Louisiana Attorney General Urges Bond Commission to Act as New Orleans Officials Pledge to Defy State Abortion Laws

Louisiana – On July 19, 2022, amid reports that the New Orleans City Council, Mayor, Police Chief, District Attorney, and Sheriff have pledged not to enforce Louisiana’s abortion laws – Attorney General Jeff Landry asked the Treasurer and his fellow Bond Commission members to postpone any applications and funding for the City until its officials have confirmed that they will enforce State laws.

“As Attorney General and member of the Bond Commission, it is my belief that a parish or municipality should not benefit from the hard-working taxpayers of this State while ignoring laws validly enacted by the people through their representatives,” said Attorney General Landry. “In light of the City’s open defiance of the will of the people of Louisiana, I urge the Bond Commission to defer any applications for the City of New Orleans, Orleans Parish, and any local governmental entity or political subdivision under its purview. In addition, any other funding that will directly benefit the City of New Orleans should also be paused until such time as the Council, Mayor, Chief of Police, Sheriff, and District Attorney have met with and affirmed that they will comply with and enforce the laws of this State and cooperate with any State officials who may be called upon to enforce them.”

“The officials in New Orleans took an oath of office to support and enforce the laws of our State, yet they appear to have decided that some laws are not worthy of enforcement,” added Attorney General Landry. “Nothing in the statutes, the City Charter, or the State Constitution permits these officials to blatantly ignore State law, conspire not to enforce it, and violate their oaths of office in this manner. In fact, our State Constitution prohibits this very conduct.”

Louisiana Attorney General Landry noted in a letter to the Treasurer that many members of the Bond Commission, including the Governor, have gone on record voting in support of the very laws that these elected officials are openly and publicly refusing to enforce. “I ask that you and my fellow Bond Commission members join me in ensuring that the parishes and municipalities of this State comply with all laws of our State, especially those protecting the lives of the unborn,” wrote Attorney General Landry.

Follow this link to view the full letter.