Central Louisiana News

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), has written a Letter to the Editor in The Advocate expressing his opposition to the Louisiana Legislature's decision to switch the state from an open primary to a closed primary system. Cassidy highlights that polling has shown that 97% of Louisianans do not want to spend millions of dollars on more elections.

The change to a closed primary system is estimated to cost taxpayers $135 million over the next 10 years, adding to the state's existing $64 million deficit for the next fiscal year. Cassidy points out that this significant expense will only be used for a mere 28 officials out of almost 5,000.

In his letter, Cassidy states, "Closed primaries also mean tens of thousands of Louisiana voters will not be able to vote. They are footing the bill for what the sponsor of the closed primary legislation has called a 'club,' which is a political party that doesn't want to let non-affiliated voters in but is still making them pay the bill anyway."

Cassidy emphasizes the need for fiscal conservatism, urging the Legislature to spend $135 million on priorities that benefit the taxpayers, rather than on dues for a club. He suggests that the funds could be allocated towards important areas such as mental health services, opioid addiction treatment, maternal health care, or even for improving infrastructure and hiring more police officers.

The Senator also raises concerns about the complexity and expense of closed primaries, citing the previous attempt to implement them in 2008, which was ultimately abandoned in 2010. He highlights that the current open primary system is simple and easy for voters, with everyone in the same precinct receiving the same ballot. Under the closed primary system, voters would be segregated by party and face the possibility of separate ballots or additional lines at the polling place, leading to frustration and increased error rates.

Cassidy concludes by pointing out that the current system has proven to be effective, as evidenced by Louisiana's delegation in Washington. He states, "There is no other delegation in Congress that has the two highest leadership positions in the House, seats on both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, and the top Republican spot on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee." He urges the Legislature to maintain the current system for an effective delegation and to prioritize taxpayer-funded expenditures on projects that truly matter to the people of Louisiana.

In summary, Senator Cassidy's letter to The Advocate highlights the concerns surrounding the switch to a closed primary system in Louisiana. With the estimated cost of $135 million over the next 10 years and the exclusion of tens of thousands of voters, Cassidy argues that this decision is fiscally reckless and goes against the wishes of the majority of Louisianans. He urges the Legislature to reconsider and focus on priorities that benefit the taxpayers, rather than spending on a closed primary system.