Posts Tagged ‘Louisiana’
Another Dem State Senator Jumps the Obama Ship
Last Updated on Wednesday, 23 March 2011 01:32 Written by rslcpol Tuesday, 22 March 2011 01:35
The Associated Press in Louisiana is reporting that State Sen. Norby Chabert is finished with what he called an "out of touch" Obama Administration and national party making him at least the 25th state legislative Democrat to join the Republican Party since Election Day.
From the AP:
The member of a longtime Democratic political family, [Sen. Norby] Chabert holds the Senate seat once held by his father Leonard and brother Marty. He’s the fourth Democrat in the Senate to switch parties in the last five months, as the fall elections near and the state continues a trend to the right.
Chabert said the national Democratic Party and President Barack Obama are out of step with Louisiana businesses, residents and philosophies. He cited the Obama administration’s response to the Gulf oil spill and the now-lifted moratorium on deepwater drilling among his reasons. He had supported Obama for president.
"… I see an administration and a national party clearly out of touch," Chabert said in a statement.
Tags: Louisiana | Posted under State Legislature News | No Comments
RSLC: Republicans Take Control of Louisiana Senate With Special Election Victory
Last Updated on Tuesday, 22 February 2011 12:45 Written by rslcpol Tuesday, 22 February 2011 12:45
This weekend saw more Republican momentum. Check out the Republican State Leadership Committee’s statement on the special election victory:
Alexandria, Va. (February 20, 2011) – Republican momentum shows no signs of stopping, particularly on the state legislative level, as the party has now taken control of the Louisiana State Senate following a special election victory by Rep. Jonathan Perry to fill the vacant seat of Democrat Sen. Nick Gautreaux. The win marks the 14th special election victory for Republicans since Election Day 2010 and the 22nd legislative chamber to move into Republican control.
“Jonathan Perry ran an exemplary campaign and his message of fighting for smaller government and creating good jobs and a stronger economy for Louisiana families clearly resonated with voters. The RSLC was proud to support his candidacy and we congratulate him on his victory,” said RSLC Chairman Ed Gillespie.
The Louisiana Senate is currently split with 19 Republicans and 19 Democrats in the 39-member chamber. Perry’s election gives Republicans the majority, the first time Republicans have had majorities in both the House and Senate since Reconstruction. Heading into redistricting, Republicans now hold majorities in both legislative chambers in 26 states, up from 14 states before the 2010 elections.
“As legislators redraw the Louisiana maps, the new Republican majorities ensure Republicans are well-represented at the table,” Gillespie said. “And with the recent party switch of Attorney General Buddy Caldwell, it is clear Republicans have momentum on their side as we head into the 2011 Louisiana elections.”
Despite putting more than $200,000 into his own campaign, Democrat Nathan Granger was unable hold the seat for his party.
Tags: Louisiana | Posted under Blog | No Comments
Republicans Now Have Majority in the LA House
Last Updated on Saturday, 18 December 2010 11:43 Written by rslcpol Saturday, 18 December 2010 11:42
Another lawmaker leaves the Democrats! For the first time since Reconstruction, Republicans have the majority in the Louisiana House.
From thenewsstar.com:
State Rep. Noble Ellington of Winnsboro has given the Republican Party its first majority in the Louisiana House of Representatives since post-Civil War Reconstruction after leaving the Democratic Party late Friday afternoon.
Ellington’s switch gives the Republicans a 53-52 edge in the House. Democrats still control the state Senate with 20 seats compared to 18 for Republicans.
“It’s historically significant, but the truth is I’ve been a conservative for my entire career, so it won’t affect the way I vote,” said Ellington, who represents District 20.
Tags: Louisiana | Posted under State Legislature News | No Comments
Republican Sworn in as Lt. Governor
Last Updated on Tuesday, 23 November 2010 02:35 Written by rslcpol Tuesday, 23 November 2010 02:35
Republican Jay Dardenne was sworn in and immediately saved the state $130,000.
From Nola.com:
Dardenne, the outgoing secretary of state who won a special Nov. 2 election to fill the 14 months remaining in the lieutenant governor’s term, told a standing-room-only audience at the Old State Capitol that he will not fill the position now and probably will not for the rest of the term.
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9 CommentsHe said the move will save the $130,000 annual salary that now goes to agency Secretary Pam Breaux. Breaux returns to her old job as head of the department’s Office of Cultural Development at a lower salary.
“I am not going to eliminate the position, I am just not going to fill it,” Dardenne told reporters after his brief inauguration ceremonies.
Tags: Louisiana | Posted under Lieutenant Governor News | No Comments
LA: An Historic Election for Lt. Governor
Last Updated on Friday, 15 October 2010 03:46 Written by rslcpol Wednesday, 13 October 2010 12:46
From nola.com:
The Nov. 2 election will mark the first time in Louisiana that a vacancy for lieutenant governor will be filled by a vote of the people. The last time the job came open, when Earl Long succeeded prison-bound ex-Gov. Richard Leche in 1939, under the old Constitution the president pro tempore of the state Senate moved into the No. 2 office.
Yet the historic nature of the election was insufficient to draw more than 22 percent of registered voters to the polls for the Oct. 2 primary when –another first — the office topped the statewide ballot.
Tags: Louisiana | Posted under Lieutenant Governor News | No Comments
LA: 5 Republicans and 3 Democrats running to be Lt. Governor
Last Updated on Wednesday, 29 September 2010 10:41 Written by rslcpol Wednesday, 15 September 2010 01:39
From Nola.com:
Early voting begins Saturday and runs through Sept. 25 — the sites are closed Sunday — but political pundits say turnout is expected to be low.
If no candidate gets more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two vote-getters will meet in a Nov. 2 runoff to fill the 14 months left in the term of former Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu, a Democrat, who resigned after being sworn in as mayor of New Orleans in May. Since then, Scott Angelle, a Democrat and Gov. Bobby Jindal’s chief legislative liaison, has filled the job on an interim basis but was barred by Jindal — who named him — from running for it.
Jindal aides said the governor is not backing a candidate in the Oct. 2 primary.
Tags: Louisiana | Posted under Lieutenant Governor News | No Comments
LA: Secretary of State Leads in Lt. Governor Fundraising
Last Updated on Wednesday, 29 September 2010 12:06 Written by rslcpol Wednesday, 7 July 2010 09:50
From nola.com:
Secretary of State Jay Dardenne has raised more than $430,000 for his campaign for lieutenant governor in recent weeks and has almost $803,000 on hand to spend on the Oct. 2 primary, finance records filed Tuesday showed.
The totals put Dardenne in the early money-raising lead in the announced Republican field that includes St. Tammany Parish President Kevin Davis of Slidell, musician Sammy Kershaw of Lafayette and state GOP Chairman Roger Villere, a Metairie florist
Democratic Party officials said they intend to have a strong candidate in the race, which officially begins with qualifying today through Friday. The seat became vacant when Mitch Landrieu stepped down to become mayor of New Orleans in May.
Tags: Louisiana | Posted under Lieutenant Governor News, Secretaries of State | No Comments
LA: State Rep Leaves Democratic Party, Joins Republicans
Last Updated on Wednesday, 29 September 2010 12:15 Written by rslcpol Thursday, 1 July 2010 12:49
From Nola.com:
Her change of party means that at least for the next few weeks, the balance in the 105-member House will be split evenly among Democrats and Republicans: 51 in each party. There are three independents.
On Aug. 1, Rep. Wayne Waddell, R-Shreveport, will leave the House after 12 years, giving the Democrats a one-seat advantage. House Speaker Jim Tucker, R-Algiers, has not called the election for the conservative Shreveport district to pick Waddell’s replacement.
House officials have indicated the election would piggyback one of the three elections this fall. Waddell submitted his letter of resignation Monday to Tucker, saying that he will be leaving to become director of the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum in Shreveport Aug. 2.
Tags: Louisiana | Posted under State Legislature News | No Comments
Louisiana Legislature Passes Law against ObamaCare
Last Updated on Wednesday, 29 September 2010 12:22 Written by rslcpol Monday, 28 June 2010 01:22
From Examiner.com:
Louisiana has become the first state with a Democrat-controlled legislature to pass the Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act, which bans the federal health insurance mandate at the center of Obama’s illegal government health care takeover.
In total, 42 states have now at least introduced or announced the legislation.
The Health Task Force Director for the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), Christie Herrera:
Tags: Louisiana | Posted under State Legislature News | No Comments
Cuts could be in store for Louisiana
Last Updated on Wednesday, 29 September 2010 12:23 Written by rslcpol Friday, 25 June 2010 12:50
From DailyComet.com:
Joel Chaisson II, D-Destrehan, spoke to a group of Lafourche business leaders during the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce’s monthly meeting Thursday.
The looming projected budget shortfall of $1 billion to $2 billion for 2011 could lead to massive cuts at Nicholls State University and other state four-year institutions, Chaisson said. It could also have negative repercussions for the state’s health-care industry, Chaisson warned. Cooperation between lawmakers will be crucial in next year’s legislative session, he said.
“When I come back next year, I hope I’m not giving a speech that because we didn’t have action by the conservative House leadership we had no choice but to slash and burn,” Chaisson said. “That’s going to be a sad day for Nicholls and other institutions.”
Tags: Louisiana | Posted under State Legislature News | No Comments