AM Newscall November 21, 2014

 

The early voting period for the December 6th runoff elections begins tomorrow. Scott Carwile reports…

CUT 1 (31) “reporting”

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Louisiana is facing a $171 million dollar revenue shortfall and the Jindal Administration is announcing mid-year budget cuts today. Michelle Southern reports.

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There’s a new Rasmussen poll out on the December 6th US-Senate runoff  and it shows incumbent Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu with 41% of the  vote and Congressman Bill Cassidy with 56%. Michelle Southern reports:

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The early voting period for the December 6th runoff elections begins tomorrow. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says early voting will run through Saturday November 29th excluding a few days…

Cut 4  (04)  “and Friday”

Schedler says there is no early voting next Friday because of an executive order from Governor Jindal declaring the day after Thanksgiving a state holiday. He is predicting a 30 to 35-percent voter turnout for the December runoff election. But Schedler expects voter turnout in the 5th and 6th Congressional districts to outpace the rest of the state…

Cut 5  (07)  “Congressional races”

Schedler says, even though control of the Senate has already been decided, it is still important hit your polling place, even if the US Senate race is the only item on your ballot…

Cut 6 (05)  “in November”

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The Jindal Administration will be announcing mid-year budget cuts today. Louisiana is facing a $171 million dollar revenue shortfall. Jindal’s chief administrator has indicated that higher education will avoid any substantial cuts, but Senate Finance chairman Jack Donahue doesn’t see that being possible…:

CUT 7 (11)  “$340 million dollar cut”

There are many dedicated budget items that can’t be cut so typically higher education and heath care are hit hardest. Donahue says he’s all ears to see what the Jindal Administration has in mind…:

Cut 8 (12)    “$10,000″ 

Higher education in Louisiana has been dealt massive cuts in state funding over the past several years. Donahue says we’re dealing with major revenue shortage and he feels the the state gives away too much money in tax credits. He says dollars seem to go as soon as they come in and Louisiana can’t get seem to get ahead…:

Cut 9 (13)  “should be getting”

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There’s a new Rasmussen poll out on the December 6th US-Senate runoff and it shows incumbent Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu with 41% of the vote and Congressman Bill Cassidy with 56%. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says there are several factors working against Landrieu’s chances at re-election…:

Cut 10 (12) “Republican Party” 

In the survey just three percent said they were undecided. Cross says there is also an enormous amount of money being spent to try to defeat Landrieu now that other races across the country are over. But he says a 15 point Landrieu deficit seems a bit high…:

cut 11 (11)  “margin of error”

The survey also found that only 76% of registered Democrats in Louisiana would vote for Landrieu. Cross says it’s not good that the incumbent isn’t even getting good numbers from her own party…:

cut 12 (09)  “registration yet”

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President Barack Obama announced his plans for immigration reform last night, but many people say more needs to be done. Local business consultant Randy Hayden says the new Congress that is sworn in next year should look at making more working visas available, which could help with the state’s worker shortage

Cut 13 (10)  “our economy”

Hayden says with the state on the cusp of an economic boom, experts predict we’ll have trouble finding enough workers in the areas of science, technology  and engineering and math. Hayden says fixing the nation’s current worker visa program could help

Cut 14 (12)  “Louisiana”

Hayden says one area of reform desperately needed deals with foreign students who are a educated by a Louisiana college and university, but then can’t stay after graduation because they can’t get a visa

Cut 15  (11)  “against us”

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McNeese State and Northwestern State wrap up their regular seasons tomorrow. Both teams still a shot at making the F-C-S playoffs. The Cowboys are at Lamar and McNeese Coach Matt Viator says this is always a tough game for his team

Cut 16  (17)  “tremendous offense”

Viator says even if a playoff spot wasn’t on the line, it’s still a big game for the McNeese Program, which is seeking its seventh win of the season

Cut 17  (11)   “football team”

Northwestern State will also go after it’s seventh win of the season when they visit Stephen F Austin. They winner of this game gets to keep seven-foot-six Chief Caddo, the largest trophy in college sports. Demons Coach Jay Thomas on the significance of this contest

Cut 18 (19) “those guys”