Red on the Map, Blue in the Budget: Why High Taxes and Big Government Make Louisiana a Fake Red State

May 29, 2025

By The Bayou Insider Staff

When people think of conservative strongholds in America, Louisiana often lands near the top of the list. After all, we consistently vote Republican in national elections. Our legislature is dominated by GOP lawmakers. We just elected a Republican governor. But look beneath the surface, and the truth emerges: Louisiana isn’t a conservative state. It’s a bloated bureaucracy wrapped in red ribbon.

We talk about small government. We preach fiscal responsibility. We claim to be pro-business. But our policies, tax structures, and spending habits tell a very different story—one far more aligned with liberal governance than genuine conservatism.

It’s time to stop pretending. It’s time to look at the facts.

High Taxes: The Hidden Cost of “Conservative” Leadership

Let’s start with the taxes—the part of government that hits families, small businesses, and retirees where it hurts the most.

Louisiana has the highest average combined state and local sales tax in the United States—topping out at 9.55% in some parishes, according to the Tax Foundation. That’s higher than California, higher than Illinois, higher than New York. Think about that: three of the most progressive, big-government states in America are taxing their citizens less at the register than Louisiana is.

And that’s just the start.

Despite campaign slogans about being “pro-business,” Louisiana ranks poorly on national business tax climate indexes, often falling in the bottom 10 states. We burden job creators with excessive regulation, high compliance costs, and red tape that other red states are actively working to cut.

Even our income tax structure—while modest on paper—is riddled with complexities and loopholes that make life harder for middle-class families. And when it comes to local tax burdens, residents in parishes like Orleans and East Baton Rouge are feeling the squeeze from all directions.

For a state that claims to be conservative, our tax policy looks like it was designed by bureaucrats, not believers in free markets.

Big Government Spending: $45 Billion and Climbing

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room—the one being fed $45 billion a year.

That’s the size of Louisiana’s 2025 state budget, a record-breaking figure that passed with little pushback and even less scrutiny. Lawmakers called it “necessary.” Some even dared to call it “conservative.”

But ask yourself: What does a $45 billion budget say about the size and role of government in this state?

It says we are spending more than we can sustain. It says we are growing government faster than our economy. And it says that those in power have no real intention of limiting the reach or influence of Baton Rouge.

What’s even more alarming is how little oversight or public input there is. Massive appropriations are tucked into omnibus bills. Special interests carve out funding through backroom deals. And wasteful programs are quietly reapproved year after year.

Meanwhile, truly conservative states—places like Florida, Texas, and Tennessee—are actively cutting government bloat, returning surpluses to taxpayers, and investing in real, pro-growth infrastructure.

Louisiana? We’re adding line items, increasing salaries, and handing out contracts—like the gravy train never stopped.

Cronyism Is the Real Party in Power

Behind all the numbers is a deeper problem—cronyism, the true ruling ideology of Louisiana.

For all the campaign talk about cleaning up corruption and “draining the swamp,” the truth is that the same insiders, the same families, and the same dealmakers still pull the strings in Baton Rouge. They’ve just switched out their blue ties for red ones.

Take the state’s contract system. Each year, billions of taxpayer dollars are awarded to politically connected firms with minimal oversight. These contracts often bypass competitive bidding and transparency standards. And instead of being used for public benefit, they’re used to reward allies, punish critics, and entrench political machines.

This isn’t conservatism. It’s a cabal.

Our so-called conservative leaders aren’t shrinking government—they’re using it to maintain their power and reward their friends.

Conservative Values vs. Louisiana Reality

Let’s step back for a moment and ask: What do conservatives actually believe in?

Low taxes
Limited government
Individual liberty
Fiscal restraint
Local control

Now compare that to the reality of Louisiana:

Highest sales tax in America
A $45 billion, ever-growing state budget
Dozens of bloated, inefficient state agencies
Ongoing restrictions on medical, parental, and property freedoms
Centralized power in Baton Rouge that consistently overrides local authority

There’s a word for that—but it isn’t conservative.

What Needs to Change

The problem isn’t just policy—it’s priorities. And fixing it will require more than a few election-day speeches.

Here’s where we start:

1. Demand Transparency

Open the budgeting process to the public. Break down spending line by line. No more late-night budget votes. No more secret appropriations.

2. Shrink the Budget

We don’t need to “slow the growth.” We need to reverse it. Audit every agency. Cut duplicate programs. Eliminate waste.

3. Real Tax Reform

Not shifting burdens—cutting them. Slash sales tax. Simplify income tax. And give families and businesses a reason to stay in Louisiana.

4. Hold Politicians Accountable

Track votes. Name names. Stop supporting candidates just because they wear the right jersey. Look at what they do, not what they say.

Conclusion: The Red Mirage

Louisiana votes red. But it governs blue.

We are a conservative people ruled by a bloated state. A liberty-loving population shackled by regulation and taxes. A state that says all the right things, but does the opposite behind closed doors.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

We can have real conservative governance. We can build a Louisiana that honors liberty, strengthens families, and champions opportunity. But first, we have to tell the truth:

This isn’t conservative. Not yet.

If you want a truly conservative Louisiana, it starts with honesty—and it continues with accountability.

🔍 Sources & References

📢 Call to Action:

Share this article. Email your legislator. Attend a budget hearing. Start asking hard questions. Because if we want real reform, we’re going to have to fight for it—and stop letting red labels disguise blue policies.