November 14, 2023

Dear Friends,

The Louisiana Family Forum has completed 25 years of impactful ministry thanks to your support. We want to expand our impact throughout our great state, expand reach, and build an enduring Louisiana legacy, but to do so, we need your help. 

Our goal is to solidify Louisiana as a beacon of timeless values. Will you join me in building the future of Louisiana by investing in LFF today? Your decision to include us in your long-term legacy giving plan can be a transformative step toward securing the values we hold dear. 

A legacy gift can ensure LFF's ongoing impact upon pro-life, traditional family, and religious liberty initiatives to advance and shape policy and protect the interests of Louisiana families.

Further, investing in the LFF is the most efficient way to advance Life, Liberty, and Limited Government in Louisiana. We rely solely on individual contributions and refuse special interest funding or government support to uphold our mission of cultivating a state where God is honored, life is respected, families flourish, and religious liberty reigns.

In a video message commending the LFF, Speaker Mike Johnson said, “There are a lot of things that we can invest our time and our resources in, but I’m going to tell you with great conviction that Louisiana Family Forum is the greatest investment that you can make.”

We are immensely grateful for your support, prayers, and generosity. None of what we do is possible without you! 

Donate here.

Governor John Bel Edwards bypassed the state Legislature and introduced a policy offering paid parental leave to state workers who choose to take time off after the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child in their family.

During a ceremony held outside Woman’s Hospital in Baton Rouge last week, Governor Edwards announced that approximately 70,000 state employees can now take up to six weeks of paid parental leave. This policy will take effect on January 1st.

To qualify for this benefit, employees must have worked for the state for a minimum of one year, aligning with the unpaid leave protections outlined in the federal Family and Medical Leave Act. Additionally, they are required to utilize the leave within 12 weeks of the child’s birth, adoption, or foster placement.

This law will be applicable to all state-classified employees, including employees working at higher education institutions. Unclassified employees within higher education, as well as legislative and judicial staff, will not fall under the purview of the executive order.

The Heritage Foundation has published the second edition of its Education Freedom Report Card with the aim of advocating for educational freedom in every state. The report card evaluates four categories (Education Choice, Teacher Freedom, Transparency, and Return on Investment) that include over two dozen distinct factors.

According to the report, Florida maintains its position as the top-ranked state overall. Florida legislators have continued to promote education freedom, uphold parents' rights, and demonstrate a commendable return on investment for taxpayers.

Louisiana ranks 18th overall. The state ranks among the top 20 in terms of return on investment, but falls in the middle of the pack in terms of educational choice.

Further, Louisiana ranks fourth in terms of freedom for teachers, with 56% of its educators obtaining alternative certification, entering the classroom through non-traditional routes distinct from conventional university-based education programs.

Educational freedom allows parents the right to direct their children’s education and helps students thrive. Improving our educational freedom scores should be a top priority of Louisiana legislators!

Friends, election day is THIS SATURDAY! As Christians, we have a moral obligation to vote. ​​God calls us to engage in the political sphere as a way of caring for the spiritual and temporal lives of our neighbors. Moreover, we are morally obligated to vote for candidates whose policy positions best align with biblical principles. Pray for guidance and use LFF’s voter guide to cast an informed vote!

In His Service,

Gene Mills
President, Louisiana Family Forum

P.S. Year-end giving typically provides a substantial portion of our budget for the entire year, and none of what we do is possible without your financial support. Please consider including LFF in your year-end giving plans! Every dollar we receive helps bring Christian values back to the public sphere in Louisiana!