Yesterday, Rep. Denise Marcelle shocked Louisiana residents with a profanity-laced “hot mic” moment in the LA House municipal, parochial and cultural affairs committee. This particular House committee heard a common-sense piece of legislation from Rep. Dickerson’s (HB 777). Essentially, Dickerson’s bill would prohibit the use of state funds going toward the infamously radical, far-left American Library Association (ALA).

During the discussion on HB 777, establishment Republicans and Democrats were looking to involuntarily defer Dickerson’s bill–effectively preventing the bill from having any chance at passing this session. However, what came next was absolutely stunning.

During this public meeting, Rep. Denise Marcelle accidentally left her microphone on while committee members started talking among themselves. For about a minute, Rep. Marcelle started a profanity-laced rant about the bill—to the complete insult of HB 777’s advocates.

Here is the video clip and transcript of Rep. Marcelle’s atrocious “hot mic” moment:

“If y’all just shut the f*ck up. F*ck. I’m killing this b*tch, and I’m not letting her put no voluntary motion on it. No, involuntary or they’re going to bring this b*tch back.”

Of course, this indefensible gaffe went fairly viral on X. The Louisiana Freedom Caucus, the LAGOP, and many Louisiana residents voiced their frustration online with the Legislature and Marcelle for her crudeness.

This is not leadership. We expect better from the individuals that we elect to represent US. https://t.co/JPKYuvsxaC

— Republican Party of Louisiana (@LAGOP) May 1, 2024

LA Rep Denise Marcelle (D) caught on hot mic cursing out and threatening others during a House committee hearing.

Marcelle could be heard saying "I'm killing this b*tch … they're gonna bring this b*tch back" and "shut the f*ck up"

Follow @LAFirstStandard#lalege pic.twitter.com/D9kv4Mo87M

— Louisiana First Standard (@LAFirstStandard) May 1, 2024

Wow… is this the democrat decorum? The hearing was one of the most out of control things I’ve ever seen thanks to @bfreiberg1. Barbara Freiberg and helped the democrats kill @KelleeHenn45703’s bill HB 777, a bill that would have helped keep tax payer dollars from funding woke… https://t.co/qKlTqyPEc0

— LACAG.org (@LacagOrg) May 1, 2024

This whole debacle reminds us that our state legislature is absolutely broken. Squeamish Republican legislators allow Democrats to act with impunity in the legislature–from verbally demeaning constituents in committee hearings to killing solid legislation in floor votes. Marcelle’s vulgarity is just a more egregious example of this overall fact-pattern.

Now, let’s not forget when establishment Republicans and Democrats teamed up to smear former Rep. Ray Garofalo back in 2021. Back then, former LA House Speaker Clay Schexnayder removed Garafalo from his position as House education chair after he misspoke while discussing his anti-CRT bill. Several legislators also dishonestly smeared Garafalo–including Rep. Hilferty’s loathsome CNN interview–and numerous media outlets ruthlessly attacked Garafalo. No mercy was given to Garafalo.

Obviously, Democrat politicians are more than willing to wield political power to punish their enemies. Just look at what happened to Michigan state representative Josh Schriver earlier this year or US Congressman Paul Gosar back in 2021 as more examples. In both cases, Democrat-majorities chambers punished both Schriver and Gosar for only posting a tweet. You can’t make this stuff up.

This session, Republicans in the Louisiana legislature have not met expectations on a variety of important bills–including Rep. Dickerson’s bill (HB 777) yesterday. Therefore, our state’s legislative leadership must take bold action to remedy some of the disappointment in this session. A solid first step would be to take action against Rep. Marcelle’s unprofessional behavior–namely by stripping Marcelle’s committee assignments.

LA House Speaker Phillip DeVillier has the authority to take away away Rep. Marcelle’s committee assignments–which include the House appropriations, budget, and House and governmental affairs committees. The ball is in DeVillier’s court, but I have not seen anything yet from Speaker DeVillier suggesting that he plans to take action.

Instead of addressing this controversy yesterday, Speaker DeVillier’s X account spent the afternoon reposting hack-journalists from The Advocate Tyler Bridges and James Finn. Not a great look on DeVillier’s end, but the situation could quickly change.

 

It’s time to give Louisiana a government as good as its people. We can start by making an example of Rep. Marcelle. Simply put, let’s encourage Speaker DeVillier to take away Marcelle’s committee assignments.

Louisiana deserves better than this disrespectful behavior from an elected official, and I guarantee that this sort of clownish conduct will end once some punishment is doled out. Only time will tell if Republican legislative leadership decides to make a stand here against Rep. Marcelle’s inexcusable behavior.

On a closing note: If you’d like to contact Speaker DeVillier’s office about this situation, make sure to contact his office here.

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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: louisianafirststandard@proton.me