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Education, Infrastructure, and State Constitution Among Topics At NWLA Legislative Summit

Courtesy: Chuck Smith / Red River Radio News

WHAT AFFECTS LOUISIANA? - The  Northwest Louisiana Legislative Summit took place yesterday at the CenturyLink Center in Bossier City as hundreds attended to hear a panel discussion on topics affecting Louisiana.   The discussion was moderated by Barry Erwin, president of the Council For A Better Louisiana,  a non-partisan group that focuses on policy matters.  

"Elections tend to be a distraction," Erwin explained. "So what we're trying to do is focus on things that will really move the needle for our state in the future."

The focus for the panel discussion was infrastructure, education, criminal justice, and tax  reform. The  panel consisted  of  State Senators  Barrow Peacock,  Ryan Gatti, and State House Representatives  Wayne McMahen,  Larry Bagley, and  Thomas Carmody all Republicans.  Democratic  Governor John Bel 

Credit Courtesy: Bossier Chamber of Commerce
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Courtesy: Bossier Chamber of Commerce
PANEL DISCUSSION - Barry Erwin, President for CABL moderates a panel of Louisiana lawmakers during the NW La. Legislative Summit 2019.

Edwards was the keynote speaker.  One item discussed was whether or not Louisiana’s  constitution should be revised as  many have criticized it as being too long and makes legislation complicated.  After he spoke,  I asked Governor Edwards if there is any collective appetite for a constitutional convention.

"There's not agreement among legislators anywhere in the state as to whether we should have one and if so, what we should try to accomplish from it," explained Edwards. 

Credit Courtesy: Bossier Chamber of Commerce
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Courtesy: Bossier Chamber of Commerce
Governor John Bel Edwards made the keynote address at the NW La. Legislative Summit 2019 at CenturyLink Center in Bossier City, LA.

The governor also pointed out that legislative action during the past year revealed lawmakers could work past constitutional bottlenecks.

Edwards said "We were able to fix our problems and acheive the stability that we needed for so long without a constitutional convention."

It is an election cycle as the governor’s race is heating up and  with  Edwards  the only Democratic governor in the south, it’s no secret that the National Republican party would like to see this race as a win for their side.  Edwards commented on recent attack  ads  accusing  Edwards  for  raising  the  state  sales tax. 

"We had the largest budget deficit in the history of our state when I became governor,"Edwards explained. "We had a Republican majority House and Senate each of which voted with a 2/3rds (majority) vote to pass those revenues. But we also made cuts and we found savings and took a balanced approach to a balanced budget."

Edwards faces Republicans  Ralph Abraham, Representative for Louisiana's 5th congressional district, and businessman Eddie Rispone of Baton Rouge.

The Northwest Louisiana Legislative Summit was hosted by The Bossier Chamber of Commerce, along with the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce, the Shreveport-Bossier African American Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Minden Chamber of Commerce and the North Louisiana Economic Partnership.

Chuck Smith brings more than 30 years' broadcast and media experience to Red River Radio. He began his career as a radio news reporter and transitioned to television journalism and newsmagazine production. Chuck studied mass communications at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia and motion picture / television production at the University of California at Los Angeles. He has also taught writing for television at York Technical College in Rock Hill, South Carolina and video / film production at Centenary College of Louisiana, Shreveport.