If I Were Governor, Part 2: Core Governance & Vision
Rebuilding Trust in Louisiana’s Government—One Principle at a Time
By The Bayou Insider Staff
When did government forget who it works for?
That question echoes across Louisiana, from back porches in Vernon Parish to office break rooms in Jefferson. It’s not just frustration—it’s a shared reality. The people of this state can feel something is off. We pay our taxes, vote in our elections, and obey our laws—but the government doesn’t feel like it answers to us anymore.
Instead of being lean and accountable, it’s bloated and confusing. Instead of being local and responsive, it’s centralized and slow. And instead of serving the people, it too often serves itself.
In Part 1 of this series, we explored the philosophical foundation: reclaiming the people’s government. Now, in Part 2, we turn to the nuts and bolts—how do we make that vision real?
The answer starts here:
Government exists to serve the people—not itself.
If I were governor, I would focus on three essential priorities to bring that principle to life:
Restore constitutional authority in Baton Rouge
Reclaim Louisiana’s rights under the 10th Amendment
Make government radically transparent and accountable to the people
Restoring Constitutional Authority in State Government
The Louisiana Constitution, like its federal counterpart, lays out three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative branch writes the laws. The executive carries them out. The judicial interprets them. Simple enough—until power starts shifting in the wrong direction.
For far too long, Louisiana’s executive branch has expanded its reach. Governors issue sweeping executive orders. State agencies operate with little oversight. The legislature—our voice—gets sidelined. And the people? We’re left watching from the outside.
That’s not just inefficient. It’s dangerous.
If I were governor, I would take immediate steps to restore the proper constitutional order:
✅ End Executive Orders as De Facto Law
Executive orders were meant for emergencies and administrative directives—not governing by fiat. Yet in recent years, we’ve seen them used to shut down schools, limit freedoms, and sidestep legislative debate. I would introduce reforms requiring:
A short expiration timeline for executive orders
Mandatory legislative review for any action affecting individual rights or commerce
Public transparency before executive actions take effect
✅ Return Lawmaking to the Legislature
Only elected lawmakers should pass laws. Period. As governor, I would work with the legislature, not around it. I would:
Veto bills that delegate excessive power to agencies
Encourage a return to robust legislative debate
Sign laws that reaffirm the role of the people’s branch
✅ Shrink Bureaucratic Influence
Agencies are supposed to enforce the law—not create it. Yet today, unelected administrators draft rules that carry the weight of law. I would:
Require all new agency rules to be reviewed by an independent legislative committee
Sunset all existing agency regulations within a 5-year cycle unless reauthorized
Consolidate duplicative agencies and eliminate wasteful positions
Quote for emphasis:
“The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen.” — Dennis Prager
Louisiana deserves a government that operates within its limits—and one that puts its people back in charge.
A Return to States’ Rights and Federalism
Louisiana is not a department of the federal government. We’re not a subsidiary of Washington, D.C. We are a sovereign state with our own constitution, our own values, and our own people to protect.
Yet you wouldn’t know that by watching how easily we’ve bowed to federal intrusion.
The federal government now dictates:
What our kids learn in school
How our farmers use their land
Which power sources we can rely on
How healthcare should be practiced—even during emergencies
If I were governor, I’d say: Enough.
✅ Assert Louisiana’s Sovereignty Under the 10th Amendment
The 10th Amendment isn’t just a relic—it’s a firewall. It protects states from unconstitutional overreach. As governor, I’d take every step to:
Reaffirm Louisiana’s right to self-governance
Join other states in rejecting unfunded mandates
Use legal tools to challenge federal rules that violate our sovereignty
✅ Push Back on Federal Mandates in Key Areas
Education: I would block federal attempts to force DEI agendas, gender ideology, or ideological curriculum into our schools.
Energy: I would defend our oil and gas industry from ESG mandates, radical environmental regulations, and attacks on fossil fuel production.
Land Use: I would resist federal efforts to classify Louisiana wetlands and private lands as off-limits through administrative fiat.
Healthcare: I would fight for medical freedom—ending reliance on CDC dictates and pushing for Louisiana-led public health policies.
✅ Forge a New Era of State-Based Action
Louisiana can work with like-minded states to form compacts, resist federal coercion, and build legal infrastructure for autonomy. We don’t need Washington’s permission to lead—we need conviction to act.
Callout box:
The Founders didn’t give us the 10th Amendment so we could ignore it. They gave it to us so we could use it.
The message to D.C. should be clear: Louisiana governs Louisiana.
Transparent & Accountable Leadership
Trust in government is collapsing—and for good reason. When contracts go to political insiders, when budget line items are hidden in jargon, and when no one can explain how a department spent millions, the public is right to be skeptical.
Government secrecy is the enemy of self-government.
If I were governor, I would turn Louisiana into a national leader in transparency.
✅ Sunset Every Regulation
Every rule on the books would expire unless reviewed and reauthorized. No more “forever laws” created by agencies 20 years ago. If it matters, make the case. If not, scrap it.
✅ Create a Real-Time Budget Dashboard
We’d launch a public online tool showing:
Every dollar coming in and going out
Contractor names and payments
Departmental spending, down to the office level
Monthly updates for citizens to track performance
✅ Ban Backroom Deals and Insider Contracts
Under my leadership:
No large contracts would be awarded without a competitive public bid
Political favoritism would be prosecuted, not rewarded
Ethics violations would trigger automatic audits and investigations
✅ Form Citizen Oversight Panels
Louisiana is filled with smart, honest people. We need their eyes on government. I’d establish local and state-level oversight boards to review budgets, contracts, and regulations—staffed by everyday citizens.
Quote:
“When the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government.” — Thomas Jefferson
Accountability isn’t partisan. It’s patriotic.
Closing: A Government That Belongs to Us Again
Government is not the solution to every problem—but it is a steward of trust. And in Louisiana, that trust has been broken.
It can be rebuilt—but only if we’re willing to return to the basics:
Follow the Constitution
Reject federal overreach
Shine light on every corner of power
That’s not radical. That’s responsible. That’s what Louisiana deserves.
Because the goal isn’t just to fix what’s broken. It’s to build something better—something that lasts. A state government that listens to its people, honors their values, and serves with humility.
If I were governor, that’s where I’d begin.
And if enough of us believe in that vision, we don’t have to wait for one person to fix it—we can build it together.
What’s Next in the Series
In Part 3, we shift from governance to culture. We’ll explore how Louisiana can restore moral clarity, protect religious liberty, and unleash the power of churches and community organizations to heal what politics can’t.
Title: If I Were Governor, Part 3: Culture & Faith in the Public Square
Coming next week on The Bayou Insider.
Your Voice Matters
We believe in dialogue, not monologue. That’s why this series is open for your input.
📬 What do you think?
📉 What parts of Louisiana’s government do you trust least?
💬 What reforms would you propose if you were governor?
Send us your thoughts, leave a comment, and share this article with others who want to see real reform in our state.
Because this isn’t just about policy—it’s about people.
And the future of Louisiana belongs to all of us.
Call to Action
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