PM LRN Newscall for June 11

The state House rejects a resolution that asked the Louisiana AG to drop his appeal of a federal judge’s order to release Albert Woodfox. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

==================

Colorado Congressman Jared Polis went on a crazy rant about “crayfish” directed at Minden Congressman John Fleming on the US House floor. Eric Gill has more…

CUT 2 (28) “I’m Eric Gill”

===================

Colorado Congressman Jared Polis went on a bizarre rant about “crayfish” directed at Minden Congressman John Fleming on the US House floor. Polis disagreed with Fleming’s stance on a bill that would prevent the federal government from enforcing federal marijuana laws in states that have legalized it. Here’s how Polis responded to Fleming’s remarks…

CUT 3 (07)  “to ban that”

In his rant, Polis asked Fleming if he would like “smoking crayfish” to be banned. Fleming says Polis’s rant was very odd and puzzling…

CUT 4 (09)  “on the floor”

Fleming cited numerous studies that show that states that have legalized marijuana have a much higher use rate among youth aged 12-17. Polis disputes those claims and make his stance on “crayfish” clear…

CUT 5 (11)  “I don’t want it”

Fleming says Polis can be pretty bizarre at times and this is a pretty good example of that.  He feels the Colorado congressman needs to get his facts straight before going on another rant…

CUT 6 (06)  “we boil them”

============================

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness has damage assessment teams in northwest Louisiana to gather information on the amount of damage as a result of the Red River flooding. GOHSEP deputy director Mark Riley says the data collected is needed in a request for a federal disaster declaration

CUT 7 (11) “disaster declaration”

Riley says if the state secures a presidential disaster declaration, it will allow individuals or families impacted by the flood to apply for financial assistance

CUT 8 (11)  “it would”

It’s been reported that 300 homes were affected by flooding in Shreveport. Riley says it’s too early to tell if the flooding is extensive enough to qualify for federal assistance

CUT 9 (11)  “of the damage”

============================

The state House rejected a resolution today that asked the Louisiana Attorney General to drop his appeal of a federal judge’s order to release Albert Woodfox; the last of the Angola three. Woodfox has been in solitary confinement for over 40 years for killing a prison guard, but his last two convictions were overturned. Baton Rouge Representative Patricia Smith says it’s time to drop this:

cut 10 (09) “lose again” 

Smith says Angola warden Burl Cain has said Woodfox is not violent and to keep him in solitary confinement like this is ridiculous. Woodfox has long argued that he did not kill guard Brent Miller but Jackson Representative Ken Havard says if the man is set free then the victim’s family would suffer…:(The resolution failed 65-18.)

cut 11 (09)  “out of there”

Woodfox has said he was targeted because he was trying to expose injustices at the prison and because he was an activist with the Black Panthers. Several House members came to the defense of Attorney General Caldwell and his desire to keep Woodfox in solitary confinement. Havard says this could have been taken care of long ago…:

cut 12 (09)  “incorrect”

============================

The US House votes to repeal a law requiring country of origin labels on beef, pork, and poultry. Richland Parish Congressman Ralph Abraham says it’s projected that Louisiana could face $1.3 billion in new tariffs on exports if Congress doesn’t pass the legislation. Abraham says this issue goes farther than just beef, pork, and poultry…

cut 13 (08)  “my farmers”

The World Trade Organization has ruled that the required labels discriminate against Mexican and Canadian meat imports. Abraham says the regulatory burden put on both countries is leading to them to impose retaliatory tariffs on Louisiana and the US. He says lawmakers are left with few choices…

cut 14 (12) “from the tariffs”

The measure now heads to the US Senate. Abraham says if a tariff war erupts, a lot more than beef, pork, and poultry would be involved and it would not turn out in our favor…

cut 15 (11) “particular products”

============================