A non-partisan campaign called Tariffs Hurt the Heartland claims Louisiana businesses have paid an extra 85-million dollars in import tariffs since President Donald Trump started a trade war with China. Supporters say the tariffs will force China to renegotiate a new trade deal. But former Congressman Charles Boustany, a spokesman for Tariffs Hurt the Heartland, says the tariffs are backfiring…
cut 12 (11) “…escalated”
Boustany proposes a new approach to the Chinese trade deficit, built around assembling a trade coalition to generate better leverage on China.

The Louisiana Board of Commerce and Industry votes today on whether Driftwood LNG should receive a tax exemption that could top two-billion dollars. Louisiana Economic Development says the nearly 16-billion dollar liquefied natural gas export facility in Calcasieu Parish would see a tax break of 283-million dollars in the first year alone.

Louisiana ranks last in the United Health Foundation’s annual rankings for healthiest states in America. A High percentage of children in poverty and a high prevalence of frequent mental distress are among the challenges the state faces. Doctor Rhonda Randall says the percentage of adults smoking has also increased 5-percent over the past two years…
cut 6 (10) “…48TH”
Randall says the percentage of cardiovascular deaths also increased four-percent over the last three years.

A Loyola University New Orleans Jesuit Social Research Institute report finds Louisiana has the second highest rate of food insecurity in the nation. J-S-R-I Executive Director, Father Fred Kammer, says Louisiana is known as a foodie destination, but many areas of the state do not have a full-service grocery store that have healthy and affordable food options…
cut 8 (09) “….their family”
Kammer says Louisiana needs to make food policy a higher priority.