party and work together to advance conservative policies for the great people of St. Bernard parish."
###
