News

(New Orleans – August 3, 2010) A corporate funded organization that writes model legislation for state lawmakers was exposed for its anti-public education, anti worker and anti-democratic agenda at a press conference in New Orleans Wednesday. LFT Vice President Jim Randels, who is a member of the United Teachers of New Orleans, was one of the speakers at the press conference.

(Baton Rouge – July 18, 2011)  A Baton Rouge District Court judge has ruled that a 2010 legislative act allowing the state board of education to waive laws for local school boards is unconstitutional.

The so-called “Red Tape Reduction and Local Waiver Empowerment Act,” which was one of Gov. Bobby Jindal’s signature bills last year, violates the state constitution’s “clear separation of powers,” according to today’s ruling by 19th Judicial District Judge R. Michael Caldwell.

Please click here and ask Gov. Jindal to sign SB 6 into law!

SB 6 by Sen. Butch Gautreaux (D-Morgan City) deserves to be signed into law on its own merits. But its passage became even more urgent when three bills allowing retirees to return to work without losing their whole retirement benefit were tied to SB 6 in the waning days of the legislative session.

In refusing to override Gov. Bobby Jindal’s veto of a cigarette tax extension, the House of Representatives did a disservice to the people of Louisiana, according to the Better Choices for a Better Louisiana coalition.

“This simply begs the question: WHY, “said LFT President Steve Monaghan, a founding Coalition member. “On this issue, it should have been easy to do the right thing and override the governor’s veto.”

“We understand that Gov. Jindal has drawn a line in the sand with his no new taxes pledge,” Monaghan said. But on one side of this line are cheaper cigarettes, addiction, cancer and death. On the other side is better health. There ought to be no political downside for the governor to allow the extension of this existing tax.”
- LFT President Steve Monaghan

Click here to tell your senator and representative to override Governor Jindal's veto!

A sustained attack on public education in Louisiana has brought together a new coalition of organizations that have not always seen eye-to-eye, but are united in their commitment to our schools.

(Baton Rouge – May 25, 2011) As Louisiana faces a $1.6 billion budget deficit, the Legislature has advanced bills that would eliminate Louisiana's corporate and personal income taxes. Another would make it even more difficult to pass budget bills in the House of Representatives. This is apparently being done without significant opposition from the governor’s office.

(Baton Rouge – May 12, 2011) Governor Bobby Jindal and the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education should be in no hurry to appoint an interim state superintendent of education, Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Steve Monaghan said today.

(May 10, 2011) State Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek today announced that he will resign from the Department of Education to become lead counsel and corporate secretary for an aerospace firm in Washington, D.C. LFT President Steve Monaghan issued the following statement after Pastorek made his announcement:

The Louisiana Federation of Teachers wishes Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek well as he returns to the private sector. As the search begins for a new superintendent, we call upon Gov. Bobby Jindal to use carefully this opportunity for a fresh start.