Nungesser: Fix the budget or ‘we’re all going to lose’

Published 6:00 am Tuesday, May 29, 2018

MORGAN CITY — Continuing his remarks after a chamber luncheon last week, Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser said state legislature’s lack of compromising with the governor to fix the upcoming fiscal year budget is sending out the wrong message not only statewide but across the country.

“What are we saying to America about Louisiana?” Nungesser asked.

“I don’t have a vote it in this, but I can tell you whether it’s a half-penny, or a quarter of a penny with cuts, the legislature has got to come together and fix it. We can’t not do something just because of politics,” he said.

Nungesser spoke to the St. Mary Parish Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, briefing the members on tourism efforts, his thoughts on the budget and, afterward, continuing to comment on the budget’s unbalanced status.

He also had a few words for Rep. Blake Miguez, R-Erath, a Loreauville native who rebuked him for attending a news conference Gov. John Bel Edwards held last Tuesday at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, on the budget.

Miguez, through a tweet on Twitter, asked whether Nungesser had endorsed the governor’s tax and spend policies on the hard-working tax payers of Louisiana. Then he called Nungesser a disappointment to the Republican Party of Louisiana.

Nungesser said he was a Republican long before Miguez was born.

“Why would you attack a fellow Republican, because I went to defend services to the blind, all of our tourism grants and Volunteer Louisiana?” Nungesser asked.

“Look, volunteers helped rebuild his whole district after the storm and yet he is going to dog me because I spoke in defense of that? Then, he’s going to get on the radio and say I’m for higher taxes?” Nungesser said.

“It’s very immature and short-sighted for anyone to criticize those who went to hear the governor speak because they were there, supporting this state. We are all Louisianians and it’s time we act like it.”

He also accused legislators who sit in Baton Rouge and continually vote against the governor, of must wanting to see him, “go down.”

Nungesser said the budget, in short, boils down to how much the state needs to operate, how much cuts can be made and then, a meeting somewhere in the middle, “because if we don’t talk, we can’t fix it.”

He recalled lessons from his father, the senior William Nungesser, who was head of the state’s Republican party in the 1980s.

“One thing dad always taught me is that you have to reach across the aisle and work together. Look, they didn’t always agree on everything — they’d argue — but then they would compromise on something that would work for Louisiana,” he said.

“If this budget is not compromised, if we continue to let legislators like Blake Miguez rule, then we’re all going to lose,” he said.

“I know of people across every industry who are saying that if the budget isn’t fixed, they will have to look for another job, and odds are, those jobs are going to be out of state.”

In related matters, he believes Edwards was required by state law to send out letters informing  families with loved ones in nursing homes that they may have to relocate.

He understood some hospital employees also received letters because they may be laid off.

“I don’t know the legal aspect of that, but if that is what’s required, I’m sure that’s why they did it,” he said.

“Whatever tactics were used on both sides, it’s time that we all come together and work this out, for the good of Louisiana,” he said.

The lieutenant governor noted that in addition to being responsible for tourism dollars, his office pays for services to the blind through the state’s library system. Within the library system, his office also pays for internet service to every library within the state.

In tourism news, Nungesser told the chamber that 2017 was a record year for tourism, with the state seeing 47.1 million visitors and cashing in on $17.5 billion.

He said of the $17.5 billion, $1.8 billion went to the state’s coffers. He said this represents a little more than $1,000 per family in the state, “of taxes you and I didn’t have to pay.”

He said tourism is the state’s fourth-largest industry and it continues to grow.

He also stressed the importance of informing his office once festivals and events are organized.

“We have ways to help you promote your event. Inform us. Look, the more tourists we can pump through, the better chances we can help our communities that are so dependent on the oil industry, because right now it’s such a tough time,” he said.

Nungesser said this year, his office will focus on new programs, one of which is to attract more international visitors and the other, to develop the state’s natural parks.

He said in 2017 the state recorded its second-largest increase ever in international visitors.

“Stats are showing that every time someone watches television and hears NCIS New Orleans, they’re making plans to come. In countries like China however, they’re amazed by our movies, so we’re working on developing a movie promotion,” he said.

Regarding the state’s parks, he is planning to open opportunities for local business owners to locate a water park inside, trail riding, and he’s even open to resort development.

“We’re after win-win opportunities,” Nungesser said.

Over the past 12 years, Nungesser said his budget has been cut by more than 50 percent, citing that $54 million was cut from state parks under the administration of Gov. Bobby Jindal.