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Started By
Message
Louisiana House votes to ban ‘free’ to describe government giveaways
Posted on 4/20/24 at 10:24 am
Posted on 4/20/24 at 10:24 am
quote:
The Louisiana House voted 55-46 this week to ban the use of the word “free” when referring to government benefits, products or services, though similar descriptions such as “ provided at no cost” or “complimentary” would still be permissible.
“It’s a bill that I’ve nicknamed my ‘Don’t Say Free’ bill,” said Rep. Beryl Amedée, R-Schriever, sponsor of legislation, in a hearing earlier this month. “If we’re going to move forward in society and have people not be dependent on the government for everything, then we need to begin to change the vocabulary.”
“The use of the word free is rather insulting to all taxpayers because it’s not free,” she said. “It’s been paid for by all of us.”
House Bill 265 would prohibit state and local government entities from using “free” when the word “refers to a benefit, product or service financed with public funds.”
Amedée held up marketing campaigns for free food from food banks, free blood pressure screenings at health clinics and free counseling for alcohol dependency as examples of when she thought the word “free” was used inappropriately.
She also doesn’t approve of using “free” in the description of public suicide prevention services, vaccines, ultrasounds and over-the-counter overdose treatments when they have been paid for with public money.
“No government program is actually free. The taxpayer always pays,” said Amedée, one of the leaders of the Louisiana House Freedom Caucus. “We should be honest and use appropriate language.”
“It could say: ‘At no cost to you’ for example,” she said.
Democratic legislators balked at the bill.
“I don’t like this bill,” Rep. Ed Larvadain, D-Alexandria, said during the committee hearing. “I don’t want us controlling language. I don’t like us telling people what words to use.”
“Out of all the bills, this is the most peculiar bill I read,” he said.
“What is the difference between ‘free’ and ‘at no cost?’” House Democratic Caucus Chairman Matthew Willard of New Orleans during the House debate on the bill.
“By moving away from the use of the word ‘free,’ it brings awareness that someone is paying for this for you,” Amedée said.
Amedée’s legislation could cost public money to implement. Government agencies might have to change websites, branding and printed marketing products to remove the word “free” and replace it with similar language. There has been no estimate about what those public might be yet.
The Pelican Institute, a conservative Louisiana think tank, supports the legislation.
A few conservative Republican legislators suggested the bill might cut down on public waste.
“People will go pick up a free lunch and never eat it, just because it is free,” Rep. Les Farnum, R-Sulphur, said.
The Louisiana Senate needs to approve the legislation before it can become law.
LINK /
Posted on 4/20/24 at 10:27 am to ragincajun03
quote:well frick me sideways and call me Willie
“The use of the word free is rather insulting to all taxpayers because it’s not free,” she said. “It’s been paid for by all of us.”
Posted on 4/20/24 at 10:27 am to ragincajun03
This is the thought process that "zero dollars" comes from. Really grates on me when ads use that phrase.
"Up to" is another one, and "moderate to severe." Nobody talks like this.
"Up to" is another one, and "moderate to severe." Nobody talks like this.
Posted on 4/20/24 at 10:29 am to ragincajun03
Louisiana always hitting the topics that are most needed! What a great bunch of people. Don't worry about our roads this is what we need
Posted on 4/20/24 at 10:29 am to ragincajun03
How about stop providing free shite instead
Posted on 4/20/24 at 10:30 am to ragincajun03
quote:
Democratic legislators balked at the bill.
Even "at no cost to you" is misleading.
How about "paid for by someone else"?
Posted on 4/20/24 at 10:32 am to ragincajun03
America is one of the few places in the world that uses “free” to describe govt services or private sector offerings at no cost to consumer
In British English, the term used is “free at the point of use”. They use that term to describe everything from their NHS to govt-provided WiFi services to even private sector offerings.
When our company acquired a British hazardous disposal company and had our first meeting with their guys, they looked puzzled at us when we kept on referring to the “free” reconditioned containers we offer our clients.
They were confused how it wasn’t costing our company money by offering the free stuff. Finally we figured out it was because we weren’t using the phrase “free at the point of use”
In British English, the term used is “free at the point of use”. They use that term to describe everything from their NHS to govt-provided WiFi services to even private sector offerings.
When our company acquired a British hazardous disposal company and had our first meeting with their guys, they looked puzzled at us when we kept on referring to the “free” reconditioned containers we offer our clients.
They were confused how it wasn’t costing our company money by offering the free stuff. Finally we figured out it was because we weren’t using the phrase “free at the point of use”
Posted on 4/20/24 at 10:33 am to ragincajun03
Should say "Taxpayer Funded"
Posted on 4/20/24 at 10:36 am to ragincajun03
Why are representatives wasting their time with shite like this?
Posted on 4/20/24 at 10:36 am to ragincajun03
Instead they will just vote to give themselves raises for this
This post was edited on 4/20/24 at 10:37 am
Posted on 4/20/24 at 10:39 am to ragincajun03
Glad they’re working on this and some stupid shite like a loop around BR or getting I-49 done from Laf to Nola.
Posted on 4/20/24 at 10:39 am to PetroBabich
Kids should learn one thing before reaching Middle School. Everything has a cost and there isn’t a good or service that doesn’t have a price. Nothing is free ! Supply and demand is the second principle kids should understand before graduating High School.
Posted on 4/20/24 at 10:55 am to ragincajun03
D-Alexandria, said during the committee hearing. “I don’t want us controlling language. I don’t like us telling people what words to use.”
Really????
Really????
Posted on 4/20/24 at 11:01 am to ragincajun03
quote:
“The use of the word free is rather insulting to all taxpayers because it’s not free,” she said. “It’s been paid for by all of us.”quote:
though similar descriptions such as “ provided at no cost” or “complimentary” would still be permissible.
Yeah, that implies the taxpayers have a "say so" in the matter. Just more government bloviating hoping the populace is ignorant.
Posted on 4/20/24 at 11:01 am to ragincajun03
excellent.
there will be those who say, “why are our representatives wasting time on this?!?!?” but i believe it’s a fair verbiage change.
sure sure
there will be those who say, “why are our representatives wasting time on this?!?!?” but i believe it’s a fair verbiage change.
quote:
Louisiana always hitting the topics that are most needed!
quote:
Why are representatives wasting their time with shite like this?
sure sure
This post was edited on 4/20/24 at 11:03 am
Posted on 4/20/24 at 11:02 am to Klark Kent
quote:
there will be those who say, “why are our representatives wasting time on this?!?!?” but i believe it’s a fair verbiage change.
It's like they think rep's are limited to only one bill per year.
Posted on 4/20/24 at 11:03 am to ragincajun03
Well I’ve done seen it all.
Conservative politicians are triggered by the word “free.”
What’s not free is the salary we pay these retards to come up with bills like this.
Conservative politicians are triggered by the word “free.”
What’s not free is the salary we pay these retards to come up with bills like this.
Posted on 4/20/24 at 11:04 am to LSUFanHouston
ohhh the hypocrisy.
LSUCuckHouston been fighting all day on the PB for the uniparty dogshit bill to send a couple billion more taxpayer dollars to Ukraine/Isreal/whoever. but is worried about the time/money spent on this bill.
LSUCuckHouston been fighting all day on the PB for the uniparty dogshit bill to send a couple billion more taxpayer dollars to Ukraine/Isreal/whoever. but is worried about the time/money spent on this bill.
This post was edited on 4/20/24 at 11:09 am
Posted on 4/20/24 at 11:05 am to ragincajun03
quote:
“I don’t like this bill,” Rep. Ed Larvadain, D-Alexandria, said during the committee hearing. “I don’t want us controlling language. I don’t like us telling people what words to use.”
Ironic statement is ironic
Posted on 4/20/24 at 11:07 am to Keyser Sooieze
quote:
bloviating hoping the populace is ignorant.
That’s a pretty safe bet
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