Landrysigns “REINS Act,” says will rein in big government

Bossier City, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — At the Cyber Innovation Center in Bossier City, Governor Jeff Landry says his administration is focused on cutting government waste and gaining self-sufficiency in Louisiana with the REINS Act.

“Today marks an important milestone that conservatives around this state have yearned for for a long, long time,” said Gov. Jeff Landry

Governor Landry addresses the state on Wednesday while also signing bills in Bossier City, saying he is delivering on a long-time promise.

“It is a day when we begin to implement policies aimed at promoting self-sufficiency in Louisiana and finally, once and for all, give our citizens a path from dependence to independence,” said Gov. Jeff Landry

The governor shared a list of welfare reform efforts with the help of the Louisiana Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a team he says is helping to crack down on fraud and wasted tax dollars.

“Starting in the 2nd quarter of this year, we began a verification process for continued eligibility of enrollees in Medicaid, food stamps, which is the SNAP program, and unemployment benefits,” said Gov. Jeff Landry.

Landry says part of that verification process will include removing out-of-state residents and the deceased from benefits while pushing for stricter verification efforts.

“The White House has told us no other state in the country has worked with their DOGE team to be able to reconcile these accounts,” said Gov. Landry. “Just already in the Medicaid program, we’ve recognized over $70 million worth of savings.”

District 4 State Representative Joy Walters says it could affect those who are in desperate need.

“I believe that this will hurt some of the most vulnerable people that we have in this state,” said Representative Walters, “and Louisiana, we have one of the lowest around the United States, one of the lowest median incomes, and we have the most people on Medicaid, but it is not because people are trying to broad the system or something like that. People need health care.”

Governor Landry also signed House Bills 617 and 624 into law, which he says prioritize employment and the “one-door” access system for welfare applicants.

“If you can work, we expect you to work here in Louisiana,” said Gov. Landry