President Trump addresses the nation tonight to lay out his case for increased funding for border security in the midst of a government shutdown a dispute about border wall funding. Republican Congressman Garret Graves says additional border security is necessary due to the presence of Central American cartels on the Mexican side that he says are responsible for the vast majority of opioids in America, and other criminal activity.
The dispute has centered on the President’s demand for 5.7 billion in additional border wall construction.
The President says building the wall would make America safer, but Democratic New Orleans Congressman Cedric Richmond says those claims just aren’t true, and utilizing modern methods, like those called for by the Department of Homeland Security, would be a better border plan.
Graves agreed that a border security plan should also lean on modern technology over thousands of miles of wall.
According to his re-election campaign, Gov. John Bel Edwards raised $3.8 million in 2018 and enters 2019 with $8.3 million in the bank for the race. A report from the campaign indicates that 87% of the money came from in-state donors. UL Lafayette Poli Sci Professor Pearson Cross says Edwards will remain active on the campaign fundraising trail.
One of Edwards’ announced challengers, Eddie Rispone’s gubernatorial campaign says the Baton Rouge Republican has 5.5 million dollars in his campaign account. No word yet from the other Republican challenger Ralph Abraham.
A candlelight vigil was held yesterday at Marksville High School as the Avoyelles Parish community came together to mourn those affected by the deadly wreck in Florida that claimed the lives of five children last week. Edwards spoke about the wreck at the Baton Rouge Press Club yesterday.