As sure as the sun rises out of the east, the Democrats in the Louisiana Legislature have filed legislation to restrict charter schools. This year, they have plenty of offerings considering that a shill for failed schools sits in the Governor’s Mansion.

Here’s what we’re being treated to this year.

• HB 98 by State Rep. Pat Smith (D-Baton Rouge) restricts the ability to create new charter schools. SB 260 is the Senate version and it’s being carried by State Sen. Dan Morrish (R-Jennings).
• HB 167 by Smith forbids new charters if the state in any fiscal year the state reduces MFP funding.
• HB 168 by Smith requires that teachers for charter schools have the exact same qualifications as teachers for public schools. This will deprive charter schools of talent who don’t go through the traditional education route.
• HB 502 by Smith requires that BESE conduct a “fiscal impact study” before authorizing a new charter school.
• HB 879 by State Rep. Joseph Bouie (D-New Orleans) forbids for-profit operators of charter schools. Because profit is bad or something.

As we’ve already seen, some of the RINOs in the Senate are joining in the Democrat war on charters.

• SB 147 by State Sen. and trial lawyer Ryan Gatti (R-Bossier City) requires charter schools to make contributions to the public school teachers retirement fund out of their MFP funding. This is despite the fact charter school teachers are not public school employees.
• SB 149 by Gatti whacks the funding in half for virtual charter schools.
• SB 198 by Gatti bans charter schools in “high performing” public school districts. John Bel Edwards carried this bill last year in the House.

Now that the teachers’ unions control the Governor’s Mansion and the State Senate, they’re doing what they can to eliminate their competition. This is despite the fact that Louisiana’s education system has been improving over the past decade.

Elections have consequences.