If elected to represent District 22, what do you think about …

Reducing taxes?

I certainly think we should reduce taxes to the lowest level possible for all individuals and businesses when we can do so without upsetting the function of state government.  Unfortunately, there is no way to reduce taxes at this time due to the tremendous budget shortfall we are facing in the upcoming year.  I believe that our current level of revenue in this state is more than adequate to fund the necessary functions of our state government.  We don’t have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem. The first thing our I intend to do is address the spending and reduce it to get out budget balanced so that we are not running a deficit.  Then I would like to further reduce spending to enable the state to actually look at a tax “shift.”   Rather than reduce taxes, I would like to see the state cut down on the sales tax by one or two cents and allow local governments to pick up that one or two cents.  That would mean additional funds that would stay local for local governments to be able to use.  I am of the opinion that local governments know better than Baton Rouge politicians where they need to spend money in their respective districts.  In addition, I believe that the constituents of local government can hold their local elected officials more accountable than they can elected officials who serve in Baton Rouge.  Better media coverage of local governmental meetings and decisions as well as the fact that local elected officials are more accessible, is the reason for that increased level of accountability.  

Supporting offshore drilling and the offshore drilling moratorium’s impact on the state?

As the next State Senator from District 22, I would definitely support offshore drilling.  I don’t know anyone who would argue that the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was not a tragic event.  However, it was an accident that does not happen with any frequency and is something that our oil & gas industry can learn from to prevent something like it from happening again.  The trickle down affect of the moratorium and the current crawl of the drilling permitting process is severely hurting many small businesses in Louisiana that support oil & gas exploration as well as other small businesses that rely on customers who might be employed in the oil and gas industry.  Oil & Gas exploration has always been a dangerous endeavor.  It is a testament to the folks in that industry that the danger of drilling has been safely managed for the most part and we have not seen more tragedies like the gulf oil spill.  That record of safety and what the oil & gas exploration industry means to our economy locally and nationally is the reason that our government should allow drilling to resume.

Economic development in the district?

How do I feel about Economic development in the District?  I feel it is absolutely vital to our economic survival.  I think it needs to be strategic to create a more diverse economy that is not so reliant on a few industries whose successes and failures can have to great an impact on our local economy overall.  I do however believe that we cannot ignore the industries that work well in our region due to being a natural fit with the natural resources we have.  In our effort to spur economic development we must continue to support the needs of our existing businesses so that they are able to flourish and remain viable.  

The Acadiana Regional Airport has been recognized recently by the Louisiana State Department of Economic Development as one of the major economic engines of the region. What will you do as senator to ensure that this local resource reaches its potential?

As Senator, I would work to make sure that our Airport remains a viable economic engine by doing what is possible to ensure that it maintains it’s good standing with the FAA.  Without that, our Airport would only be a big piece of concrete with a bunch of big buildings around it.  In addition, I think we need the infrastructure to enable our airport to reach its potential.  Better access to the airport with a more direct route to its by highway and rail would enable the Airport to reach its potential.  With the proper marketing and ease of access, it could become an international destination for goods coming into this country from all over the world and especially Central and South America.  I see the Airport’s potential as being related to the cargo and import/export industries.

What development do you envision seeing in the recently created TIF districts in Iberia Parish?

What in your opinion needs to be done to capture the greatest potential there?  The creation of the TIF districts and their planned infrastructure development will be the primary determining factor in what types of businesses will want to establish themselves there.  It is really about the best match.  Personally, I see my job as Senator to support local government by doing what is necessary legislatively to create the environment necessary to allow the TIFs to reach their fullest potential.  Personally, I think we need to slow down the expansion of TIF Districts and formulate a strategic plan where they can and should be implemented.  The concept is a good one, but TIF District creation is often abused and not the economic engine it is designed to be.  Instead, when TIFs are created in areas of natural expansion, they often end up costing local governments money.  What can happen is that the anticipated tax revenue from TIF Districts is not enough or just enough to pay for the infrastructure investment necessary for the development of the TIF District.  However, there are increased costs associated with the development that occurs within those districts such as police protection, education of additional residents moving to an area, and basic governmental services.  The expenses for these services have to be paid for from somewhere.  If the tax revenue generated from within the TIF is not enough to pay for these increased cost of governmental services, then services elsewhere need to be cut or money currently being spent in other areas of the district moved.    

How will you ensure that the interests of both St. Martin and Iberia parishes are represented at the state level?

That’s easy.  Both St. Martin and Iberia parish are very similar.  If the interests of one parish are being represented, then the interest of the other is more than likely also being represented.  If I am fighting to create a law that helps farmers, both parishes are represented equally.  I also feel like i would be able to work with all of the local governments to identify where they need help in the legislature to make easier their job of providing goods and services to the citizens of their respective districts.  More importantly, my idea of reducing state spending to allow for a shift of sales tax revenues back to local governmental entities, will affect both parishes equally and bring extra revenues to their budgets with autonomy over how their money is spent.  In my mind, that’s the best way to represent each parish equally!