Morris Legislative Record: Tax Reform and Redistricting in Louisiana
The legislative history of Morris reflects a commitment to conservative fiscal principles and strategic political mapping. From high-stakes debates in the House Ways and Means Committee to the complex process of redrawing electoral boundaries, Morris has played a pivotal role in shaping Louisiana's legal and political landscape.
Key Facts
- Opposed a 2017 tax plan that would have raised business taxes while lowering them for 90% of individual taxpayers.
- Argued against the elimination of the federal income tax deduction.
- Served as the lead sponsor for the 2026 redrawing of Louisiana districts.
- Strategically concentrated Democratic voters into District 2 to benefit Republican performance in other districts.
Tax Reform and Fiscal Policy
In May 2017, a significant legislative clash occurred within the House Ways and Means Committee regarding a tax reform proposal introduced by Republican colleague Rob Shadoin of Ruston. The plan, which combined four individual bills on the advice of Democratic ally Major Thibaut of New Roads, aimed to make the tax code more progressive—a system where higher income earners pay a larger percentage of their income in taxes.
The proposed measure sought to lower taxes for approximately 90 percent of individual taxpayers by increasing the tax burden on businesses and eliminating the deduction for federal income. Morris opposed this plan, asserting that the legislation would not improve the state's fiscal situation and would, in fact, exacerbate it. Following the committee's decision to kill the measure, Shadoin remarked that such a failure effectively ended hopes for tax reform.
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Redistricting and Electoral Strategy
In 2026, Morris took a leading role in the redrawing of Louisiana's congressional districts. This action followed a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down the previous map, designating it as an illegal racial gerrymander—the practice of manipulating district boundaries to favor or disadvantage a specific racial group.
As the lead sponsor of the new legislation, Morris implemented a strategy to optimize the map for the Republican party. By intentionally placing a higher concentration of Democratic voters into District 2, Morris aimed to improve the performance of Republicans in the remaining districts. These redrawn maps are projected to provide the Republican party with one additional seat.
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| Issue | Year | Position/Action | Outcome/Goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tax Reform Plan | 2017 | Opposed | Prevented fiscal decline and removal of federal tax deductions |
| District Redrawing | 2026 | Lead Sponsor | Expected gain of one Republican seat |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Morris oppose the 2017 tax reform plan?
Morris argued that the plan would worsen the state's fiscal situation and criticized the removal of the federal income tax deduction.
What was the goal of Rob Shadoin's tax proposal?
The proposal aimed to make the tax code more progressive by raising taxes on businesses and lowering them for 90% of individual taxpayers.
Why were Louisiana's districts redrawn in 2026?
The redrawing was necessary after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the previous map constituted an illegal racial gerrymander.
How did Morris approach the redistricting process?
Morris purposely concentrated more Democratic voters into District 2 to make the other districts more favorable for Republican candidates.
What is the expected result of the new district maps?
The redrawn maps are expected to favor the Republican party by one additional seat.