The Democrat governor of Louisiana has ordered a clemency review of 56 of the 57 inmates on death row — <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12391661/Louisiana-Governor-orders-clemency-review-56-57-inmates-death-row-filed-applications-time.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">including</a> a man convicted of raping and stabbing a 4-year-old girl — after the 56 inmates filed applications.
Governor John Bel Edwards decided to order the review after the leading GOP challenger to replace him in November, State Attorney General Jeff Landry, issued an advisory opinion urging the state&#8217;s parole board — all of whom were appointed by Edwards — to consider all applications as non-viable. Landry said the board should not ignore its policy — which requires clemency requests to be made within one year of judges issuing appeal rulings — unless extenuating circumstances applied, such as an imminent execution date. Landry pointed out that the execution dates for the prisoners were not imminent.
“The broad and ill-defined waiver in (the rules) ostensibly empowers the board to repeal portions of its own rules and enact new ones at will, on an ad-hoc basis, and without any notice to the public,&#8221; Landry wrote, The Advocate <a href="https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/courts/jeff-landry-deals-blow-to-louisiana-death-row-clemency-pleas/article_1e9d15ae-883d-51ac-92eb-4b3e5763e2e7.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. &#8220;Such a result is impermissible under Louisiana law.”
In late July, Louisiana&#8217;s Board of Pardons and Committee postponed hearing clemency applications death row prisoners had submitted in June in which they asked for life sentences instead of execution.
“Beyond moral justifications, there are a number of reasons, whether based in law or science, that support the need for mercy while considering these applications,” Edwards wrote to the parole board. “Over the last 20 years in Louisiana, there have been six exonerations and more than 50 reversals of sentences in capital cases.”
“The governor is out there right now trying to circumvent a constitutional pardon and parole system,” Landry said in an interview with <a href="https://www.nola.com/news/politics/gov-john-bel-edwards-continues-push-to-empty-death-row/article_5e19bb3e-36cc-11ee-a7eb-e3b0c23f269e.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NOLA</a>. “Every one of those people on death row has had a jury of their peers convict them not once but twice.”
Loren Lampert, the executive director of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association, <a href="https://www.nola.com/news/politics/gov-john-bel-edwards-continues-push-to-empty-death-row/article_5e19bb3e-36cc-11ee-a7eb-e3b0c23f269e.html">called</a> Edwards’ action “inappropriate and a direct affront to the victims and their families.”
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Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore III, a Democrat, agreed with Landry, <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12391661/Louisiana-Governor-orders-clemency-review-56-57-inmates-death-row-filed-applications-time.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">saying</a>, “Because of the governor&#8217;s request today, deep wounds have been re-opened yet again for victims who thought this issue was decided. When will this emotional roller coaster for these victims end?”

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‘Deep Wounds Have Been Reopened’: Dem Louisiana Gov Orders Clemency Review For 56 Death Row Inmates

Dem Louisiana Gov Orders Clemency Review For 56 Death Row Inmates

Death Penalty

John Bel Edwards

Louisiana

Politics

A new <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/louisiana" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Louisiana</a> law requiring all public schools to display &#8220;In God We Trust&#8221; in classrooms went into effect on Tuesday after it was signed last month by the state&#8217;s Democratic governor.
The <a href="https://legis.la.gov/legis/BillInfo.aspx?i=243813" target="_blank" rel="noopener">law</a>, officially known as HB8, requires a display of &#8220;In God We Trust,&#8221; the national motto of the U.S., in every classroom of every building in every public school district, from elementary schools through high schools.
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards (D) signed the law in June.
The sign must be a poster or framed document that is at least 11 inches by 14 inches.
&#8220;The motto shall be the central focus of the poster or framed document and shall be printed in a large, easily readable font,&#8221; the law reads.
Schools can spend public money on the signs. People are also allowed to donate money to buy the displays for schools.
The ACLU of Louisiana complained about Louisiana&#8217;s new law, with a representative <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/02/us/louisiana-public-schools-in-god-we-trust/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">saying</a>, “It’s our belief that parents, not school officials, should be responsible for shaping their children’s religious education.”
&#8220;Will it send a message that only students who believe in God are welcome in public spaces?&#8221; ACLU Louisiana advocacy strategist A’Niya Robinson <a href="https://www.fox8live.com/2023/08/02/louisiana-public-school-classrooms-now-required-display-god-we-trust-motto/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">asked</a>.
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The bill&#8217;s author, state Representative Dodie Horton (R), said the bill does not promote any particular religion.
“It doesn’t preach any particular religion at all, but it certainly does recognize a higher power,” Horton <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/02/us/louisiana-public-schools-in-god-we-trust/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
“It’s a positive message in this world that throws so many negative things at our children,” she added.
In 2018, Louisiana <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/11/us/in-god-we-trust-louisiana-schools/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed</a> a lighter version of the law, which required all public schools to have just one &#8220;In God We Trust&#8221; sign hung in public school buildings. Now, the signs will be more ubiquitous and likely more visible to students since they must hang in every classroom.
The 2018 law also required that students be taught that “In God We Trust” is the national motto and educated on the history of the phrase.
Louisiana is not the only state to implement a law recently requiring &#8220;In God We Trust&#8221; to be displayed in public facilities.
Florida, Arkansas, South Dakota, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Texas have also passed similar laws recently.
&#8220;In God We Trust&#8221; appears on every piece of U.S. currency as well, which has raised the hackles of anti-religion activists for years.
In 2016, atheist activists <a href="https://www.christianpost.com/news/in-god-we-trust-atheist-activist-michael-newdow.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sued</a> in federal court to remove &#8220;In God We Trust&#8221; from U.S. currency, claiming the national motto is &#8220;a tool used to perpetuate favoritism for (Christian) Monotheism&#8221; and perpetuates &#8220;anti-Atheistic bias.&#8221;
Another new Louisiana law <a href="https://legis.la.gov/legis/BillInfo.aspx?s=23RS&amp;b=HB68&amp;sbi=y" target="_blank" rel="noopener">went into effect</a> on Tuesday that allows public schools to offer an elective high school class on the Bible.
&#8220;The course shall maintain religious neutrality and accommodate diverse religious views, traditions, and perspectives,&#8221; the law reads.
The course will familiarize students with the content, history, and structure of the Bible, as well as the book&#8217;s influence on law, history, government, literature, art, music, customs, morals, values, and culture, the law says.
“This bill confirms our students have the opportunity to study the most published book in history when it has been unclear they had that option in the past,” said the bill&#8217;s author, state Representative Valarie Hodges (R).

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Louisiana Law Mandating ‘In God We Trust’ Displayed In Every Public School Classroom Takes Effect

Louisiana Law Mandating 'In God We Trust' Displayed In Every Public School Classroom Takes Effect

Education

Religious Liberty

U.S.

In a rare move, the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/louisiana" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Louisiana</a> legislature has voted to override Democrat Governor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/john-bel-edwards" target="_blank" rel="noopener">John Bel Edwards</a>’ veto of a bill that shields children from life-altering sex-change procedures.
The bill, called the “Stop Harming Our Kids Act,” will prevent doctors from performing transgender procedures like double mastectomies on girls who identify as boys and administering puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to children.
&#8220;Today was a huge win for the children of Louisiana! I&#8217;m proud of my colleagues in the state legislature for standing up to protect the children of our great state. We made it clear today that our children are worth fighting for. This great victory would not have been possible without the prayers and support of parents, grandparents, pastors, and grassroots organizations from around the state who rose up and declared with one voice that &#8216;No one in Louisiana has the right to harm a child&#8217;. God Bless the families of our beautiful state!&#8221; Louisiana Republican Rep. Gabe Firment, the sponsor of the legislation, told The Daily Wire in a statement.
The House voted 75-23 to override the veto, with 69 Republicans being joined by six Democrats. In the Senate, lawmakers voted 28-11 to adopt the measure.
&#8220;As a counselor, I know of no other mental health disorder where we affirm distorted thinking. We don’t affirm the distorted thinking of anorexic children who suffer body dysmorphia, do we? And since studies have shown that gender dysphoria does not persist in most children past puberty, why would any so called treatment include irreversible medical procedures,&#8221; said Louisiana Republican Rep. Laurie Schlegel. &#8220;The suggestion that the only hope for children experiencing gender dysphoria is cross-sex hormone therapy, puberty blockers, or life changing sex operations is ludicrous. These children need intensive mental health counseling.&#8221;
During discussion of the bill, Republican Senator John Morris said that &#8220;experimental procedures on minors that are irreversible” are not health care, citing long-term health problems, such as fertility issues, that have been associated with transgender procedures. Republican Senator Mike Fesi pointed to regret from people who &#8220;transitioned&#8221; at a young age and wished their parents had not allowed them to go through with the transgender procedures. 
Democrat Senator Jay Luneau claimed that the bill would violate parental rights and contained vague provisions that would be unconstitutional.
Republican Senator Fred Mills, who <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/louisiana-republican-blocks-bill-that-would-have-banned-transgender-surgeries-on-children" target="_blank" rel="noopener">previously held up the bill in committee</a>, claimed that the bill would have implications for future medical related bills and praised former Republican Governor Asa Hutchinson for his veto of a ban on transgender procedures in Arkansas, arguing Louisiana lawmakers should take a similar approach.
In May, <a href="https://senate.la.gov/smembers?ID=22" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mills</a> joined Democrats in a <a href="https://twitter.com/SaraLCline/status/1661428182732492801" target="_blank" rel="noopener">5-4 vote</a> on the Health and Welfare Committee to block the advancement of the bill. Edwards reportedly pressured lawmakers on the committee to kill the bill.
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Before today&#8217;s vote, there have only been two successful vetoes of a gubernatorial veto since 1974, when the state adopted a new constitution, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-louisiana-gun-politics-9650df5e82bf7d34e05e8743ae4862ae" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to the Associated Press.
&#8220;This bill was ground zero for the veto session and will show up in every single race this year in Louisiana. The legislature sent a historic message, loud and clear, that in Louisiana, children are off limits. Anyone thinking about running for office here should take note,&#8221; Baton Rouge based Republican strategist Lionel Rainey III told The Daily Wire.
The passage of the bill was praised by conservatives in the state, including Louisiana Family Forum President Gene Mills.
&#8220;In most years, Legislators have treated veto override sessions as optional. This year, the Legislature agreed with LFF that an override was obligatory, especially with the health and welfare of children at stake. The Legislature sent a clear message to those who seek to harm children for profit – ‘Access denied …. to Louisiana children!’ We are deeply grateful to each lawmaker who moved to Protect Louisiana Children. Now, it&#8217;s time to move forward in providing safe and effective mental health treatments for children who struggle with gender dysphoria,&#8221; Mills said in a statement.
In his veto message, Edwards <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/governor-vetoes-bill-protecting-children-from-transgender-procedures-in-state-with-gop-supermajority" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pointed to federal court rulings</a> striking down similar bans in other states.
Roughly 20 states have passed bans on life-altering transgender procedures on children, including Kentucky, which is also governed by a Democrat. The Republican legislature was able to override his veto before portions of the law were just blocked by a federal judge.

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Louisiana Lawmakers Override Democrat Governor’s Veto Of Child Sex Change Ban In Rare Vote

Louisiana Lawmakers Override Democrat Governor's Veto Of Child Sex Change Ban In Rare Vote

Social Issues

Transgender

transgender surgery

Democratic <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/louisiana" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Louisiana</a> Governor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/john-bel-edwards" target="_blank" rel="noopener">John Bel Edwards</a> has vetoed a bill that would have protected children from life-altering transgender surgeries and hormone procedures. 
Edwards <a href="https://www.theblaze.com/news/louisiana-bans-transgender-surgery-on-children" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vetoed</a> the &#8220;Stop Harming Our Kids Act,&#8221; a bill that would have prohibited a wide range of transgender procedures on children, including giving girls who identify as boys double mastectomies. It would also have banned giving children cross-sex hormones and puberty blockers.
“Just as conservative courts have found in Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Tennessee, I believe that there is no legitimate state interest and no rational basis that justifies harming this very small population of children, their families, and the healthcare who care for them or for the cruel and extreme consequences imposed on children through the overt denial of healthcare by this bill,” Edwards <a href="https://gov.louisiana.gov/assets/2023Vetoes/HB648.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">claimed</a> in a letter to Louisiana House Speaker Clay Schexnadyer explaining his veto.
He claimed that the law would be a violation of the 14th Amendment and claimed that lawmakers believing in limited government should not support the bill, which he characterized as part of a “targeted assault on children.”
Despite the governor’s veto, the bill could still have a path forward as there is a supermajority of Republicans in the state’s House and Senate. The bill <a href="https://legis.la.gov/legis/BillInfo.aspx?i=244986" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed</a> the Senate by a vote of 29-10 and the House by a vote of 75-25.
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A Republican state senator <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/louisiana-republican-blocks-bill-that-would-have-banned-transgender-surgeries-on-children" target="_blank" rel="noopener">previously held up the bill in committee</a> before it was moved to another committee from where it advanced. Initially, Republican state Senator <a href="https://senate.la.gov/smembers?ID=22" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fred Mills</a> joined Democrats in a <a href="https://twitter.com/SaraLCline/status/1661428182732492801" target="_blank" rel="noopener">5-4 vote</a> on the Health and Welfare Committee to block the advancement of the bill. Edwards reportedly pressured lawmakers on the committee to kill the bill. 
Roughly 20 states have passed bans on life-altering transgender procedures on children, including Kentucky, which is also governed by a Democrat. The Republican legislature was able to override his veto before portions of the law were just blocked by a federal judge.
The laws have faced an uphill battle, with federal judges in Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee, Indiana, and Florida blocking portions or all of the bills, largely claiming the legislation could violate the 14th Amendment.
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tennessee-moves-to-defend-laws-shielding-kids-from-trans-procedures-explicit-performances" target="_blank" rel="noopener">filed a motion for an emergency stay</a> from the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals after U.S. District Judge Eli Richardson placed a temporary injunction on Tennessee’s prohibition of cross-sex hormones and puberty blockers for children, which have been shown to have life-altering impacts.

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Governor Vetoes Bill Protecting Children From Transgender Procedures In State With GOP Supermajority

A Republican state senator in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/louisiana" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Louisiana</a> joined Democrats on a vote to kill a bill that would ban <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/transgender-surgery" target="_blank" rel="noopener">transgender surgeries</a> on children in the state. 
Republican state Senator <a href="https://senate.la.gov/smembers?ID=22" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fred Mills</a> joined Democrats in a <a href="https://twitter.com/SaraLCline/status/1661428182732492801" target="_blank" rel="noopener">5-4 vote</a> on the Health and Welfare Committee to block the advancement of a <a href="https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/ViewDocument.aspx?d=1322786" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bill</a> that would have banned using cross-sex hormones, puberty blockers, and surgery “to alter a minor&#8217;s appearance in an attempt to validate a minor&#8217;s perception of his sex, if the minor&#8217;s perception is inconsistent with his sex.”
The bill had previously passed the House in a vote of 71-24, before it was moved along to the Republican-dominated state Senate. Included in the bill was a prohibition on transgender surgeries, including those “that artificially constructs tissue having the appearance of genitalia differing from the minor&#8217;s sex, including metoidioplasty,  phalloplasty, and vaginoplasty.”
It was sponsored by Republican Representative Gabe Firment and called the “Stop Harming Our Kids Act.”  
<div dir="auto">&#8220;I am very disappointed in the outcome of today’s Senate Health &amp; Welfare committee meeting. HB648 simply protects Louisiana’s children from experimental and often irreversible sex change procedures. The legislation passed easily through the House with bipartisan support, and I am confident that the full Senate would have passed this important legislation that is overwhelmingly supported by the people of Louisiana.  It is unfortunate that the voice of the people was silenced today in a state Senate committee room. Louisiana remains the only state in the South to allow its children to be harmed by these experimental procedures, but we will keep fighting to pass this legislation and protect Louisiana’s children no matter the cost and despite the forces aligned against us,&#8221; he said in a statement obtained by The Daily Wire.</div>
<div dir="auto"></div>
<div dir="auto">During his testimony at the hearing, Firment said that the transgender treatment industry was lucrative for those involved.</div>
“Senators, when you hear testimony from those in the healthcare field opposed to this bill, I want you to consider how lucrative these experimental procedures are for the gender industry. A single subcutaneous implant of a puberty blocking agent can cost up to $50,000,” Firment added. “We know that starting kids on puberty blockers practically always leads to injecting children with extraordinary doses of wrong-sex hormones, then to mutilating surgeries, and then to being lifelong customers of the gender industry and big pharma.” 
Firment said that he was worried that Louisiana would become a destination for people in other states in the South to bring their kids for transgender procedures since lawmakers have taken action in nearby Mississippi, Arkansas, and Texas. 
Mills, a pharmacist, who some conservatives criticized on Twitter for taking <a href="https://eap.ethics.la.gov/CFSearch/LA-108726.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">campaign donations</a> from pharmaceutical groups like Pfizer and PHRMA, has been in office since 2011. The Daily Wire has reached out to Mills’ office for comment on his vote. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
BREAKING: After passing the House, a bill in Louisiana that would have banned pediatric sex changes just failed in the Senate Health and Welfare Committee because &#39;Republican&#39; State Senator Fred Mills voted with Democrats to kill it.
One look at his donors shows massive… <a href="https://t.co/JFhBvHc5q4">pic.twitter.com/JFhBvHc5q4</a>
&mdash; Greg Price (@greg_price11) <a href="https://twitter.com/greg_price11/status/1661442800976527360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“I&#8217;ve always in my heart of hearts believed that a decision should be made by a patient and a physician. I believe in the physicians in Louisiana, I believe people that are licensed by the Board of Medical Examiners are well regulated,” Mills said during the hearing, claiming that it was the job of the board of medical examiners to ensure there was no malpractice related to the transgender procedures. 
It was <a href="https://www.nola.com/gambit/news/the_latest/louisiana-wont-ban-gender-affirming-care-for-minors-in-rare-win-for-lgbtq-community/article_98dd09b4-fa64-11ed-a7e2-032201ff3476.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that Democrat Governor John Bel Edward had been pushing lawmakers to block the bill. Since Louisiana Republicans have a supermajority in both chambers, they could have overturned a veto if the bill made it out of the Senate. 
At least <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nebraska-becomes-18th-state-to-ban-transgender-surgeries-on-children" target="_blank" rel="noopener">18 other states have passed measures</a> that ban life-altering transgender surgeries on children.

Sen. Mills

Louisiana Republican Blocks Bill That Would Have Banned Transgender Surgeries On Children

Big Pharma

Governor John Bel Edwards (D-LA) signed a bill into law on Tuesday that will make mailing abortion pills a crime in his state.
SB 388 will &#8220;prohibit criminal abortion by means of the use of an abortion inducing drug without the prescribing physician being physically present during the administration of the drug,&#8221; including a $1,000 fine and a maximum of six months in prison.
The bill, which goes into effect on August 1, does not allow a pregnant woman to be punished under the new policy. Other contraceptive methods, such as Plan B, are also not banned by the law.
An Axios <a href="https://www.axios.com/2022/06/03/louisiana-mail-abortion-pill-crime" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> noted, &#8220;In Louisiana, pregnant people were already <a class="gtmContentClick" href="https://ldh.la.gov/page/1036" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-vars-link-text="required" data-vars-click-url="https://ldh.la.gov/page/1036" data-vars-content-id="40979438-7c23-42ff-b634-9aee60ccb761" data-vars-headline="Louisiana governor signs into law bill to make mailing abortion pills a crime" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link">required</a> to take abortion pills in a doctor&#8217;s office or a clinic, but it was not a criminal act.&#8221;
Edwards also signed another bill into law on Tuesday that increased punishments regarding the state&#8217;s trigger law regarding abortion. The state&#8217;s current trigger law will go into effect if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade.
The new law, <a href="https://legis.la.gov/legis/BillInfo.aspx?i=242567" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SB 342</a>, would make providing an abortion punishable by up to 10 years in prison and up to a $100,000 fine. In the case of an abortion performed after 15 weeks of pregnancy, the punishment can be up to 15 years in prison and up to a $200,000 fine.
SB 342, like the new abortion pill mail ban, does not allow a pregnant woman to be prosecuted.
Louisiana is one of 13 states with <a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/article/2021/10/26-states-are-certain-or-likely-ban-abortion-without-roe-heres-which-ones-and-why" target="_blank" rel="noopener">trigger laws</a> that will go into effect if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade and returns decisions regarding abortion laws to individual states. In addition to Louisiana, the other states include Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
A total of <a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/article/2021/10/26-states-are-certain-or-likely-ban-abortion-without-roe-heres-which-ones-and-why" target="_blank" rel="noopener">22 states</a> &#8220;have laws or constitutional amendments already in place that would make them certain to attempt to ban abortion as quickly as possible,&#8221; according to the Guttmacher Institute.
Texas already includes a ban on most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. Oklahoma also recently passed a near-total ban on abortions in its GOP-led state.
In South Dakota, Governor Kristi Noem (R-SD) <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/we-have-prayed-for-this-day-south-dakota-gov-kristi-noem-celebrates-closing-of-states-last-abortion-center" target="_blank" rel="noopener">celebrated</a> the closing of the state’s last abortion business last week, challenging those in her state to focus on helping mothers in crisis.
Noem shared the statement in a Twitter post that included a link to the news of her state’s abortion-free status.
“Abortions have stopped in South Dakota. We have prayed for this day, and now it is here,” Noem <a href="https://twitter.com/govkristinoem/status/1537426575653740545" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a>.
“Now, we must redouble our focus on taking care of mothers in crisis. Help is available for you. Adoption is an option. You are never alone,” she added.
The recent closure of the last abortion provider in South Dakota made it the second abortion-free state following Oklahoma after Governor Kevin Stitt (R-OK) recently signed a law banning most abortions from the point of conception.

Louisiana Governor Signs Bill Criminalizing The Mailing Of Abortion Pills

Louisiana Governor Signs Bill Outlawing The Mailing Of Abortion Pills

Abortion

Roe v. Wade's Long And Brutal Legacy

Louisiana Democrat Governor John Bel Edwards allowed a bill to become law without his signature on Monday that bans biological males from competing against biological females in sports.
Edwards vetoed a similar bill last year but decided to give up fighting against it this year because &#8220;of it&#8217;s overwhelming support in the House and Senate,&#8221; USA Today <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2022/06/07/transgender-athletes-louisiana-ban-competing-girls-women-sports-teams/7542977001/">reported</a>. &#8220;Louisiana&#8217;s Legislature passed the same bill last year by [Republican state Sen. Beth] Mizell, but was unable to overturn Edwards&#8217; veto, coming up two votes short in the House.&#8221;
Edwards noted that &#8220;it was obvious to me after two years it was going to become law whether or not I signed or vetoed the bill.&#8221;
The Fairness in Women’s Sports Act <a href="https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/ViewDocument.aspx?d=1281840">requires</a> &#8220;that schools designate intercollegiate and interscholastic athletic teams according to the biological sex of the team members&#8221; and that schools &#8220;provide that teams designated for females are not open to participation by biological males.&#8221;
Mizell (R-12), who has pushed for the legislation for two years, told USA Today, &#8220;Women have worked too hard for too long to get to the competitive level we have attained to now face an unfair playing field.&#8221;
Michael J. Joyner, a doctor at the Mayo Clinic, told The New York Times that there are &#8220;dramatic differences in performances&#8221; between males and females, which becomes clear &#8220;immediately as the testosterone surges into the boys&#8221; during puberty.
“There are social aspects to sport, but physiology and biology underpin it,” he <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/even-the-new-york-times-admits-biological-men-have-a-huge-advantage-over-women-in-sports">said</a>. “Testosterone is the 800-pound gorilla.”
The <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/29/us/lia-thomas-women-sports.html">report</a> from The New York Times noted that even though the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) requires a year of hormone-suppressing therapy to bring down testosterone levels in biological males who are trying to compete in women&#8217;s sports that the biological males &#8220;retain a substantial edge when racing against top biological women.&#8221;
“Lia Thomas is the manifestation of the scientific evidence,” said Dr. Ross Tucker, a sports physiologist, told the newspaper. “The reduction in testosterone did not remove her biological advantage.”
The newspaper noted that some professional transgender athletes, like retired tennis player Renée Richards, have reversed their views on having biological males compete in women&#8217;s sports.
“I know if I’d had surgery at the age of 22, and then at 24 went on the tour, no genetic woman in the world would have been able to come close to me,” she said in an interview. “I’ve reconsidered my opinion.”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nfls-panthers-add-transgender-cheerleader-to-roster-cant-wait-to-show-what-this-girl-has-to-bring">NFL’s Panthers Add Transgender Cheerleader To Roster: Can’t ‘Wait To Show’ ‘What This Girl Has To Bring’</a>

John Bel Edwards Campaigns In New Orleans Ahead Of Gubernatorial Runoff Election

Democrat Governor Allows Bill To Become Law That Bans Trans Athletes From Competing On Female Sports Teams

John Bel Edwards Allows Bill To Become Law To Ban Trans Athletes From Competing On Female Sports Teams

Transgender Athletes

Republicans in the Louisiana House of Representatives on Wednesday failed to override the Democratic governor’s veto of a bill that banned biological males from competing in women’s sports.
The Daily Caller <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2021/07/21/louisiana-house-fails-override-trans-bill/">reported</a> that state House Republicans were just two votes short of the necessary number to override Gov. John Bel Edwards’ (D-LA) veto.
“Louisiana’s <a href="https://legis.la.gov/legis/ViewDocument.aspx?d=1210805">Fairness in Women’s Sports Act</a> would have prohibited biological males from participating in female intercollegiate, interscholastic, or intramural athletic sports that receive state funding,” the Caller reported. “The state House voted 68-30 Wednesday on the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, failing to overturn Democratic Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards’ veto by just two votes of the 70 needed. It was the state’s first-ever veto override session, <a href="https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/legislature/article_214043b0-ea4b-11eb-b3ba-37ac85e77755.html">the Advocate reported,</a> intended to override Edward’s veto of both the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act and a bill allowing the concealed carry of guns without a permit.”
The bill had previously passed the state House in a 78-19 vote and the state Senate in a 29-6 vote, but the governor vetoed it, saying at the time that the bill was “a solution in search of a problem that simply does not exist in Louisiana.”
State Sen. Katrina Jackson, a Democrat, previously supported the bill when it came up for a vote in the state Senate, but did not support the override vote because the bill did not keep biological women from competing in men’s sports.
“The current LHSAA policy is more restrictive and allowing this bill to move forward would have undermined current rules,” Jackson and other Democrats said in <a href="https://twitter.com/KatrinaRJackson/status/1417961073433534470">a joint statement</a> released Wednesday.
As The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democratic-louisiana-governor-vetoes-bill-to-prevent-biological-men-competing-in-womens-sports">reported</a> in late June, Edwards vetoed the bill, saying it was unnecessary.
“As I have said repeatedly when asked about this bill, discrimination is not a Louisiana value, and this bill was a solution in search of a problem that simply does not exist in Louisiana,” Edwards said in a <a href="https://gov.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/newsroom/detail/3230">statement</a>. “Even the author of the bill acknowledged throughout the legislative session that there wasn’t a single case where this was an issue.”
“Further, it would make life more difficult for transgender children, who are some of the most vulnerable Louisianans when it comes to issues of mental health. We should be looking for more ways to unite rather than divide our citizens,” he continued. “And while there is no issue to be solved by this bill, it does present real problems in that it makes it more likely that NCAA and professional championships, like the 2022 Final Four, would not happen in our state. For these and for other reasons, I have vetoed the bill.”
As the Caller reported, Louisiana “has <a href="https://lailluminator.com/2021/07/19/louisiana-legislatures-veto-override-session-6-things-to-know/">only seen two successful overrides</a> in the history of the state: one in 1991 when lawmakers overrode former Republican Gov. Buddy Roemer’s veto of a bill penalizing doctors for performing abortions, and one in 1993 when lawmakers overrode former Democratic Gov. Edwin Edwards’ veto of the attorney general’s annual budget.”

Louisiana Republicans Fail To Override Democratic Governor’s Veto Of Bill Banning Biological Men From Competing In Women’s Sports

On Sunday, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards appeared on CNN’s “State of the Union” with host Jake Tapper to discuss the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Tapper first asked Edwards to explain to him the issues with ventilator supplies in the state.
“Your model&#8217;s current projection shows that New Orleans could reach 2,500 new hospitalizations per day at its peak around the end of April,” Tapper said. “You said on Friday that you could theoretically run out of ventilators on Tuesday. Is Louisiana really just 48 hours away from Louisianians dying from coronavirus because you don&#8217;t have enough ventilators?”
Edwards replied, first noting that people are already dying. According to the models, which reportedly shift each day as new data is gathered, the expected date at which ventilator capacity will be exceeded is now “probably around the 9th of April,” Edwards said.
The governor then stressed the importance of slowing the spread via social distancing:
<blockquote>So, as we achieve success in slowing the rate of spread, we also push out that date. And critically important is the number of people who will present to the hospital and not be able to get a vent or a bed is a smaller number. So, we&#8217;re encouraging everyone in Louisiana to take social distancing, the stay-at-home order, very seriously because that&#8217;s how we&#8217;re going to save people&#8217;s lives at the end of the day.</blockquote>
Later in the segment, Tapper brought up Pastor Tony Spell of the Life Tabernacle Church in Louisiana.
“Even though [Spell] was issued a misdemeanor summons for continuing to hold church services, Pastor Spell told CNN just today that he&#8217;s still planning on holding church services this morning,” Tapper said. “Obviously, this is a dire health threat. You have made that very clear to all of the people in Louisiana. Should police break up this large gathering that violates your executive order?”
Governor Edwards responded, saying “we&#8217;re not going to enforce our way out of this.”
He continued, calling it “grossly irresponsible” for large groups to congregate:
<blockquote>Now, I&#8217;m still calling upon him to be a leader. He is a leader in the faith community – and I&#8217;m calling upon those parishioners to not go, because it is grossly irresponsible. There is not a setting more conducive to the spread of the virus, as far as I know &#8230; like we have when we have church services with people sitting in close proximity to one another for an hour or two at a time. And so it is irresponsible. Obviously, he is violating the order. He has been served a summons on that. I would hope that he would stop. And law enforcement has this very much in their sights. And I support the actions that they&#8217;re taking.</blockquote>
Edwards pivoted to praise those who are following social distancing guidelines, telling Tapper that the “overwhelming majority” of Louisiana’s 4,500 churches are doing their part, as are businesses.
“I&#8217;m appealing to Pastor Spell to do the right thing,” Edwards stated. “And thus far, he has not. It&#8217;s very disappointing. But the vast majority of pastors out there are doing the right thing.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Louisiana Democrat Governor John Bel Edwards says it is &#8220;grossly irresponsible&#8221; to hold church services right now <a href="https://t.co/pbRPUwHMK4">pic.twitter.com/pbRPUwHMK4</a>
— (((Jason Rantz))) on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) <a href="https://twitter.com/jasonrantz/status/1246996279109931009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2020</a></blockquote>
During an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pastor-cited-for-holding-massive-church-services-despite-covid-19-we-have-a-command-from-god-to-assemble-together">interview with CNN</a> on Sunday, Pastor Tony Spell said that Life Tabernacle had hosted 1,800 congregants last Sunday, and would hold services again this Sunday. Spell added that Christians have “a command from God” to “assemble together.”
When asked by anchor Victor Blackwell if keeping the doors to the church open was a “pro-life” position, Spell replied:
<blockquote>My response to that is people’s hope is in the house of God. If they do contract the virus, if they have fears of the virus, the church is more essential now than ever to pray with people, to let them know there is a balm in Gilead. There is a physician in Jesus Christ. He is the healer. He said, “Come unto me, all you that are wearing heavy laden, let me give you rest.” So, we were supposed to be at a million and a half body bags. We’re at 8,400. So, the narrative is false, Victor.</blockquote>
In a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pastor-cited-for-holding-massive-church-services-despite-covid-19-we-have-a-command-from-god-to-assemble-together">Facebook post</a> about the “misdemeanor summons” issued to Spell, Central Police Department Chief Roger Corcoran stated in part: “Instead of showing the strength and resilience of our community during this difficult time, Mr. Spell has chosen to embarrass us for his own self-promotion.”
“Mr. Spell will have his day in court where he will be held responsible for his reckless and irresponsible decisions that endangered the health of his congregation and our community,” Corcoran continued. “This is not an issue over religious liberty, and it’s not about politics. We are facing a public health crisis and expect our community’s leaders to set a positive example and follow the law.”
As of Saturday, East Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has seen 656 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and 22 deaths, according to <a href="https://www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6">data</a> from the Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) Global Cases map. The virus has infected more than 335,500 Americans, leading to 9,458 deaths.
RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pastor-cited-for-holding-massive-church-services-despite-covid-19-we-have-a-command-from-god-to-assemble-together">Pastor Cited For Holding Massive Church Services Despite COVID-19: We Have A ‘Command From God’ To ‘Assemble Together’</a>

Louisiana Gov: ‘Grossly Irresponsible’ For Church Leader Tony Spell And Congregants To Gather During COVID-19 Pandemic

COVID

Tony Spell

On Friday, Louisiana’s Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards signed an executive order postponing the state’s Democratic primary by two months due to growing fears related to the spread of the coronavirus.
The executive order <a href="https://gov.louisiana.gov/assets/ExecutiveOrders/No.27-Additional-Measures-Covid-19-Public-Health-Emergency.pdf">reads in part</a>:
<blockquote>In an effort to reduce and limit the spread of COVID-19 in Louisiana, and to preserve the health and safety of all members of the public, all gatherings of 250 people or more between Friday, March 13th, 2020 and Monday, April 13th, 2020 shall be postponed or canceled. This applies only to gatherings in a single space at the same time where individuals will be in close proximity to one another. It does not apply to normal operations at locations like airports, medical facilities, shopping centers or malls, office buildings, factories or manufacturing facilities, or grocery or department stores. This provision may be extended beyond Monday, April 13th, 2020 by further order.</blockquote>
Louisiana was scheduled to hold its Democratic primary on April 4. CNBC <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/13/louisiana-postpones-democratic-primary-over-coronavirus-the-first-state-to-do-so.html">reports</a> that “the state will push its presidential nominating contests back to June 20 from the planned date of April 4, Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin announced Friday.”
Louisiana is the first state to move the date of its primary in response to the coronavirus, reports the <a href="https://apnews.com/8e7c2334a3b6bf49d107973a6718254e">Associated Press</a>.
During a press conference, Edwards offered updates on the state’s number of cases, and prescribed best practices for the general public, as well as the elderly.
The governor noted that the executive order does indeed pertain to churches with more than 250 parishioners.
“This prohibition does apply to churches and houses of worship with congregations that exceed 250 in a single service,” Edwards stated. “However, churches and places of worship can engage in multiple services and bring the number of people in them below 250.”
The governor explained why the decision was made, saying:
<blockquote>It is important, and this is probably the one time a week where we know that the most number of elderly people and people with chronic health conditions are sitting in pews next to others for at least an hour. And so while it’s a very heavy decision, it was one that was deliberate to include churches&#8230;</blockquote>
Edwards said that “this is in keeping with guidance from the CDC on community spread &#8230; to limit the spread of COVID-19” in order to flatten the curve of cases so as not to overwhelm the medical system.
<iframe loading="lazy" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6lApU5I1-HA?start=192" width="720" height="385" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
In a press release pertaining to the election, Edwards <a href="https://gov.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/newsroom/detail/2406">said</a>:
<blockquote>The number of presumptive positive cases in our state is constantly increasing, and we want to make certain that we have maximum participation by all voters regardless of their age and health conditions. &#8230; The majority of our poll workers are older Louisianans who are among the most vulnerable to this virus along with those who have chronic health conditions. It’s necessary that we take every precaution to protect the health and safety of our people, and this is a serious situation that demands serious action. This was also a recommendation made by an in agreement with Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin. This is a rapidly changing situation, and we will respond appropriately to protect our citizens.</blockquote>
During the earlier press conference, Edwards urged residents of Louisiana to be “responsible citizens and good neighbors” in these difficult times.
According to <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/coronavirus-map-confirmed-cases-2020-n1120686">NBC News</a>, which cites its own reports, as well as data from the “World Health Organization, state government leaders, and health officials,” as of publication, the coronavirus has infected more than 135,000 people worldwide, leading to over 5,300 deaths.
China has the bulk of the cases at more than 80,000. Italy has the second highest number of cases at approximately 17,660. The United States, according to NBC News, has 2,150 confirmed cases with 49 deaths.
On Friday, President Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-trump-unleashes-full-power-of-u-s-government-to-fight-coronavirus">declared</a> a national emergency to help combat the virus.

Voting

Louisiana Gov Postpones Democratic Primaries Due To Coronavirus, Bans ‘Gatherings Of 250 People Or More,’ Including Worship Services

2020 Election

Democratic Party

A Political Action Committee supporting Gov. John Bel Edwards (D-LA) has been running radio ads comparing his Republican opponent Eddie Rispone to former KKK leader David Duke.
The radio ads are the product of the Black Organization for Leadership Development, a PAC supporting Edwards, who has campaigned with the group’s leader, Jay Banks. Banks narrates the ads, which are airing in heavily African American parts of the state. The ads suggest there is no difference between Rispone, President Donald Trump, and Duke.
“What is the difference between David Duke, Eddie Rispone, and Donald Trump?&#8221; the ad says. &#8220;The only difference is that Rispone will be governor if you do not stop him. These people are telling you every day that they do not care about you or anyone who looks like you.&#8221;
The Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/4ea08f84357d4f2789d0ee2d0f9709c9">reported</a> that “Edwards spokesman Eric Holl said the BOLD advertising was ‘not paid for or authorized by the John Bel Edwards campaign.’” Holl did not expressly disavow the content of the ads while distancing the Edwards campaign from them.
Banks defended the message in <a href="https://freebeacon.com/politics/dem-governor-distances-himself-from-ad-comparing-opponent-to-david-duke/">a statement</a> to the Washington Free Beacon, saying, “If you look at Donald Trump&#8217;s rhetoric, if you look at Rispone&#8217;s platform, and compare it with the platform David Duke has when he ran for multiple offices, it&#8217;s still pretty much the same thing.&#8221;
The Edwards campaign is legally barred from coordinating directly with the PAC, but Banks told the Free Beacon that the PAC does get funding from the Louisiana Democratic Party “to run get-out-the-vote drives.”
Edwards has previously <a href="https://midcitymessenger.com/2017/09/15/gov-john-bel-edwards-endorses-jay-banks-for-council-wont-endorse-in-mayors-race/">campaigned with and endorsed</a> Banks when the latter ran for New Orleans City Council in 2017.
“You all know what a quality individual he is and what a good job he will do in New Orleans, because, quite frankly, you may not think there’s much tie-in between the governor of the state of Louisiana and a district councilman in New Orleans,” Edwards said of Banks. “But the truth is, it takes teamwork at all levels. … I’m excited to be here and support Jay and his candidacy for Council here in New Orleans.”
Edwards refused at that time to endorse anyone else for any other position in New Orleans, including the mayor.
Though most of the 2019 elections took place on Tuesday, the Louisiana gubernatorial race has not concluded. On October 12, no candidate won a majority of the vote during the primary, leading to a runoff between the top two candidates that will conclude on November 14. That pits Edwards against Rispone and could lead to another embarrassing loss for Republicans following the turnover of the Virginia legislature and the loss of the Kentucky governorship (Republicans swept other statewide elections).
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump traveled to Louisiana to campaign for Rispone, the AP <a href="https://apnews.com/9f0899d4b1a34fad9b631e0e409d4d54">reported</a>.
“You’re going out to replace a radical, liberal Democrat as your governor,” Trump said during an event in the state. “John Bel Edwards has not done the job.”
Edwards is one of the few pro-life Democrats left in the country. Earlier this year, he signed an anti-abortion bill in the state that outlawed abortion once a heartbeat was detected. This led to anger from progressives in the state, but also means that his re-election isn’t a total loss for Republicans.

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