So called republican conservatism in Louisiana just can not shake their ties to the extremes of Newt Gingrich. Now comes an article in the New Orleans Advocate dated 7/3/19 titled, Louisiana Voters Need a More Conservative Legislature, by Dan Fagan. Fagan thinks the republican controlled state legislature is not conservative enough because they voted to support Governor Edwards agenda that addressed the failed fiscal policies of republican Governor Jindal.
But Fagan thought those same republicans were conservative enough when they supported Jindal's policies and unbalanced budgets that created billion dollar deficits that Governor Edwards had to face when taking office. And to top it off Fagan's conservatives blew big time the $700 million budget surplus left by former democratic Governor Blanco. In the article, Fagan says Senator John Kennedy and Attorney General Jeff Landry will work to defeat some of those republicans they think are not true conservatives They think conservatism is elite and superior and use that ideology to suppress facts and thought. They lack the good judgement of our founding fathers and the spirit of being an American first.
Any one in Louisiana who pays attention would conclude that Jeff Landry and John Kennedy have a sorry record of accomplishments, just like the republican party itself. The latest example in the news tells of the failed republican School Voucher Program that cost the state and tax payers millions of dollars. The fact remains that conservatism escaped our political system when Newt Gingrich came upon the political stage. It became a extreme ideology with no positive accomplishments.
Unlike Mr. Fagan, the republican controlled state legislature knew it would be best to support Governor Edwards priorities because they knew they failed to put Louisiana's fiscal house on a sound footing during Jindal's eight years in office and that they themselves had no positive alternative. Democratic administrations always do a better job at governing because they believe in plans and policy while republicans use and believe in ideology. And that really says it all.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
