Party News

LOUISIANA DEMOCRATIC PARTY’S STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT BIDEN’S FINAL OVAL OFFICE ADDRESS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 16, 2024
CONTACT: ldpcommunications@lademo.org

LOUISIANA DEMOCRATIC PARTY’S STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT BIDEN’S FINAL OVAL OFFICE ADDRESS

Chair Gaines: “Biden has fought for working people and ushered in historic gains for Louisiana… Louisiana Democrats will build on this progress”

BATON ROUGE, LA — Last night, President Joe Biden addressed the American people from the Oval Office for the final time. You can view his full speech here. 

Louisiana Democratic Party Chair Randal Gaines released the following statement:

“For over 50 years, President Joe Biden has served the American people with courage, conviction, and clarity. Louisiana Democrats offer our thanks for his lifetime of service, and a recognition of the remarkable progress achieved for Louisiana under the Biden-Harris administration. 

“From championing historic legislation like the CHIPS and Science Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to guiding our state and the nation out of the health and economic disaster of the coronavirus pandemic — the Biden-Harris administration has fought for working people and ushered in historic gains for Louisiana. Biden built the strongest economy in the world, restored American leadership on the world stage, and brought decency and honor back to the office of the President. 

“Biden’s accomplishments will continue to benefit Americans for years to come, but our work is not done. In 2025 and beyond, Louisiana Democrats will build on this progress on behalf of working Louisianans, while standing up against Donald Trump and his Cabinet of corporate interests.”

Under the Biden-Harris administration, Louisiana saw record investment and job growth. 

• During President Biden’s tenure, Louisiana saw the creation of 116,900 new jobs.

• Under the Biden-Harris administration, Louisianans submitted 324,900 new applications to start a small business. 

• $2.1 billion in student debt cancellation has been approved for 37,730 people in Louisiana under the Biden-Harris Administration. 

• Louisiana received $18.3 billion in private sector manufacturing and clean energy investments under the Biden-Harris administration, including:

• Koura plans to invest a total of $800 million in St. Gabriel in electric vehicle battery materials manufacturing, which will produce enough material to supply more than one million electric vehicles per year. This investment is supported by a $100 million grant from the Department of Energy.

• First Solar is investing $1.1 billion in a new plant to manufacture solar panels, which will create 700 jobs.

• Syrah Technologies has begun producing graphite at its plant in Vidalia, which is designed to supply batteries needed for electric vehicles. This project is supported by grants and loans from the Department of Energy. 

President Biden made health care more accessible for Louisiana and lowered the cost of health care and prescription drugs for the most vulnerable Louisianans. 

• President Biden and Democrats lowered prescription drug prices to $35 per month for more than 928,000 seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries in Louisiana.

• President Biden has overseen record enrollment in the Affordable Care Act marketplace. In December 2024, 212,000 Louisianans signed up during the Affordable Care Act’s Open Enrollment Period. 

• In a major step to secure Louisianns’ financial freedom, this month, the Biden-Harris administration finalized a rule to remove medical debt from the credit reports of millions of Americans. 

The Biden-Harris Administration has made historic investments to improve Louisiana’s

infrastructure and build a clean energy economy, including:

• Port of New Orleans Container Terminal: The Department of Transportation has awarded $300 million to construct a new container terminal on the Gulf Coast for the Port of New Orleans. The terminal will be an alternative to terminals farther inland and will be able to accommodate larger vessels.

• Flood Resiliency Improvements: The state was awarded $148 million to help homeowners and communities improve their resilience to flooding through FEMA’s Flood Mitigation Assistance program. This funding will help elevate 753 homes above floodwaters, buy-out homes in repeated flood zones, and support community-wide projects to decrease flood risk.

• North Baton Rouge Mobility Project: The City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge received $59.6 million for the North Baton Rouge Mobility Project. This includes the Airline Highway North Expansion, improvements to Florida Boulevard, and additional pedestrian and bicycle lanes for the Scotlandville Parkway Mobility Network.

• Louisiana International Terminal Project: The project will construct a new container terminal on the Gulf Coast for the Port of New Orleans that is not air-draft restricted. The project will include approximately 1,700- feet of wharf, two ramps to connect the wharf to the container yard, an automated stacking crane yard, utilities, storm drainage, all necessary buildings for operations, entry and exit gates, intermodal rail yard, realignment of the Norfolk Southern rail and realignment of St Bernard Highway.

• Hubs for Energy Resilient Operations (HERO): The state will receive up to over $249 million from the Department of Energy to launch a strategic initiative with 15 government entities, energy companies, and community and academic institutions to enhance statewide emergency response operations by deploying a network of Community Resilience Hubs powered by distributed energy resources microgrids. These microgrids can stand alone or integrate with utility-owned electric grid infrastructure and back-up generation assets. The project will help solve energy security challenges and protect the residents of Louisiana from climate-related threats.

• The Rural Louisiana Short Line Rail Modernization Initiative: The Department of Transportation has awarded $16.8 million to the Louisiana Southern Railroad LLC for rail infrastructure and safety improvements in the state. The proposed project involves final design and construction activities for various track-related improvements, repairs or replacement of certain bridges and culverts, and grade crossing upgrades. The project will improve the mainline by increasing safety standards on a rail corridor that transports hazmat loads, eliminating operating capacity inefficiencies (e.g., increasing load carrying capacity to 286,000 pounds), and increasing resiliency.

• Calcasieu I-10 River Bridge Replacement: Public-private partnership project includes the replacement of the Calcasieu River Bridge and reconstruction of I-10/I-210 mainline within the project area. The Department of Transportation awarded $150 million in Mega grant funding. The project will relieve a national freight bottleneck and improve regional mobility challenges in the areas surrounding the 70-year-old Calcasieu River Bridge.

• Solar Energy: Louisiana’s Department of Natural Resources has been awarded $156 million in funding to launch a new resilient solar initiative, focused on low-income and disadvantaged communities, to deploy solar, energy storage, and enabling upgrades on single-family and multi-family homes.

• Greenhouse Gas Reduction: The City of New Orleans will receive $49 million in funding from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across multiple sectors. Solutions include improving access to non-vehicle transportation, supporting adoption of energy efficiency measures in large buildings, installing rooftop solar panels, and implementing urban forestry programs.

President Biden strengthened our state and nation’s democratic institutions.

• President Biden oversaw the largest number of confirmations of federal judges in a single term since the Carter administration — including Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. These highly qualified men and women — all committed to the rule of law and the Constitution — will serve the federal Judiciary for decades to come. 

• President Biden signed the Electoral Count Reform Act into law, which establishes clear guidelines for our system of certifying and counting electoral votes for President and Vice President, to preserve the will of the people and to protect against the type of attempts to overturn our elections that led to the January 6 insurrection. 

Thank you, President Joe Biden.

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WITH HOLIDAYS APPROACHING, LOUISIANA FAMILIES LEFT WITH NOTHING BUT COAL IN THEIR STOCKINGS AS REPUBLICANS THREATEN SHUTDOWN AND FAIL TO DELIVER ESSENTIAL FUNDING

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 19, 2024
CONTACT: ldpcommunications@lademo.org

WITH HOLIDAYS APPROACHING, LOUISIANA FAMILIES LEFT WITH NOTHING BUT COAL IN THEIR STOCKINGS AS REPUBLICANS THREATEN SHUTDOWN AND FAIL TO DELIVER ESSENTIAL FUNDING

Chair Gaines: “Democrats will be working to hold our leaders accountable, make progress, and deliver critical funding for our families and workers”

BATON ROUGE, LA — As we get ready for the holidays, Republicans in Washington are planning a disastrous government shutdown that would bring anything but holiday cheer to Louisiana families. 

In June 2023, President Joe Biden and then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy reached a bipartisan deal to suspend the debt ceiling until early 2025, with caps on discretionary spending and a commitment to avoid any shutdown chaos. However, now-Speaker Mike Johnson’s recent introduction of a massive spending bill just days before the congressional holiday break has caused major rifts — effectively pulling out of the previous deal and putting all bipartisan efforts into jeopardy.

The spending bill extends government funding through March 2025 and includes $110 billion for disaster relief, healthcare policy extensions, and a pay raise for Congress. However, Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and other extreme Republicans have publicly eviscerated the bill, and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise declared the bill “dead” yesterday, throwing the debt ceiling crisis back into play.

Louisiana families, regularly reeling from natural disasters, now face the loss of $575 million in federal disaster relief and $258 million in agricultural disaster assistance if the bipartisan deal collapses. These funds are crucial for rebuilding communities, restoring economies, and helping farmers recover from crop losses.

Meanwhile, over 1.5 million Louisianans rely on Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for health coverage. Any cuts to these programs would severely impact one-third of our state’s population, including children, seniors, and veterans.

With this extremist Republican government shutdown looming, Louisiana families are left with nothing but uncertainty about the future and the vital assistance they need to recover.

Louisiana Democratic Party Chair Randal Gaines released the following statement:

“Unfortunately for us, it’s no surprise that Republicans — including Mike Johnson & Steve Scalise, who are supposed to be leading their members — are now turning their backs on Louisiana families and workers. This is the time of the year when our families, farmers, seniors, and children should be spending time visiting with loved ones and enjoying the magic of the holidays, not worrying about critical disaster relief funds and essential healthcare needs. 

“Louisianans deserve leaders who can work together and deliver solutions, instead of more harm to those who are struggling to make ends meet and recover from misfortunes. Here at the Louisiana Democratic Party, we will be working with Rep. Troy Carter, Rep.-Elect Cleo Fields, and national Democrats to hold our leaders accountable, make progress, and deliver critical funding for our families and workers — it’s what we deserve, not just for the holidays, but every day of the year.”

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

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

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

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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LOUISIANA DEMOCRATIC PARTY STATEMENT ON 2024 PRESIDENTIAL RESULTS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 6, 2024
CONTACT: ldpcommunications@lademo.org

LOUISIANA DEMOCRATIC PARTY STATEMENT ON 2024 PRESIDENTIAL RESULTS
“The goals and objectives of the Louisiana Democratic Party are now more vital and important than ever before”

BATON ROUGE, LA — Today, the Louisiana Democratic Party released the following statement:

“Today is a deeply sad, disappointing, and unsettling day for our country and state. Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign and historic candidacy are the best America has ever seen, and we are deeply proud to have stood by her, Tim Walz, and the countless Democrats here in Louisiana and nationwide who believe in everything she stands for. She brought a kind of joy, excitement, and exemplary grace to our political process that inspired and energized so many. 

“Even in times like these, there’s no doubt that Kamala Harris’ vision for a better country will remain with us, and we won’t let those dreams die after the dust settles from this election. The enduring principles and ideals of equity, opportunity, justice, and hope will still serve as our driving force — despite the threats posed by Donald Trump, J.D. Vance, Jeff Landry, Mike Johnson, and the extremists who bow down to their every will. 

“Here in Louisiana, there are some victories to be proud of yesterday, with the re-election of U.S. Rep. Troy Carter in our 2nd Congressional District, as well as the historic election of Cleo Fields in our newly redrawn 6th Congressional District. Louisiana Democrats will need to work extremely closely with them to push back against the dangers Project 2025 and MAGA Republicans will undoubtedly bring upon us, and hopefully, they’ll be able to make substantial progress in a Democratic majority once the remaining U.S. House races are called.

“Make no mistake — the goals and objectives of the Louisiana Democratic Party are now more vital and important than ever before. We still have the power to fight for the needs, rights, and freedoms of those who are underserved and underrepresented. We will persist and persevere in pursuit of these vital goals with resilience and determination. And we’ll need the help of everyone in Louisiana who cares to do so.”

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