Author: admin

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 14, 2025
CONTACT: ldpcommunications@lademo.org

LOUISIANA DEMOCRATIC PARTY’S STATEMENT – A COMMITMENT TO KEEP

BATON ROUGE, LA — The Louisiana Democratic Party is aggressively engaging in efforts to transform our newly revitalized party into a party that fights for the rights and beneficial interest of all Louisiana citizens. In this era of challenging political circumstances, our collective voices and unified efforts must be directed toward any political or systemic effort that seeks to obstruct and or diminish the fundamental rights and personal choices of the citizens who we have been given the privilege and opportunity to represent. 

To combat these divisive and oppressive actions, we commit to advancing policies that promote economic justice, healthcare access, environmental sustainability, and social equity. We reject the Republicans’ reprehensible use of government power to fracture our communities and instead commit to fostering a more just and inclusive society that uplifts the voices and experiences of the most vulnerable among us. We believe that through collaboration, compassion, and unwavering resolve, we can create a more equitable future and ensure that every voice is heard and valued. 

The Louisiana Democratic Party remains dedicated to empowering individuals and families striving for a better life and amplifying the voices of those silenced by a lack of opportunity and hope.

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A Democratic Call to Action

Trump and his republican enablers have damaged the moral fiber of this country. Many
Americans who voted for Trump are facing the dire consequences of unheeded vividly clear
warnings of what would result from electing an individual grossly unqualified and unfit for the
Presidency.  We are witnessing an unprecedented power grab, and we are approaching an era
of Democracy under siege. Trump has unleashed a wave of reckless, disruptive, extremely
damaging decisions and actions with the intent of removing the long-standing institutionalized
guard rails of our vital governmental institutions in order to denigrate this great nation into a
personalized political authoritarian regime.   
    
He has indiscriminately fired thousands of highly qualified tenured federal employees with the
intent of replacing them with unqualified political cronies.  All under the disguise of reducing the
size of government.  Under this current Republican regime, truth, honesty and accurate facts
are viewed merely from a political perspective as opposed to laudable concepts that should
govern all political and governmental actions and endeavors.  
   
These misguided attempts to dismantle the core values of our state and nation in pursuit of
unrestricted and uncontrolled political power must be met with stern opposition and our
unwavering commitment to ensure that the interest and well-being of our citizens must remain at
the top of our state and nation’s agenda. It’s our charge as Democratic leaders to stand against
the obsessive quest for unbridled power by mal-intended individuals or small groups of
individuals.
 
We are urging every Democratic voter in Louisiana and across this nation to use the power of
their VOTE in the upcoming mid-term elections to enable our Democratic leadership in
Washington to regain the Democratic majority in Congress in order to help stop the onslaught of
abusive and disruptive acts of the Trump administration.
 
Randal L. Gaines
Chairman, Louisiana Democratic Party

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 12, 2024
CONTACT: communications@lademo.org

LOUISIANA DEMOCRATS APPLAUD FEDERAL JUDGE DECISION RULING EXTREME REPUBLICANS’ TEN COMMANDMENTS LAW UNCONSTITUTIONAL

Chair Gaines: “This is something our government has no place in doing… we have separation of church and state for a reason”

BATON ROUGE, LA — Today, a federal judge ruled that Louisiana’s new law mandating public schools to display the Ten Commandments is unconstitutional and cannot be enforced. 

The decision, issued by U.S. District Court Judge John deGravelles in the Middle District of Louisiana, means that public K-12 schools and colleges are not required to display the religious text in every classroom by the January 1 deadline set by the law. The ruling blocks enforcement of the law, HB 71, and instructs state officials to notify schools that the law is unconstitutional.

Louisiana was on track to become the first state in over 40 years to require public schools to display the Ten Commandments, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1980 ruling against a similar law in Kentucky. The law, signed by Republican Governor Jeff Landry in June, mandates that every classroom display the Ten Commandments on posters with specific wording and size requirements. 

The law has sparked significant national debate, with many arguing that it violates the separation of church and state, religious freedom protections, and students’ First Amendment rights.

In today’s ruling, Judge deGravelles ruled that the law is coercive, effectively forcing students to be exposed to religious messages in every classroom. He also pointed to statements by Governor Landry and the bill’s sponsor, Republican Rep. Dodie Horton, which revealed the law’s primary religious intent, dismissing claims of a secular purpose as insincere.

Louisiana Republican Attorney General Liz Murrill promised to appeal the ruling.

Randal Gaines, Chair of the Louisiana Democratic Party, released the following statement:

“Louisiana Democrats strongly agree with Judge deGravelles’ decision today, and I applaud his fortitude to stand up for the constitutional rights of all Louisianans. It is only right for personal beliefs, including those shaped by religion, to not impose restrictions on the rights of others. 

“Since Day One of discussion on this law, the dangerous duo of Jeff Landry and Liz Murrill have made it clear that they want to impose their religious beliefs on every Louisianan. They do not care for anyone who believes differently from them, and regardless, this is something our government has no place in doing. We have separation of church and state for a reason, and everyone’s First Amendment rights should be protected and respected, regardless of their age or personal faith. 

“Individuals should be able to hold their own religious views while also respecting and supporting others, especially our state’s impressionable children. Louisiana’s people aren’t forcing our Governor and Attorney General to compromise their faith. We respect their personal spiritual beliefs, and they should do the same for all of us. It’s basic human decency.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 26, 2024
CONTACT: ldpcommunications@lademo.org or commsdirector@ydlouisiana.org

GOVERNOR LANDRY DOUBLES DOWN ON CENSORSHIP, THREATENS LSU PROFESSOR FOR ENCOURAGING CRITICAL THINKING

Louisiana deserves leaders who protect, not persecute, academic freedom

BATON ROUGE, LA — Governor Jeff Landry, a self-proclaimed champion of free speech, is once again showing his true colors by attacking LSU Law Professor Nicholas Bryner for remarks that encouraged students to reflect on their personal accountability and political values. This blatant effort to intimidate an educator is not just an attack on academic freedom — it’s a troubling display of political censorship.

Professor Bryner’s statement — urging students to ensure their behaviors align with the policies they support — was far from controversial. It was a call to integrity, encouraging students to think critically and act responsibly. Yet, Landry chose to politicize the classroom, falsely framing the professor’s remarks as an attack on Trump voters.

“The so-called ‘party of free speech’ seems intent on silencing voices in our classrooms when those voices don’t align with their agenda,” said YDL President Jay Braxton. “This isn’t about protecting students or fostering dialogue — it’s about shutting down educators who dare to challenge the status quo.”

Landry’s recent actions are part of a larger pattern of authoritarian overreach, where political leaders attempt to control the narrative by targeting teachers, professors, and other educators. This undermines the principles of free speech and academic independence that are vital to our democracy.

“Louisiana deserves leaders who protect — not persecute — academic freedom,” said Louisiana Democratic Party Chair Randal Gaines. “Unfortunately, Landry’s actions come at no surprise considering his other recent acts of political encroachment. He is not respecting the personal views of those whose opinions and perspectives are different from his, and he is improperly using his elected position to push his own personal agenda in our publicly-funded schools and spaces. We have to fight back.”

The Louisiana Democratic Party and the Young Democrats of Louisiana stand with Professor Bryner and all educators who dedicate their lives to fostering critical thinking and open dialogue. We call on Louisianans to reject these attacks on education and stand firm in support of free expression and the rights of teachers and students alike.

The Young Democrats of Louisiana is an organization dedicated to engaging and empowering young people in Louisiana to participate in the political process. Their mission is to advocate for progressive values and to work toward a better future for all residents of our state. They are available for interviews to further discuss this issue. To schedule an interview, please contact Lauren Loisel, Communications Director, at commsdirector@ydlouisiana.org or (251) 644-1419.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 27, 2024
CONTACT: ldpcommunications@lademo.org

THIS THANKSGIVING, LOUISIANA DEMOCRATS SEE NOTHING TO BE THANKFUL FOR IN GOVERNOR LANDRY’S TERRIBLE TAX OVERHAUL

“Jeffreynomics” will hurt working families, benefit the wealthy and large corporations

BATON ROUGE, LA — This Thanksgiving, Louisiana Democrats across our state are finding absolutely nothing to be thankful for with Governor Jeff Landry’s new tax plan. 

Simply put, this recent tax overhaul will disproportionately burden working families while providing significant tax cuts for corporations and the wealthiest Louisianans. Landry’s plan would cost the state billions over the next five years, forcing Louisiana to rely more on regressive taxes that disproportionately affect both middle and low-income families. Additionally, by cutting taxes for corporations, Landry and lawmakers are ensuring that those with the greatest means to contribute pay less — while everyday Louisianans shoulder the financial burden.

Key elements of #Jeffreynomics include:

• Sales Tax Increase: A last-minute decision to raise the state sales tax from 4.45% to 5%, with the potential to push total taxes over 10% when local parish taxes are included. This hike disproportionately impacts poor and middle-class Louisianans.
• Regressive Tax Shift: By replacing the state’s graduated income tax system with a flat 3% rate, the plan fails to create a fairer tax system. While the new standard deduction increases, it still places a heavier burden on low-income residents through higher sales taxes.
• Corporate Tax Breaks: The elimination of the corporate franchise tax and reduction of corporate income tax rates to 5.5% will deprive the state of critical revenue. Large corporations, including out-of-state businesses and shareholders, will benefit, while local communities lose funding for schools, healthcare, and infrastructure.
• Impact on Savings: Louisiana will put less money into reserves, weakening its financial stability. The lost revenue from the corporate franchise tax will not be replaced by any new streams of income, endangering future budget flexibility and lead to huge deficits and devastating cuts.
• Taxing Digital Goods: A new sales tax on services like Netflix, UberEats, ticket sales, travel, laundry, mail, property repair, and many other personal and professional services will increase costs for everyday Louisianans and put a new burden directly on small businesses. See the entire list here. Local governments also retain the option to tax prescription drugs. 
• Business Tax Credits: While some business tax breaks are eliminated, including the Quality Jobs program and Enterprise Zone credits, others—such as those for movie production, historic preservation, and digital companies—will remain intact, though capped at lower levels.

The tax overhaul has passed the Louisiana Legislature, but many elements will not take effect until voters weigh in on a proposed constitutional amendment in March 2025. 

Louisiana Democratic Party Chair Randal Gaines released the following statement:

“Jeff Landry clearly isn’t in a giving mood this holiday season. The Louisiana Democratic Party strongly opposes the recent tax overhaul pushed by our governor and the far-right special interests, which will disproportionately hurt working families while benefiting the wealthy and large corporations. 

“We disagree with the Democrats who gave into Landry’s damaging plan, and we expect more from them in the future when it comes to protecting our children’s education, our healthcare system, and our working families. We cannot allow a tax plan that primarily benefits the rich and large corporations at the expense of these other critical factors. This is a backward approach that will make Louisiana less competitive and less capable of meeting the needs of its people.

“The Louisiana Democratic Party calls for a fairer, more equitable tax structure that ensures adequate funding for essential services like education, healthcare, and transportation while protecting the economic wellbeing of all Louisianans — and we hope voters will agree when voting on the constitutional amendments surrounding these terrible tax plans in March of next year.”

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