AG Caldwell: "We are extremely disappointed that our Supreme Court has refused to address and protect one of our most important rights as American citizens - the right to be properly represented in accordance with the U.S. Constitution."
The U.S. Supreme Court has declined without comment to hear a federal lawsuit filed by state Attorney General Buddy Caldwell seeking to restore a Louisiana seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Louisiana lost one of its seven seats in the House as a result of the 2010 census, which found that while Louisiana's population between 2000 and 2010 was stagnant; other states showed population gains and therefore picked up additional seats in Congress. Caldwell's suit contends that states with large undocumented immigrant populations like Arizona, California, Florida and Texas are illegally benefitting at the expense of Louisiana and other states with low undocumented populations.
"We are extremely disappointed that our Supreme Court has refused to address and protect one of our most important rights as American citizens - the right to be properly represented in accordance with the U.S. Constitution," Caldwell laments in a press release issued Monday afternoon. "The current census unconstitutionally dilutes the rights of American citizens to be represented in accordance with the U.S. Constitution by counting illegal aliens as part of the population of states in order to determine congressional representation. By turning a blind eye to the issue presented, the Court has elevated the benefits of illegal immigration by foreign nationals to another level."
The suit, known as Louisiana v. Bryson, was filed last year following a special session of the Legislature devoted to redistricting federal and state political boundaries. As a result of the redistricting, what is currently the 3rd Congressional District seat occupied by freshman U.S. Rep. Jeff Landry was essentially absorbed in the southwest Louisiana district held by Rep. Charles Boustany and into the greater New Orleans district occupied by Rep. Cedric Richmond.
By most indications Landry, whose home residence in New Iberia will be in Boustany's district beginning next year - the 7th CD will become the 3rd CD next year - will challenge Boustany this fall.