Jeff Landry wants Louisiana forces at the U.S.-Mexico border

Jeff Landry: Louisiana National Guard should help at the border

Landry and the border: Gov. Jeff Landry wants to send the Louisiana National Guard to the border to aid Texas in its standoff with the Biden administration, he said after visiting the border Sunday. Texas has argued that it, not the federal government, should secure the border.

Blue Cross: The nonprofit Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana is seeking state approval to sell its brand to a for-profit company, Stephanie Riegel reports. State insurance regulators will consider the controversial idea next week. State lawmakers are also meeting Monday to weigh in.

OJJ's new head: The man Gov. Jeff Landry wants to lead the Office of Juvenile Justice once ran a youth detention center where staff allegedly abused children, Meghan Friedmann reports. Landry's choice has been criticized, and the state Senate still has say over whether Kenny Loftin gets the job.

Numbers to Know

Nonprofit Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana would get $2.5B for selling itself to Elevance, a for-profit company

_____

BCBS-LA insures 1.9M Louisiana customers

_____

The Louisiana State Medical Society, which represents 4,000 physicians, is against the deal

_____

Doctors say a for-profit company could put profits over people's health

_____

BCBS-LA wants the deal because it is losing market share to bigger national insurers

_____

Two-thirds of Blue Cross' members and the state's Insurance Commissioner have final say over the sale

_____

Source: Louisiana State Medical Society, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana

Note: We deliver Inside Louisiana Politics three times a week. Got this email from a friend? Click here to be added to our list!