Tea Party Of Louisiana Making Threats As Redistricting Battle Begins
The congressional redistricting tug-of-war has begun. Louisiana’s seven U.S. representatives, the chairmen of the two legislative committees that will begin the process of redrawing election lines and everyone else with a stake in the outcome is offering advice.
The Tea Party of Louisiana joined the parade this week with its usual swagger, threatening anyone who doesn’t agree with its decision.
“While some in our congressional delegation are fighting for selfpreservation and personal interests, the Tea Party of Louisiana has decided to remind the delegation that it is WE THE PEOPLE in charge and that we demand to be represented according to our values, culture and economy,” said a party spokesman.
“… Our members are closely watching how our elected officials vote on this issue, and there will be consequences if they do not follow our position.”
Unfortunately, there are some in the tea party who give no quarter. It’s their way or the highway, and they don’t mind playing the part of the bully in the room.
A local tea party group loves to parade around with its big trailer painted with all sorts of threats to those who don’t agree with its stands on issues. And a tiny segment of the party is downright rude at public meetings.
None of that is a good way to win friends and influence people. It does real harm to those in the tea party movement who are serious about wanting to see change at all levels of government.
What’s the real goal?
What the Tea Party of Louisiana wants is a coastal congressional district stretching all the way from Cameron to Plaquemines Parish. And what its spokesmen don’t say is that would go a long way towards helping the party reelect its favorite son, U.S. Rep. Jeff Landry, R-New Iberia.
Louisiana is losing one of its seven congressional districts. Six of the state’s House members have come up with a preliminary plan that redraws the remaining six districts.
The congressional plan has two coastal districts and keeps Lake Charles and Lafayette in one of those. U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, benefits under that plan, but Landry doesn’t.
The big question under any plan is who ends up running against whom in 2012, because one congressman has to go.
Phillip Joffrion, Landry’s chief of staff, told The Independent Weekly, “At no point in time did this delegation ever vote or come to a consensus on a set of principles or a redistricting map.”
Joffrion told The Times-Picayune of New Orleans, “Congressman Landry is not agreeing to anything that was decided before he was sworn in and that does not reflect the wishes of the people he represents.”
In this game of political survival that is played every 10 years, Landry’s views are understandable. Like Boustany and all the rest, he wants to return to Washington.
The six congressmen who put their plan together do have an important ally. He is state Sen. Bob Kostelka, R-Monroe, who happens to chair the Senate committee that will get first crack at the redistricting plans for Congress and other political bodies.
“From the beginning I was interested in keeping two northern Louisiana districts, especially in northeastern Louisiana,” Kostelka told The News-Star of Monroe. “I feel very comfortable with the basic principles of recommendations, but there will obviously be some adjustments once we analyze the numbers.”
State Rep. Rick Gallot, D-Ruston, is the other kingpin in this redrawing of election lines. He chairs the House committee that will construct reapportionment plans to be sent to the full House.
Gallot makes it clear who is in charge.
“I appreciate that they’re (congressmen) engaged, but it’s our job to draw the districts, not theirs. No decision has been made by this chairman. I’ll reserve my opinion on the merits of their recommendations until I see all the data.”
The congressional plan does serve this area well. However, a better plan for all concerned would be to create one district for all of north Louisiana. It would include both Shreveport and Monroe.
Kostelka doesn’t like that idea, but it is the only logical solution based on population trends. And Shreveport and Monroe have a lot more in common than Lake Charles has with either of those two cities or Alexandria.
Cities are linked
Boustany makes convincing arguments for keeping Lake Charles and Lafayette together. Although both have been long-time competitors, they realize that working together they can be a more potent force for Southwest Louisiana and Acadiana.
Lake Charles has only elected two congressmen since the 7th District was created in 1903. It doesn’t have the population numbers equal to those in the Acadiana region, but Boustany has represented the western end of his district better than most who preceded him.
An argument can also be made that Boustany is good for all of Louisiana. He has built up seniority and has political stroke with the new House leadership. Better still, he has a great grasp of the vital issues facing this country.
When some in the tea party talk about “WE THE PEOPLE” with their big, bold capital letters, they forget one important fact. The rest of us are part of those same “we the people.” We can make up our own minds, and we aren’t intimidated by their threats of retribution.
Jim Beam, the retired editor of the Lake Charles American Press, where this piece originally appeared, has covered people and politics for more than five decades. Contact him at 494-4025 or jbeam@americanpress. com.
Mr Beam, the days of the voter sitting down and being polite have gotten the voter to where he is today. Many politicians believe that now that they are in office, they can do what they please. This is an illustration of the old saying, “The squeaky wheel gets the oil.” Don’t speak up, don’t assert yourself, you won’t be listened to. My husband is retired Sen Malone. I happen to know whereof I speak.
Betsy Malone
obviously you misunderstand the tea party, they are a group of enlightened outspoken “we the people” who are entitled to freedom of speech. Just because they choose to educate themselves on issues and defend their rights which are being” threatened” everyday does not mean they are sending threats of retribution. You may want to present it that way because they are exposing the threat of your hidden agendas for redistricting plans that suit the politicians and not the people. I question whether you have accurately quoted them in the statement “there will be consequences if they do not follow our position”.
I THINK AIIDBTR SAID IT ALL!!!!!
Question no more – this is the TPOL’s statement, in full…
Baton Rouge, LA – Today, the Tea Party of Louisiana has voted to endorse two
guiding principles for Congressional re-districting: one single coastal
district and two vertical north Louisiana districts.
“The Tea Party of Louisiana has worked hard to elect strong conservative
candidates committed to reducing the deficit, cutting spending, and
resisting tax increases,” said Tea Party of Louisiana Spokesman Bob Reid.
“This year, we must continue our mission by standing up for the best
interests of Louisiana, her people, and our Constitution by making sure our
voices are heard with adequate Congressional representation.”
Reid continued, “While some in our Congressional Delegation are fighting for
self-preservation and personal interests, the Tea Party of Louisiana has
decided to remind the Delegation that it is WE THE PEOPLE in charge and that
we demand to be represented according to our values, culture, and economy.
After carefully examining the re-districting possibilities, we have
determined that two main principles should be considered while the
Legislature embarks on this process:
First, the entire Louisiana coast deserves a strong voice in Washington that
is dedicated to fighting for its people. Our coast and its people have
endured Hurricanes Goustav, Ike, Katrina, and Rita and are currently still
recovering from the BP oil spill; yet they remain resilient. With little to
no help from the federal government, they work hard to protect themselves
from hurricanes and floods and even tax themselves to receive the protection
they deserve.
For far too long, our coast and its people have had multiple Congressmen
‘representing the coast’ with their district’s population centers fixated in
northern metropolitan areas. Obviously, this has put the bigger cities’
interests first and has failed to give the people of coastal Louisiana a
committed voice in Washington. From commercial fishing to sugar farming to
oil and gas drilling that powers our nation, coastal Louisiana’s shared
economies must have strong, dedicated representation.
Second, North Louisiana deserves two districts that accurately represent the
economic differences of its regions. The western region is blessed with
natural gas shale that produces domestic energy and provides the region with
a sound economy. Furthermore, the western region is home to two military
bases that ought to remain in the same district. Conversely, the northeast
region is abundant in agriculture and requires a single voice in Congress
that will fight for our farmers. Again, Shreveport and Alexandria/Monroe do
not share the same economic engines; and they must not share a Congressman.”
Reid emphatically concluded, “The Tea Party of Louisiana takes a firm
position on establishing one single coastal district and two vertical north
Louisiana districts in the Congressional re-districting process. Our members
are closely watching how our elected officials vote on this issue, and there
will be consequences if they do not follow our position.”
Have they bothered to ask Cameron & Vermillion Parishes where they want to be? Does TPoL want to even know?
While TPoL’s support does make some sense, is it the only valid side of the discussion?
TPoL was quite supportive of Landry in the primary and runoff and general elections so they can be considered to be biased towards a new district to keep in (and their political “clout”) which could favor Landry. There was a lot of support of one of the primary candidates from individual Tea Party Movement activists. He lost in the primary.
I don’t know about Vermillion, but Cameron is closely tied economically and neighborly with Lake Charles and Calcasieu Parish.
I am also a tea party member and TPol does NOT speak for everyone in it. A majority of members do NOT agree with their “redistricting plan” and will not support it. The tea party won’t work as a rigid collective as all members rarely agree with everything.
Jim Beam is making a valid point in that Tea Party of Louisiana is not the “Tea Party Movement” but only a single group which at least of few of its members have pitched it as being something it is not to political candidates.
Lots of rah rahs just doesn’t cut the mustard.
The question remains whether or not TPoL has actually spoken, or attempted to, with those who are legally overseeing the redistricting process to legitimately propose congressional redistricting? OR Is this just a publicity stunt?
The statement “A local tea party group loves to parade around with its big trailer painted with all sorts of threats to those who don’t agree with its stands on issues. ” is aimed at the Southwest Louisiana Tea Party (http://www.SWLATeaParty.com)
Here is a link to the threatening “big trailer” mentioned in the article.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs319.ash2/59940_436847806372_650886372_5611835_1897807_n.jpg
Steve Farber
Board Member
Southwest Louisiana Tea Party
FYI – The “Tea Party of Louisiana” is in no way affiliated with the SWLA Tea Party and despite their name, they do not speak for the majority of Tea Party’s across Louisiana.
WOW! That’s the most threatening statement I’ve ever seen in my life. Maybe Mr. Beam should call the police and report it.
Nice of the organization to clarify, but what they ask for is impossible. The numbers simply will not support both concepts. If you have a NW and NE district, unless you are willing to split Baton Rouge among three districts and put Lake Charles into the NW district, you just can’t draw a district that spans the entire coast given the numbers. BR’s not going to be split and LC is better placed with Lafayette. Look for St. Bernard and Plaquemines at the very least be part of the New Orleans-based district, and maybe more.
There have been indications that TPoL is joined at the hip with Landry.
Putting all of coastal LA in 1 district is just plain dumb if you are trying to raise money to restore the coast.
2012, the year the people of louisiana made a real difference, they voted out all incumbents.