Latest news with #LouisianaDemocraticParty
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Louisiana colleges could be prohibited from requiring race, gender classes
Rep. Emily Chenevert presented her bill to the Senate Education Committee on May 15, 2024. (Allison Allsop/Louisiana Illuminator) A Louisiana legislative committee has dramatically rewritten an anti-DEI policy proposal for state agencies that would now prohibit schools from requiring certain race and gender-based curriculum for undergraduate students. The House and Governmental Affairs Committee approved a substantially re-written version of House Bill 421 by Rep. Emily Chenevert, R-Baton Rouge, which would prohibit compulsory classes that cover any of the following subjects: Critical race theory White fragility or white guilt Systemic racism, institutional racism or anti-racism Systemic bias, implicit bias or unconscious bias Intersectionality Gender identity Allyship Race-based reparations Race-based privilege The use of pronouns Courses that include these topics could still be taught, but the classes could not be required for graduation. The bill makes an exception for majors, minors and certificates that are specifically related to race or gender studies. In its original state, Chenevert's bill would have prohibited diversity, equity and inclusion practices in state agencies, but an amendment made public late Wednesday night drastically re-wrote the bill, focusing it on college and university curriculum in addition to forbidding DEI trainings. Rep. Denise Marcelle, D-Baton Rouge, objected to Chenevert putting forward major and controversial changes to the bill with little notice. Committee members voted 10-6 to advance the proposal. Contacted for his reaction after the vote, LSU Faculty Senate President Dan Tirone said the measure would restrict subject matter experts from determining what topics are necessary for students to learn, though he said he appreciates the bill does not place a blanket ban on those subjects. 'Having state statutes which limit what can be taught in many of the mandatory introductory courses across a wide array of fields … seems to be the imposition of a bureaucratic process which will diminish the ability to adequately prepare our students and substitute policymaker preferences for the professional expertise of our professors and instructors,' Tirone said in a statement. Opponents of Chenevert's revised bill include the Southern University Foundation, the NAACP Baton Rouge chapter, the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Louisiana Democratic Party. 'It's been a known fact that there have been pervasive instances of racial and gender discrimination in our state and nation,' Louisiana Democratic Party chairman Randal Gaines said. 'Those particular consequences have not been eliminated. So DEI programs not only help to remedy those consequences, but they make sure that they're not repeated.' Conservative groups supporting the bill include the Foundation for Government Accountability and the Louisiana Family Forum. Chenevert told committee members that Gov. Jeff Landry supports the legislation. While Chenevert said she believes her bill promotes equality and eliminating bias, Black lawmakers on the committee raised concerns with eliminating practices they view as necessary. 'I've only been able to get jobs in government agencies because they were forced to see me, they were forced to give me an opportunity,' Rep. Candace Newell, D-New Orleans, said. 'Because with my three degrees, I still was not given opportunity based on my merit because the color of my skin, and the gender that I was born kept me out of those places.' Marcelle also expressed concern that the bill's language could prohibit law enforcement from receiving racial bias recognition training. Chenevert said she did not believe the bill would prohibit that training, but she indicated she was open to amendments that would clarify that. As it reads now, the legislation would prohibit any training, policies or procedures 'designed in reference to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, gender identity, or sexual orientation.' Last year, Chenevert sponsored legislation to require K-12 schools, colleges and universities to issue reports to the legislature on their DEI spending. Schools at all levels reported minimal expenditures on DEI activities. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Louisiana Democratic Party fights for teacher raise, emphasizes need of unity
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Last weekend, Louisiana voters headed to the polls, where a majority voted no on four amendments that had passed out of the legislature last year. 'This is not the end for us, and we will continue to fight to make the generational changes for Louisiana to succeed,' said Gov. Jeff Landry in a statement. 'This is not the end for us, and we will continue to fight to make the generational changes for Louisiana to succeed.' Days later, the Louisiana Democratic Party new executive director, Dadrius Lanus held a press conference. He, along with Democrat state leaders, spoke about the failed amendments covering specialty courts, tax reforms, juvenile prosecution and judicial vacancies. 'Louisiana is not conditioned for failure,' said Lanus. 'Louisiana and the people of Louisiana are conditioned for opportunity, equity and progress and Saturday's vote proved it.' Democratic state leaders see the defeat as a sign of unity. 'These amendments failed by over 60% of the vote,' said State Representative Edmond Jordan. 'This is the first time that the people really had a real opportunity to show the administration how they feel since the gubernatorial election.' One of the failed amendments that's bringing concern to the people is Amendment 2, which was heavily promoted. One of the items in the amendment aimed to give teachers a raise, but with that amendment failing, now the pay raise is uncertain. Democratic state leaders send out a message to educator, emphasizing that they plan to fight for the educators during this upcoming session. 'I serve on the Appropriations Committee and I know that they're committed to making sure that the teachers get their fair wages that they should get,' said State Representative C. Denise Marcelle. 'There are several bills that have been filed that will create teacher pay raises, which will give a portion of the budget, whether it be dedicated tax funds or otherwise,' said Jordan. 'If the governor is serious about making sure that teachers get pay raises this session, we're going to give them every opportunity.' Despite the political party, Democrats said the goal after this march election is the importance of voting, unity and make the state better as a whole. 'We're urging this administration and this Republican dominated legislature to engage with our Democratic legislators to forge legislation that's going to benefit our citizens, protect the interest of our citizens,' said Randall Gaines, chairman of Louisiana State Democratic Party. Local activist calls for tougher distracted driving law in Louisiana Louisiana Democratic Party fights for teacher raise, emphasizes need of unity Livingston Parish deputies investigate after body found in Denham Springs Shein, Temu may be more expensive under Trump rule change 'I feel violated': Florida hurricane victim's belongings auctioned off by storage facility Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Louisiana voters reject constitutional amendments championed by Republican governor
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Louisiana voters soundly rejected four constitutional amendments championed by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry related to crime, courts and finances. Voters said no to each amendment by margins exceeding 60%, according to preliminary results the secretary of state's office released after voting concluded Saturday evening. Landry and his allies had crisscrossed the state in support of an amendment that would have made sweeping changes to the revenue and finance section of the state's constitution. The amendment received bipartisan support from lawmakers during a November special session on tax reform and was presented as a way to boost teacher salaries, curb excess spending and get rid of special tax breaks in the constitution. Yet critics from across the political spectrum lambasted the proposed amendment as lacking transparency. The bill exceeded 100 pages but was condensed into a 91-word ballot question for voters. While major teachers' unions backed the amendment, a coalition of liberal advocacy groups and influential conservative religious figures opposed the changes that would have liquidated educational trust funds and removed constitutional protections for tax breaks for some kinds of properties owned by religious institutions. Another proposed amendment would have made it easier for lawmakers to expand the crimes for which juveniles could be sentenced as adults. Criminal justice reform groups rallied to oppose what they described as draconian punishment that would not address the root causes of youth crime. The remaining amendments would have allowed lawmakers to create regional specialty courts, which opponents said could be used to usurp judicial authority from local courts. Landry said he was disappointed but would continue to fight for 'generational changes' in Louisiana. 'We do not see this as a failure," he said in a statement. 'We realize how hard positive change can be to implement in a State that is conditioned for failure.' Landry blamed the loss on the left-wing billionaire George Soros and 'far left liberals.' Open Society Foundations, a philanthropic organization founded by Soros, did not immediately respond to request for comment. The Louisiana Democratic Party called the outcome 'a resounding defeat' for Landry. 'Together, with voters from every party, people came to the conclusion that the constitutional amendments were at best misguided - at worst an attempt to give tax breaks to the rich while locking up more of our children," the party said in a statement. "That is not the Louisiana values we stand for."
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. Jeff Landry, Louisiana officials react after March 29 proposed amendments fail
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — All four proposed constitutional amendments on the March ballot were rejected. These amendments covered specialty courts, tax reforms, juvenile prosecution and judicial vacancies. Louisiana voters reject all 4 proposed amendments on March 29 ballot On election night, Gov. Jeff Landry stated that the intent of Amendment 2 was to enhance opportunities for Louisiana residents and attract more people to the state. Read his full statement below. 'The primary goal of Amendment 2 was to create a better opportunity for our citizens,' Landry said. 'To work towards inviting people into our State rather than have them leave. Unfortunately, Soros and far-left liberals poured millions into Louisiana with propaganda and outright lies about Amendment 2. Although we are disappointed in tonight's results, we do not see this as a failure. We realize how hard positive change can be to implement in a State that is conditioned for failure. We will continue working to give our citizens more opportunities to keep more of their hard-earned money and provide a better future for Louisianians. This is not the end for us, and we will continue to fight to make the generational changes for Louisiana to succeed.' 'The failure of the proposed constitutional amendments sends a clear message: the people of Louisiana expect more from their government. Across party lines and parish boundaries, voters stood together to reject measures they felt did not reflect our shared values or serve the common good. This outcome is a testament to the strength and clarity of public will—rooted in a deep sense of fairness, compassion, and responsibility. I am proud to stand with those who raised their voices in defense of the most vulnerable among us, and who believe that power in our democracy must be earned, not assumed. Let us carry this momentum forward, working together—regardless of politics—to build a stronger, more just Louisiana for all.' Congressman Troy Carter, Sr. 'I am overjoyed to see the groundswell of Democrats come together from across Louisiana to give Jeff Landry a resounding defeat. Together, with voters from every party, people came to the conclusion that the constitutional amendments were at best misguided – at worst an attempt to give tax breaks to the rich while locking up more of our children. That is not the Louisiana values we stand for. Let us take this victory and continue to build toward a more equitable prosperous future for everyone in our state. The Louisiana Democratic Party along with our dedicated supporters, worked tirelessly to educate voters about the dangers of the amendments. The Louisiana Democratic Party is committed to fighting for policies and initiatives that prioritize working families, protect civil rights, and ensure a stronger, more equitable Louisiana. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that the voices of everyday Louisianans are heard and respected on every level of government.' Louisana Democrats 'Louisiana took a stand for youth justice by rejecting Amendment 3. This victory belongs to the youth, families, and advocates who refused to accept policies that harm children and weaken communities. Charging youth as adults does not create safer communities—it only increases the likelihood of harm and trauma for our young people. By voting no, Louisiana has refused to take a step backward in its approach to public safety, and it's a step forward in recognizing that all children deserve support, not incarceration. While this is a significant win, our work does not stop here. We must continue to push for real investments in youth and families—expanding mental health resources, educational opportunities, and community-based programs and supports that address the root causes of harm. Most importantly, we will continue to call for leaders to fully implement the promises of Act 1225 of 2003, which was intended to transform the youth justice system into a holistic model of coordinated care. Families and Friends of Louisiana's Incarcerated Children (FFLIC) remains committed to fighting for a system that prioritizes care over cages. Together, we will keep working to build a Louisiana where every child has the chance to thrive.' Gina Womack, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Families and Friends of Louisiana's Incarcerated Children 'Making Louisiana's business climate attractive and competitive has long been a top priority for the business community, echoed in LABI's LA Driven strategic plan. To achieve that, we have made clear the need to overhaul Louisiana's tax code to promote fairness, predictability and transparency. Saturday's result on constitutional amendment 2 makes clear the need to return to the drawing board in order to build consensus on such a critical issue that impacts every Louisianan. While this outcome isn't what we had hoped for, we remain deeply motivated to build on the achievements of the past year. Our commitment to ensuring that Louisiana's citizens and job creators receive the fair, straightforward tax code they rightfully deserve remains stronger than ever.' Louisiana Association of Business and Industry President and CEO Will Green Austin Hill gives Richard Childress Racing its 100th Xfinity Series win in Martinsville Trump says he's considering ways to serve a third term How many perfect brackets remain in the women's NCAA tournament? Does flirting with 'sticky eyes' work? Here's what a dating expert has to say Gov. Jeff Landry, Louisiana officials react after March 29 proposed amendments fail Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
