The Transportation Task Force votes today on a recommendation that the budget for roads and bridges be increased by 700 million dollars a year. DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson says the 20-cent gas tax the state imposed 30 years ago is only worth half of that today. He says the state has 16 million dollars in projects needed, including a new Mississippi River Bridge through Baton Rouge and those projects need funding.
Cut 5 (10) “state system”

Congressman Garret Graves spoke before the Baton Rouge Press Club and expressed his frustration with flood recovery. Graves says he’s had the opportunity to talk with President-elect Trump about the timeline of FEMA assistance. He says the future president agreed the efficiency of appropriating flood dollars to victims was absurd.
Cut 8 (10) “for itself.”

 
New Orleans Representative Helena Moreno has developed a nonprofit organization to advocate for women’s issues in Louisiana. Moreno says she wants to address issues like wage equality, along with educational opportunities and domestic violence prevention.
Cut 14 (09) “deserve it”

Moreno says Louisiana ranks 49th for overall health with many women dying of breast and cervical cancer.

The Louisiana Department of Health says they’ve seen a big uptick in cases of the mumps in states surrounding Louisiana. Dr. Frank Welch with LDH says Mississippi, Alabama, Texas and Arkansas have seen outbreaks. He says Louisiana has a fairly high vaccination rate which shelters us from the mumps but the public can still take precautions to avoid the disease.

Cut 11 (10) “your doctor”
He says the mumps are airborne and can be passed by saliva and mucus.