Only one week has passed since the Louisiana Legislature took the oath of office. In that timeframe, things have unexpectedly seemed to go from bad to worse for “Louisiana First” Conservatives.

This is not the state legislature we were promised.

As noted in my Hayride column last week, the Times-Picayune published a troubling report about LA House Speaker Phillip DeVillier and LA Senate President Cameron Henry. Both Republican Legislators pledged to give committee chairmanships to Democrats–despite Republicans holding a super-majority in both chambers.

Now, some people held out hope that Senator Henry and Rep. DeVillier would do the right thing. “Trust the plan” is what we were told. After all, Louisiana voters delivered a mandate to Louisiana Republicans last fall. With a super-majority in both Legislative houses and every state-wide office, Republican candidates promised voters that BIG CHANGE was coming for Louisiana.

On Friday afternoon, we now learned that Henry and DeVillier followed through on their “promise”. Indeed, Louisiana Democrats made out like bandits when the Louisiana Legislature’s Committee assignments became official.

If you want to look at the full Committee assignments, then feel free to check out the Louisiana State House and Louisiana State Senate websites. I also included a brief summary of the Chair & Vice-Chair selections for both the LA House and Senate. The names highlighted in light blue are Democrat Legislators:

In total, Louisiana Democrats possess two House Committee Chairs, six House Vice-Chairs, three Senate Chairs, and six Senate Vice-Chairs. What an unpleasant outcome for the “Louisiana First” agenda!

At a first glance, you may notice a couple of abysmal decisions. Let’s look at a couple of the worst committee chair picks from a “Louisiana First” perspective:

1. Dem Cleo Fields as Chair of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee–over Conservative Republican Blake Miguez
2. Dem Dustin Miller as Chair of the House Health & Welfare Committee
3. Dem Robby Carter as Chair of the House Judiciary Committee–over Conservative Republican Kathy Edmonston

I don’t see how any of these picks are different than the Schexnayder-Cortez-Edwards “axis of weasels” era from the past four years. Those three selections are a slap-in-the-face to Louisiana conservatives for the landslide victory we delivered to Republican politicians last fall.

Fields will be in charge of the committee redrawing our congressional map, and though he denies it there are clear indications, at least according to insiders at the state capitol, that he’s going to run for the newly-contestable 6th District seat that will become majority-black when the new congressional map is passed.

This being the map…

It must be nice to be Fields. He’s the Republicans’ favorite Democrat, so much so that he’s getting to customize a congressional district to run in. What I can say is he’s a lot more savvy politician than Republican Garret Graves, who’s going to be bounced out of his seat in all likelihood – at least, if this map is what passes. Graves managed to alienate everyone else in the congressional delegation plus Gov. Jeff Landry, who apparently is OK with giving up a Republican congressional seat, and maybe even the GOP’s House majority in Washington, just to stick it to him.

Which wouldn’t be so big a deal except it’s Louisiana’s voters, and particularly conservatives in south-central Louisiana, who are also having it stuck to them.

The situation in the Louisiana House might even be worse. With 72 Republicans in the Louisiana House, why do Democrats have a SINGLE Committee chairmanship? Only 16 Committees exist in the House, and multiple conservative House representatives do not hold any Chair or Vice-Chair positions. Why do Leftist Democrats like Dustin Miller get committee chairs over LA House Freedom Caucus endorsees like Reps. Danny McCormick and Chuck Owen?

Louisiana citizens deserve an explanation from Senate President Cameron Henry and House Speaker Phillip DeVillier. As of this morning, I have not heard any compelling explanations behind this decision-making, but we will see in the coming days if the situation changes.

Here is the harsh reality: Louisiana Republican leadership is betraying us. Our so-called “Conservative-Republican” State legislators took our votes and backstabbed us while we weren’t paying attention on Friday.

Now, I still believe there are plenty of solid conservative Legislators in the State Capitol. However, our state’s legislative leadership is already making some highly concerning moves.

As I stated in last month’s Hayride column “Beware of RINOs Bearing Gifts”, the largest obstacle to Louisiana’s prosperity is not Democrat politicians or the political Left. Instead, Establishment Republicans-in-name-only (RINO) in the executive and legislative branches are the biggest threat to the “Louisiana First” agenda.

“Louisiana First” patriots must hold our Republican Legislative leadership accountable for the disappointing decision-making this past week. Our state cannot afford another wasted four years under the guise of “bipartisanship” in the State Legislature.

At the time of his passing, Julius Caesar’s supposed famous last words were “Et tu, Brutus?” Caesar’s dear friend Brutus knowingly betrayed Caesar in his dying last breaths.

Heading into the 2024 special Legislative session, I have one question for Louisiana’s Republican Legislative leadership: Et tu, Republicans?

 

Nathan Koenig is a frequent contributor to RVIVR.com, a national conservative political site affiliated with The Hayride. Follow his writing on the Louisiana First Standard substack, on Twitter (X) @lafirststandard, and on Instagram @tincanconservative. Email him here: thechristianmajority@gmail.com