Happy New Year, and happy Mardi Gras! We are off to a quick start. 

I want to thank you again for your support of my re-election. We smoked the opposition and their dirty tricks. I'm in a good spot heading back to the legislature. Sometimes going through a tough time can turn out much better in the long run.

Special redistricting session started yesterday, Monday January 14, at 4pm. Our new governor reminded us that Huey Long was assassinated because of redistricting. Ok then!

I'm a member of the Ways & Means, Insurance, and Judiciary Committees.

I've been in the news a bit, for fun and for work, links below. 

Finally: I hope that some of you will consider assisting with debt retirement, or becoming a monthly donor. While most of my colleagues are sitting on war chests and don't need to fundraise, I have debt (accountant, consultant, myself) due to two hard races. I also use campaign funds for related costs: mailers, Squarespace, Constant Contact, intern stipends, accommodations in Baton Rouge, donations, my accountant, campaign debt, etc. A monthly donation would be extremely helpful, and is often easier on the donor. (Both ActBlue and Square use ApplePay and GooglePay now.)

Thank you again for believing in me, and working towards a better state.

-Mandie

PS There are now 4 Landrys elected in state government, and I am not related to any of them! Spread the word.

I was so lucky to have my mom, nephew Lennon, and good friends Allen and Claire at swearing in to support me. (Both of my sibs had to work :/)

The Legislature

I was sworn in last Monday, January 8. My mom and nephew Lennon were there to watch me take the oath for a second time. Lennon was even on WDSU with me. I'm on the Ways & Means (taxes, capitol outlay), Insurance (extremely important), and Judiciary (courts, alcohol, related) committees. These are the three that I asked for. If you have bill ideas or thoughts, please send to me at hse091@legis.la.gov.

Special Session 1.0: Redistricting 

We have three sessions already scheduled for this year. The first is the special session on redistricting, running from January 15 - January 23. The main focus will be on creating a second majority minority Congressional district, and this is actually likely to happen because: (1) the judge is demanding it, and (2) the powers that be, mainly new Governor Jeff Landry, want to get rid of Congressman Garrett Graves. Word is that the new MM district is being earmarked for state Senator Cleo Fields. 

I have also filed bills to have universal vote by mail and nonpartisan judicial elections.

Click through for a description of what's going on.

We will also be addressing the composition of the Louisiana Supreme Court. There are factions who want a second MM out of 7, which could potentially strengthen the conservative nature of the other 5; factions that want to draw things very differently because of a Shreveport issue; talks of increasing the number of justices to 9 (7-2); and, talks of changing the way a chief justice is chosen. According to media, a lot of this is because of the new governor's issues with Chief Justice Weimar. 

I was on Jim Engster recently to discuss the first special session.

Finally. Our new governor also wants to switch from our (beloved? raucous?) jungle primary system to a closed party primary system. While this sounds like it could be ok, it's not. It's really not. By all accounts, this will likely lead to even further extreme right wing candidates. Louisiana had closed party primaries briefly in the past but quickly changed back. Also, voters in Louisiana are not in favor of them.

Louisiana statewide poll re: Louisiana’s open primary system - not positive.

Special Session 2.0: Crime 

The special session on crime is starting right after Mardi Gras, from February 19 to March 6. While I wish the focus would be on actually deterring crime, it is likely going to focus on punishing further and dealing with crime when it's too late. Proposals like lengthening sentences, removing or decreasing the chance for parole, and throwing juveniles in with adults won't do anything to deter crime. To sound like a broken record: if incarceration lowered crime, Louisiana would be the safest place in the world, as we have THE highest incarceration rate in the world. This isn't working. Crime is strongly correlated with poverty. That's the answer. Address basic items like housing, wages, health care, and education, and the state will look very different.

Session 3.0: The Regular One 

2024 regular legislative session is from March 11 - June 3. This is a longer one, and we don't have bill limits. I am working on many ideas at the moment. I'd guess that we will see many more culture war bills; crime bills; a LOT of insurance-related items (remember, I'll be on the insurance committee); attacks on children and education; but hopefully, greater focus on health care, practical crime solutions, and more money for education, to name a few.

In the News 

There's been a lot of media coverage of the disastrous Louisiana State Democratic Party, given what happened in October (obsessive focus on a little rep race with an incumbent; no focus on the gubernatorial and other statewide races). The party is a mess, but there is a solid group of people running for state party seats who hope to start reforming the party.

I was in the New York Times twice: once about the election, and once talking about a funny Southern instagram account, along with my friend Claire. I love the unexpected.

Clancy Dubos of The Gambit is so aggravated with the state party and so tickled with my win. Click through below.

Insurance

So many horror stories, myself included ($7000 increase; I guess the dogs will have to go to work now). I've been talking regularly with new insurance commissioner Tim Temple about ideas, but also telling him stories that people tell me. The fortified roof program immediately ran out of money, which means that people knew about it and want to take part. The more information we receive about the success of such programs, the more likely the lege will appropriate more money for the program.

As always please reach out if you need help with a state issue (OMV, unemployment, SNAP, DCFS, and various other items).

-ML

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