Editor’s Note: A guest post from state representative Danny McCormick (R-Shreveport).

I hear from my friends on the left and in the media about the horrors of money in politics (such as the Koch brothers). Perhaps it’s just me, but it seems that dark money in politics is typically only brought up when that money is used to push conservative policy. Is it just not “scary” when liberal billionaires use their money to play puppet masters to line their own pockets while taking away the people’s liberty?

I’ve not been in politics for very long; however, it’s clear that the real power is unseen and green. It’s the money floating in the shadows paying for the army of lobbyists, political contributions, and personal kickbacks we see everywhere government exists. That money doesn’t care about you, and it definitely doesn’t care about making Louisiana a better place to live or raise a family. That money is invested into politics for one reason: to make a return on that investment. Whether it comes from the right or the left, this “Crony Capitalism” is killing our state and country by ensuring our system benefits the few instead of the many.

“Crony Capitalism” is getting so bad that we almost need to ask why we still have a legislature. Here is a prime example. This past session I authored House Bill (HB) 103 to ensure that businesses and individuals could NOT be held liable if they chose NOT to mandate a COVID-19 vaccination on any employee or customer. The manufacturers of those vaccines can’t be held liable, why should you or local businesses be held liable if they refuse to require the vaccine? As HB 103 passed the House and Senate with more than enough votes, the Louisiana Legislature agreed that your body is your private property and you should not be forced to inject something into it.

Despite HB 103 passing a public vetting process and waiting on Governor Edwards’ signature, a “Crony Capitalist” front group has decided to try circumventing the legitimate legislative process by pleading with the Governor to veto it. The Louisiana State Medical Society (LSMS) never dropped a red card in opposition of this legislation in its final form during session. Now, via email, they’ve confirmed that they and other members of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI) were asked to write a veto letter to the Governor. The LSMS didn’t take this position on their own or for the benefit of Louisiana. They were asked by their out-of-state billionaire donors to oppose HB 103 because it would give the same protections to you that Congress gave to vaccine manufacturers.

So, who are the major contributors to the GAVI Vaccine Alliance? If you guessed that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Health Organization, and the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers were on the list; you’d be correct. GAVI’s website brags that the Gates Foundation alone has given $4.1 billion to-date. Both of those donors, among others, have financial interests in ensuring as many people are vaccinated as possible as they all make money from each vaccination. They’re using their money to corrupt our political process and trample our individual rights to force the use of their product. Instead of being transparent, these puppet masters are hiding behind traditionally well-intentioned organizations such as the Louisiana State Medical Society.

To make matters worse, this move by LSMS is not only intended to open businesses up to lawsuits but also ensure the government stops the free-market from working. What the mainstream media and big government aren’t telling you is that a large portion of the medical community does NOT want to take a COVID vaccine. Another position that the LSMS is taking to convince the Governor’s staff to veto HB 103 is that some hospital systems and businesses may force employees to be vaccinated while others do not. Their fear is that those hospital systems and businesses who enact a vaccine mandate could suddenly find themselves understaffed because those employees will find jobs elsewhere. Unless Louisiana has suddenly been annexed by communist China or Russia, I think it is safe to assume that a large majority of Americans disagree with the LSMS and don’t want the government to force a business to vaccinate their employees or customers.

America has prospered because we let the free market – the PEOPLE – decide what works and what doesn’t work. Now, if we let billionaires buy legislation to curtail the free market, it will ultimately be at the great expense of the hardworking people who are just trying to make it through the day. Louisiana deserves and we must expect better from those elected to office. If you want to stand against the out-of-state billionaires who are seeking to buy politicians, then demand that Governor Edwards sign House Bill 103 into law. Demand that you get the same protections as the billionaires who are trying to buy your government.