(By Ian Robinson/The Center Square) – The Ratepayer Protection Act, which passed the House 417-3 two weeks ago, failed to advance in the Senate Wednesday. The procedural vote was 57-43, short of the 60 votes needed. House Speaker Mike Johnson referred to opposition to data centers as a “Chinese psyop” during an interview Monday, while also saying developers must earn communities’ trust and address concerns about utility rates and water resources. On Fox Business, Johnson was

Editors Note: Dixon McMakin is a Louisiana State Representative Representing District 68. Limited government does not mean neglecting government’s essential responsibilities. It means setting clear priorities, protecting taxpayer dollars, and doing the fundamentals well. Few responsibilities are more fundamental than ensuring our elections are secure, reliable, and worthy of the public’s confidence. Louisiana’s voting machines have served our state for more than 35 years. Tha

Editors Note: Dustin Yates is the Mayor of Louisianas newsest, and 5th largest city, St. George. In 2019, our community went to the polls to decide its future. With 54 percent of the vote, residents approved incorporating the City of St. George. That election set us on the path toward establishing our own city and building a government accountable to the people it serves. For us, the importance of elections is personal. Our city began with a decision made by voters. We know w

The Southeastern Conference should be embarrassed. LSU and Lane Kiffin did not cheat. They did not secretly pay players under the table, falsify academic records or violate recruiting rules. They attempted to give two young men an opportunity to use a year of college eligibility that a Louisiana court said they were entitled to use. For that, the SEC threatened LSU with fines, suspensions, loss of voting rights and even expulsion from the conference. That is not leadership. I

For generations, Louisiana has watched too many of its brightest young people leave home in search of opportunity. We educated them, raised them and prepared them for success—only to see them build their futures in Texas, Florida, Georgia and beyond. SpaceX’s decision to build Starbase Louisiana gives us an opportunity to reverse that trend and change the course of our state’s history. The numbers alone are staggering: a planned $100 billion investment, 125,000 acres in Vermi

EDITORS NOTE: Rick Payton is the Treasurer of the Louisiana Republican Party Conservatives believe government should live within its means, spend taxpayer dollars wisely, and focus on its core responsibilities. Few responsibilities are more fundamental than conducting free, fair, and secure elections. As Treasurer of the Louisiana Republican Party, I understand the importance of accountability. Every dollar should be spent with purpose, and every investment should produce rea

Louisiana could soon become home to one of the nation’s most significant aerospace projects. According to multiple reports, SpaceX is in the final stages of an agreement to develop a major spaceport on more than 130,000 acres near Pecan Island in Vermilion Parish. The project would reportedly utilize land transferred through a settlement involving ExxonMobil and include coastal restoration components. While no official announcement has been made, the Legislature laid much of

EDITORS NOTE: Denise Amoroso is a EBR Metro Councilwoman The foundation of every representative government is public confidence in our elections. As a Metro Council member, I see firsthand how important it is that citizens trust the process that puts their elected officials in office. That confidence depends not only on strong election laws, but also on reliable, secure, and modern election infrastructure. Louisiana is currently replacing voting machines that have faithfully

State Sen. Blake Miguez’s congressional ambitions are facing growing uncertainty as new national reporting raises questions about whether President Donald Trump’s previous endorsement will follow Miguez into whichever district he ultimately chooses to run. Politico reported Friday that Trump’s endorsement of Miguez was tied to Louisiana’s previous congressional map, creating uncertainty over whether the president will back him again now that the political landscape has change

All 16 felony charges against Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill have been dismissed, bringing an abrupt end to the criminal case that had intensified the already bitter political fight between state leaders and officials in New Orleans. Special prosecutor and former Orleans Parish Criminal District Court Judge Laurie White dismissed the indictment Wednesday, July 22. Murrill had been indicted by an Orleans Parish grand jury on July 2 on eight counts of malfeasance in off

Editors Note: Derek Babcock is the Chairman Republican Party of Louisiana Republicans have spent years fighting to restore confidence in our elections. We have pushed for stronger safeguards, cleaner voter rolls, secure voting systems, and laws that make it easier to vote legally and harder to cheat. Those efforts matter, but there is another part of election integrity that does not receive nearly enough attention: making sure the states responsible for running our elections

Every judge serving on the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court has recused themselves from the criminal case against Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, creating another extraordinary development in one of the state’s highest-profile legal battles. The recusals were formally transmitted to the Louisiana Supreme Court by Orleans Criminal District Court Chief Judge Juana Lombard. In the letter, the judges asked the high court to appoint an outside judge to preside over t

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill was indicted Thursday by an Orleans Parish grand jury on 16 felony counts stemming from a dispute over the restructuring of New Orleans’ court system, setting up what is expected to be one of the most closely watched legal and political battles in recent state history. The indictment charges Murrill with eight counts of malfeasance in office and eight counts of intimidation. Prosecutors allege the charges stem from letters Murrill sent t

Congresswoman Julia Letlow is one step closer to becoming Louisiana’s next United States Senator after a decisive victory in Saturday’s Republican runoff election. With President Donald Trump’s endorsement and strong support across the state, Letlow defeated State Treasurer John Fleming to secure the Republican nomination for the seat being vacated by Sen. Bill Cassidy. She won with approximately 57% of the vote, carrying much of the state and further cementing her status as

MFP Vote Becomes Latest Test for Landry’s Legislative Influence Although this year’s legislative session ended several weeks ago, one of the most consequential votes may still be ahead. Louisiana lawmakers are being asked to approve Governor Jeff Landry’s proposed changes to the state’s Minimum Foundation Program (MFP), the formula that determines how billions of dollars are distributed to public schools each year. The governor’s proposal is designed to create a permanent fun

The Republican Party of Louisiana had an opportunity Saturday to weigh in on the state’s most closely watched political contest, but members of the Republican State Central Committee overwhelmingly chose to stay on the sidelines. Meeting in Baton Rouge, the Louisiana GOP voted against endorsing either of the remaining candidates in the Republican U.S. Senate runoff: U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow and State Treasurer John Fleming. The decision is particularly notable because Fleming e

Gov. Jeff Landry’s proposed teacher and school support staff stipends are now in the hands of state lawmakers. The plan would provide $2,000 stipends for teachers and $1,000 for some support staff. Because the Legislature is no longer in session, lawmakers are expected to vote online, with approval requiring two-thirds support from both chambers. The proposal gives Landry a chance to put education pay back at the center of the political conversation after a legislative sessio

Louisiana lawmakers approved a major restructuring of the Orleans Parish court system as the 2026 legislative session came to a close. The package leaves Orleans Parish with two court systems, one clerk, and potentially three fewer judges. Supporters argue the changes will cut waste and modernize a court structure that is unique in Louisiana. One of the most closely watched pieces, SB 256 by Sen. Jay Morris, combines the civil and criminal clerks of court into one position. T

Louisiana lawmakers gave final approval Friday to a new congressional map, setting up another round of litigation over the state’s political boundaries. The new map comes after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Louisiana’s previous congressional districts as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. The Legislature’s response reduces the state from two majority-Black congressional districts back to one. Republicans argue the new map complies with the Supreme Court’s ruling and

Editor’s Note: a guest post from Ethan Vogin. a second-year LSU law student from Baton Rouge. On Tuesday, President Trump delivered his first official State of the Union Address of his second term—one of his best. President Trump’s performance Tuesday night gave Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader Thune the platform of a lifetime, setting the standard for the 2026 Midterms for the GOP. As brilliant as the speech was, one section must be criticized and flat-out rej