John Bel Edwards Lies About His Energy Record As President Trump Travels To Louisiana To Promote Energy Workers

May 14, 2019

Under President Donald Trump, America is finally on track to fulfill a longtime bipartisan goal and become energy independent. Thanks to advancements in technology and a friendly administration, domestic oil and gas output is surging, and we’ve become a net oil exporter for the first time in 75 years.

Today, President Trump is traveling to Louisiana to tout his energy wins and highlight the state’s “booming southwest industrial hub.” He will appear at an LNG export facility that is expected to create 10,000 construction jobs.

On the heels of his visit, Governor John Bel Edwards (D), who is up for re-election this year, released a campaign advertisement touting his state’s booming energy industry.

The problem? The ad is deeply misleading and insulting to energy workers.

“Today the eyes of the nation turns to Southwest Louisiana as President Trump recognizes our energy industry,” said Edwards.

But Governor John Bel Edwards is no friend of energy workers. Edwards takes credit for the state’s booming energy industry, but that boom is in spite of the governor’s efforts to stifle the industry, not because of him. Despite warnings that hundreds of jobs would be lost, John Bel Edwards coerced parishes into supporting a legal barrage against the energy industry, a lawsuit spearheaded by a law firm that raised $2 million to help get him elected.

Louisiana is an example of how President Trump’s pro-energy policies create jobs across the country. Because America is able to export more natural gas, companies must invest in export facilities, and states like Louisiana, which have ports on the Gulf Coast, stand to benefit.

It has nothing to do with John Bel Edwards, and he should be called out for taking credit for the actions of others.

Background: 

Gov. Bel Edwards “Sought To Conscript” Coastal Parishes In Louisiana Into Suing The Oil And Gas Industry By Threatening To Deny Them Money From Any Future Settlements. “The oil and gas industry rejected Mr. Edward’s ultimatum, so instead he sought to conscript coastal parishes into suing the industry by threatening to cut non-joining parishes out of any future settlement cash. Six parishes obliged.” (Allysia Finley, Opinion, “The Governor And Louisiana Lawyers Plot An Energy Shakedown,” The Wall Street Journal, 3/2/18)

Talbot, Carmouche & Marcello, A Law Firm That Raised $2 Million For A Super PAC Supporting Gov. Bel Edwards In 2015, Is “Spearheading The Coastal Parish Suits On A Contingency Basis.” “Ganging up with local governments puts more pressure on oil and gas companies and increases the size of the potential jackpot, of which trial lawyers will get a cut. The law firm spearheading the coastal parish suits on a contingency basis happens to be Talbot, Carmouche & Marcello, which raised $2 million for a super PAC to boost Mr. Edwards in 2015 and spent heavily in local races.” (Allysia Finley, Opinion, “The Governor And Louisiana Lawyers Plot An Energy Shakedown,” The Wall Street Journal, 3/2/18)

In 2016, Gov. Edwards Called On Local Parishes To Sue For Damages From Oil And Gas Firms Over Damage Caused By Drilling And Dredging On Louisiana’s Coastal Wetlands. “Gov. John Bel Edwards plans to step up the fight to win damages from oil and gas companies for their role in damaging Louisiana’s wetlands over many decades, saying Wednesday that he wants all coastal parishes to join in litigation against the energy industry. If the parishes don’t sue, the state will, Edwards said. That’s a much more aggressive role than the state has ever before taken on the issue, and it would represent a major expansion of the legal effort already underway in four parishes to hold numerous oil and gas companies accountable for the damage caused to the state’s coastal wetlands by nearly a century of drilling and dredging.” (Jeff Adelson, “Gov. John Bel Edwards: State Will Sue Oil And Gas Companies Directly If Parishes Don’t,” The Advocate, 9/21/16)

• Gov. Edwards: “We Are Going To Pursue The Litigation So That There’s A Timely But Successful Resolution, Particularly For The Parishes Along The Coast, Because This Is Just Too Important.”(Jeff Adelson, “Gov. John Bel Edwards: State Will Sue Oil And Gas Companies Directly If Parishes Don’t,” The Advocate, 9/21/16)

Gov. Edwards Has Said The State Would File Its Own Lawsuits On Behalf Of Parishes That Don’t File Lawsuits, Which May Include Parishes That Are Heavily Reliant On The Energy Industry. “The state, through its natural resources department, is joining the local governments as a co-plaintiff. Mr. Edwards has said the state will file its own suits on behalf of the parishes that don’t file – a group that may include some that are heavily reliant on the energy industry.” (G.R., “John Bel Edwards Takes On The Oil And Gas Industry,” The Economist, 12/7/16)

Gov. Edwards’ Position Was At Odds With Attorney General Jeff Landry (R-LA), Who Sought To Block Gov. Edwards From Hiring Outside Attorneys To Sue On The State’s Behalf. “Edwards’ position promises to ratchet up hostilities between him and state Attorney General Jeff Landry, who initially appeared to support the coastal erosion suits but recently has sought to block the governor from hiring outside attorneys for the effort and has welcomed legal setbacks for the parishes.” (Jeff Adelson, “Gov. John Bel Edwards: State Will Sue Oil And Gas Companies Directly If Parishes Don’t,” The Advocate, 9/21/16)

• Attorney General Landry Called For All New Cases To Be Halted In Response. “In response to Edwards’ statement Wednesday, Landry’s office released a statement calling for all new cases to be halted.” (Jeff Adelson, “Gov. John Bel Edwards: State Will Sue Oil And Gas Companies Directly If Parishes Don’t,” The Advocate, 9/21/16)

Parish Presidents From The Lafourche And Terrebonne Parishes Met With Gov. Edwards To Tell Him They Have No Intention Of Suing Oil And Gas Companies. “Gov. John Bel Edwards has been strongly urged to reconsider the pressure he’s placed on parishes to sue oil and gas companies over alleged damage to coasts caused by their operations… Two parish presidents from Lafourche and Terrebonne met with Edwards and delivered a letter that told him they have no intention of suing the oil and gas companies.” (John Breslin, “Governor Urged To Retreat From Threat To Sue Oil And Gas Companies,” Louisiana Record, 10/10/16)

• They Stated That The Lawsuits Would Jeopardize Hundreds Of New Jobs For Their Parishes. “I kindly ask you to please realize the effect a lawsuit such as this will have on our local economy. A suit such as this at this time will jeopardize hundreds of new jobs,’ the letter read. It was written by Terrebonne Parish President Gordon Dove and co-signed by Lafourche Parish President Jimmy Cantrell.” (John Breslin, “Governor Urged To Retreat From Threat To Sue Oil And Gas Companies,” Louisiana Record, 10/10/16)

Gov. Edwards Said He Would Instruct The Department Of Natural Resources To Sue On The Parishes Behalf In Defiance Of The Local Leaders Wishes. “In his letter to 16 coastal parishes, Edwards gave them 30 days to reply. He upped that to 45 days following the meeting with the two parish presidents. He will instruct the state’s department of natural resources (DNR) to sue on behalf of the parishes if they do not hire lawyers. Four parishes have already filed suits against oil and gas companies, Jefferson, Plaquemines, Cameron and Vermilion. These continue to toil in state court and in some cases, remain there for years.” (John Breslin, “Governor Urged To Retreat From Threat To Sue Oil And Gas Companies,” Louisiana Record, 10/10/16)