WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) urged members of the Louisiana Legislature today to pause action on House Bill 553, which would authorize an extension of the state’s contract with Harrah’s New Orleans Casino and lock in annual payments to the state.  News reports indicate Harrah’s is considering selling the property.  The state could unwittingly increase Harrah’s selling price by extending the contract without receiving adequate compensation for taxpayers.

Harrah’s signed an agreement in October to allow Vici Properties to buy its New Orleans casino, hotel and parking garage.  Meanwhile, Harrah’s wants an extension of its contract with the state.  That contract – which doesn’t expire for another six years – gives Harrah’s the exclusive right to have a land-based casino in New Orleans.  The agreement with Vici only recently became public knowledge.

“In light of the new information reported in The Advocate, the Legislature needs to put the contract extension on pause.  The contract doesn’t expire for another six years anyway, and the state could be leaving money on the table by making a deal on a property that is about to explode in value,” said Sen. Kennedy.  “Harrah’s Vici agreement is a surprise that could shortchange the state.  Eighteen years ago, I was on a commission to study whether Harrah’s should pay millions less in taxes because of cash flow problems.  I wanted the state to get Harrah’s stock options in exchange for lowering Harrah’s payments.  I was out-voted.  Subsequently, Harrah’s stock value went up.”

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Sen. Kennedy: ‘Citigroup and Bank of America want to treat our people like Hillary Clinton’s deplorables while happily raking in our taxpayer money.’

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) applauded six members of the State Bond Commission - State Treasurer John Schroder, Attorney General Jeff Landry, House Speaker Taylor Barras and state Reps. Blake Miguez, Stephen Dwight and Raymond J. Crews -today for their votes to protect the Second Amendment rights of Louisiana citizens.

The State Bond Commission tried to block the state from doing business with Citigroup and Bank of America, whose anti-gun policies stand to impact more than 1,400 small businesses across Louisiana.  Gov. John Bel Edwards introduced a substitute motion that will allow the banks to continue receiving taxpayer money while trampling on Second Amendment rights. Six members of the State Bond Commission voted against the substitute motion and in favor of holding Citigroup and Bank of America accountable for their anti-gun policies.  Unfortunately, the substitute motion passed.

“Citigroup and Bank of America want to treat the people of Louisiana like Hillary Clinton’s deplorables while happily raking in our taxpayer money.  Gov. Edwards apparently is fine with letting Wall Street have it both ways,” said Sen. Kennedy.  “Gov. Edwards needs to explain to every Louisiana gun owner, gun business and supporter of the Second Amendment why he thinks Wall Street banks shouldn’t be held accountable for their anti-gun policies.  He let them off scot-free today even though the CEOs of Citigroup and Bank of America couldn’t even be bothered to come to Louisiana and explain their policies.  But those bank officials certainly showed up to take financial bailouts from the American public.”

Sen. Kennedy previously sent letters to the State Bond Commission and Gov. Edwards on this issue. The letters can be found HERE.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) today introduced the Social Media Privacy and Consumer Rights Act of 2018.  Their bill will protect consumers’ online privacy and data by improving transparency, strengthening consumers’ recourse options when a data breach occurs and ensuring companies are compliant with privacy policies that protect consumers.

Specifically, the legislation:

• Requires terms of service agreements to be in plain language,
• Ensures users have the ability to see what information about them has already been collected and shared,
• Provides users greater access to and control over their data,
• Gives consumers the right to opt out and keep their information private by disabling data tracking and collection,
• Mandates that users be notified of a privacy violation within 72 hours,
• Offers remedies for users when a privacy violation occurs,
• Requires that online platforms have a privacy program in place.

“I don’t want to hurt Facebook, and I don’t want to regulate them half to death, either. But I have a job to do, and that’s protecting the rights and privacy of our citizens,” said Sen. Kennedy.  “Our bill gives consumers more control over their private data, requires user agreements to be written in plain English and requires companies to notify users of privacy violations.  These are just simple steps that online platforms should have implemented in the first place.” 

“Every day companies profit off of the data they’re collecting from Americans, yet leave consumers completely in the dark about how their personal information, online behavior, and private messages are being used,” Sen. Klobuchar said.  “Consumers should have the right to control their personal data and that means allowing them to opt out of having their data collected and tracked and alerting them within 72 hours when a privacy violation occurs and their personal information may be compromised.  The digital space can’t keep operating like the Wild West at the expense of our privacy.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) discussed funding for Louisiana infrastructure projects with the assistant secretary of the Army for civil works, R.D. James, at a meeting of the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations today.  In five minutes, Sen. Kennedy highlighted infrastructure projects across Louisiana that are integral to flood prevention and coastal restoration. 

Click here or the photo below to watch:

Highlights:

Federal Permit Process: “Since we have been talking, we have lost a football field of land in Louisiana.  You can debate the cause, but you can’t debate the fact that water is rising.  We’re spending a lot of our own money to do something about it, but the federal permit process is killing us. We need a little help navigating the federal bureaucracy.”

Maritime Commerce:  “Dredging is hugely important in my state.  We can’t maintain maritime commerce if you can’t get the boats in.  We’ve got to find the money for it.”

Comite River Diversion Canal:  “When the Comite River floods, it floods houses and businesses.  We want to build a canal from the Mississippi River to the Comite River to take some of the pressure off.  You have some extra money now, and it’s time to do something about it.”

Fresh Water Bayou Lock:  “The Fresh Water Bayou Lock is one of the top ten in the country in terms of commercial lockage.  We need to make sure projects like these have the funding they deserve.”

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