Louisiana's Democrats
by Kimberly O’Brien 

Louisiana is a state with a poor economy.  Its delta lands are mostly below sea level and swampy.  The economy has been based on raw materials and exporting sugar, rice and cotton.  By the time the Civil War arrived oil helped to generate New Orleans’ wealth.  It has become increasingly dependent on this industry as a source of income.  Louisiana has income disparities much closer to those of a Caribbean sugar colony than an American state.  There is a class of tight-knit people who are determined to hold on to their wealth, and resist interaction with the unlearned masses.  Huey Long, a former Louisiana governor in the early 1920’s led a crusade to successfully tax the rich to help the poor.  It is said that his actions may have moved our former president FDR to embrace social security and steeply graduated taxes.              Race, politics, and income among other things divide Louisiana.  White Protestants for years wanted nothing to do with national Democrats, while Cajuns considered doing the opposite.  Also, blacks are overwhelmingly Democratic and whites are split in state elections.  Louisiana’s high and low-income whites vote very differently and are much less influenced than voters in most other states by the candidate’s cultural values, marital status, or lifestyle.  Because they are a “tough audience,” campaigns have been lavishly financed.  Louisiana is one of the poorest states in the USA, and as we will soon see they have a unique set of issues to address.  The Louisiana Democratic Party totally supports the platform of the National Democratic Party although the state may only have local concerns.            Louisiana addresses foreign oil as part of their foreign policy.  The Louisiana Democratic Party’s goal is to drive economic growth and improve the quality of life.  It affects taxes, education and the environment.  As it is one of their major ways of generating wealth within the state, it is crucial that this industry remains viable.  The Louisiana Democratic Party proposes a $1 per barrel tax on foreign oil, which will generate $1.5 billion per year.  Of this amount, $1 billion will be deposited into an educational trust fund each year and $500 million per year will be used to repair and upgrade schools.  The tax on foreign oil processing will protect Louisiana producers from potential losses resulting from lower prices set by foreign oil companies in addition to lowering the tax paid by the producers.  Large oil companies will not relocate from Louisiana because of phenomenal moving expenses.  The cost of cleaning up the existing sites in the state would exceed the amount of the foreign oil-processing fee.  This is an example of a targeted tax cut that would help a working American invest in their future.            Social policy, especially affordable high quality health care reform is of major concern to both the local and national Democratic parties.  The Louisiana Democratic Party believes that people should be put ahead of profits.  They want a patient’s treatments to be determined by doctors and not accountants.  The current system is heavily weighed towards the insurance industry.  They are in full support of the “Patient Protection Act,” which requires health insurance organizations to make decisions based upon patients’ needs and not upon the profitability of the decision to the health care organization.  The local party also insists that health plans be held accountable when they make negligent medical decisions.  Quality and affordable health care for the elderly, young, disabled and women is the primary goal.  Based on the national Democratic party’s position, the Louisiana Democratic Party supports securing Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security for future generations.            Education and youth issues are two important aspects that require the Louisiana Democratic Party’s attention.  The position of the state party supports the creation of separate vocational training schools in each high school to train students for higher paying jobs.  The poverty level has reached crisis proportions, with 1/3 of Louisiana’s children living in poverty.  Last year, its economic growth was the slowest in the entire Deep South.  It is extremely important for the Louisiana Democratic Party to pull children above the poverty line by giving their parents the tools necessary to break that economic cycle.  The vocational programs should be joint partnerships between educators and industry, requiring students to pass exit exams before completing high school.  With a trained labor force, Louisiana will be able to attract new, non-polluting industries.  It would be a long-term solution to Louisiana’s poverty, fiscal and environmental problems.            Louisiana’s Democratic Party does not address the following as issues of local concern, but it supports the national Democratic party’s opinion on race, sexuality, gender and class.  They want to give small, minority and women-owned businesses the opportunity to prosper by increasing the number of loans available, and ensuring that these businesses can compete for their fair share of procurement funds.  The national minimum wage was increased to $5.15 in order to close the income gap and class distinctions.  A woman’s right to choose is respected and the desire is to make abortions less necessary and more rare.              Campaign finance reform is supported through the McCain-Feingold Bill which limits campaign spending, curbs the influence of PAC’s and lobbyists, and provides free television time for candidates.  This increases the candidate’s direct access to voters.  Politically, Louisiana has a unique primary system: candidates of all parties run in a single primary; any candidate who gets 50% is elected; otherwise, the top two finishers, regardless of party, have a runoff.  However, in 1998 legislature was ordered to come up with a new system for electing senators and congressmen.  By far, its election laws are quite peculiar.