Louisiana Politics & News
Louisiana politics from The Daily Signal, covering state legislation, energy policy, disaster response, and the Pelican State’s unique political culture and economic challenges.
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news
Louisiana Congressman Gets COVID-19 for Second Time
Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., said Sunday that he, his wife, and his son all tested positive for COVID-19. “I have COVID, Becca has COVID, my son has COVID,” Higgins wrote on Facebook, adding that he and his wife had already tested positive for the virus early in 2020. “Becca and I have had COVID before, early… -
opinion
In Louisiana, Legislators Fall Short of Saving Women’s Sports
Louisiana legislators fell heartbreakingly short of protecting girls and women in sports on Wednesday. In a 68-to-30 vote, the Louisiana House of Representatives narrowly missed the 70 votes needed to override Democrat Gov. John Bel Edwards’ veto of the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, which would have protected female athletes from being forced to compete… -
opinion
Louisiana Teacher: Why I Spoke Out Against Pushing Gender Ideology
Louisiana high school teacher Jonathan Koeppel spoke out recently against the gender identity ideology being promoted at his school. A video of his remarks at a school board meeting quickly went viral. During the meeting in April, Koeppel played an audio clip for the school board from an education app the school uses, called “BrainPOP,” in… -
news
Texas, Louisiana Can Exclude Planned Parenthood From Medicaid Funding, Court Rules
Texas and Louisiana may exclude Planned Parenthood clinics from Medicaid funding, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Monday. “Undercover video plainly showed Planned Parenthood admitting to morally bankrupt and unlawful conduct, including violations of federal law by manipulating the timing and methods of abortions to obtain fetal tissue for their own research,” Texas… -
news
Louisiana Passes Amendment Saying There Is No Constitutional Right to Abortion
Louisiana voters passed an amendment to the state constitution Tuesday evening establishing that there is no constitutional right to an abortion. The New York Times reported that 62% of Louisiana voters supported Amendment 1, “Love Life Amendment,” an amendment stating that nothing in the Louisiana state constitution protects the right to abortion or abortion funding. Louisiana also has a… -
news
Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Protect Louisiana Abortion Regulations
The Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to protect a contested Louisiana law that requires abortion providers to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. An abortion clinic and two physicians challenging the law, called Act 620, warn that two of Louisiana’s three abortion clinics will close if the regulation takes effect. On Thursday,… -
news
Democratic Louisiana Lawmaker Defends State’s Abortion Ban
Bucking her party’s fervently pro-choice stance on abortion at the national level, a Democratic state lawmaker in Louisiana is hailing that state’s enactment of legislation that would prohibit abortion after detection of a fetal heartbeat. Appearing on “The Story with Martha MacCallum” Monday on the Fox News Channel, Louisiana state Rep. Katrina Jackson said a… -
opinion
How Louisiana Undermined Its Own School Choice Program
“You couldn’t learn. There was so much bullying. Kids are bullying the other kids and they’re bullying you,” said Willie Augustus, who was relentlessly bullied in his public school in Louisiana. His parents unsuccessfully fought with the school board to address the school bullying. Eventually, they applied for and received a voucher for Willie to… -
opinion
Supreme Court Halts Louisiana Abortion Law—for Now
Late Thursday night, the Supreme Court put on hold a Louisiana law that would require abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of their clinic. The Louisiana law was introduced by state Rep. Katrina Jackson, a Democrat, and passed overwhelmingly in the state’s House of Representatives and Senate in 2014… -
news
Court Upholds Louisiana Law Requiring Abortion Doctors to Have Admitting Privileges With Nearby Hospitals
Louisiana upheld a law Wednesday mandating that abortion facilities in the state have admitting privileges at local hospitals. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ruled 2-1 to uphold a law requiring abortion doctors to have privileges with hospitals within 30 miles of the abortion clinic so the doctor might admit a… -
opinion
How Louisiana Stood Up to the Anti-Gun Corporate Elite
The state of Louisiana recently held some members of the corporate social police accountable for discriminating against law-abiding Americans. By a vote of 7-6, the State Bond Commission excluded Citigroup and Bank of America from the running for a lucrative state contract. Our reason for doing so: these corporations had introduced bank policies that restrict… -
opinion
Senate Confirms ‘the Neil Gorsuch of Louisiana’ to High-Ranking Federal Bench
The Senate voted 50-47 on Tuesday to confirm all-star appellate lawyer Kyle Duncan to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Duncan is President Donald Trump’s 15th circuit court nominee to be confirmed since taking office. Dubbed by Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry as “the Neil Gorsuch of Louisiana,” Duncan is currently a lawyer in private… -
opinion
Louisiana Is Leading on Long-Overdue Criminal Justice Reform
Louisiana has joined the growing ranks of states that have embraced comprehensive criminal justice reform. The Pelican State passed a reform package in June 2017 with strong bipartisan support, and will pursue additional reforms over the next year. These reforms are designed to reduce recidivism, improve public safety, and invest in proven re-entry programs while… -
opinion
Louisiana’s Kyle Duncan, Trump’s Superb Choice for the 5th Circuit
A legal powerhouse from Louisiana with a history of championing religious freedom is among President Donald Trump’s outstanding nominees for federal judgeships. Kyle Duncan is one of Trump’s excellent picks for the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals as the president works to reshape the federal courts by announcing slate after slate of his choices to… -
opinion
Louisiana Democrats Purge Thomas Jefferson, the Man Who Acquired Louisiana
The latest in what has become an all too common crusade to wipe great American historical figures from places of honor and memory, the Louisiana Democratic Party has announced that it will change the name of its annual “Jefferson-Jackson” dinner to the bland and unremarkable True Blue Gala. Louisiana Democrats joined many other state parties… -
opinion
I’m From Louisiana. Here’s the Flooding Story the Media Should Cover.
As a south Louisiana native who lived through Hurricane Katrina, I have every right to be aggravated with the national news coverage of the state’s latest natural disaster. Due to massive flooding over the last week, one-third of the state’s parishes (called counties everywhere else) are official federal disaster areas. The population for those parishes… -
news
Louisiana Republicans Move to Punish ‘Sanctuary’ Cities
Louisiana Republicans and the state’s attorney general are aiming to deter cities and localities from having “sanctuary” immigration policies by threatening to withhold funding from those that do. While the designation of a “sanctuary city” is informal, it generally refers to jurisdictions where local officials refuse to fulfill requests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement… -
news
Judge Issues Temporary Restraining Order Preventing Louisiana From Defunding Planned Parenthood
A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order blocking Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal from defunding Planned Parenthood in the state. “Planned Parenthood is engaging in classic misdirection regarding the millions they have repaid in Medicaid fraud and their own admissions in the baby parts trafficking videos,” Mike Reed, Jindal’s communications director, said in a… -
news
‘Planned Parenthood Is Flailing’: Bobby Jindal Fights Back After Louisiana Sued for Terminating Medicaid Contract
Planned Parenthood announced it will sue Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal for terminating its Medicaid contract with the state. “Planned Parenthood is flailing,” said Mike Reed, Jindal’s communications director, in a statement to The Daily Signal. “This lawsuit is without merit and the state will aggressively defend our right to cancel the contract.” The lawsuit is… -
news
The Taxpayer-Funded Louisiana Co-Op Created Under Obamacare Has Collapsed
Just two years after Obamacare’s implementation, a Louisiana nonprofit insurer that received nearly $66 million in taxpayer-funded loans is closing its doors. On Friday, the Louisiana Department of Insurance announced that the state’s consumer operated and oriented plan, or co-op, would be discontinuing its operations at the end of 2015. Louisiana’s is the second co-op…