Gas prices continue their usual climb during the spring months. Jeff Palermo has an update on where we stand…
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Governor Edwards raised 2.5 million dollars in the last quarter, bringing his cash on hand to 10.2 million dollars for his re-election effort. Matt Doyle has more…
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The statewide average price for gasoline is up 26-cents from a month ago. According to Gas-Buddy-dot-com the statewide average stands at $2.48 per gallon, which is six cents more than a year. GasBuddy analyst Patrick DeHaan says the price at the pump is rising, because production is down
Cut 3 (10) “…summer driving season.”
DeHaan says oil prices are also rising, up 21-dollars a barrel from Christmas. He says expect gas prices to keep rising for another six weeks…
DeHaan says if you want to save a few pennies on gasoline, try filling up on Tuesday. He says they’ve found that’s the best day to buy gas
The worst day to buy gasoline is Friday according to GasBuddy’s research.
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The latest release from the 2019 Louisiana Survey shows 81% of respondents support raising the minimum wage to $8.50 an hour, from the current rate of $7.25. Director of LSU’s Public Policy Research Center Dr. Mike Henderson says the numbers indicate there is broad support for the increase.
Cut 6 (08) “…that minimum wage.”
The $8.25 an hour proposal saw support among Democrats at 94%, Independents at 78%, and Republicans at 72%. Governor Edwards has been pushing for an increase in the minimum wage with the goal of the state minimum wage hitting $9 an hour by July 2020.
While support for the pay hike for minimum wage workers is there from the public, the state has yet to see that same support from lawmakers. Henderson says he would not bet on an increase passing this year.
Cut 7 (09) “…down in committee.”
Support for a hike dropped to 59% when proposing a $15 an hour minimum wage, with only Democrats maintaining majority support at 85%.
Cut 8 (10) “…opinion on that.”
Governor Edwards is pushing a constitutional amendment to increase the minimum wage to nine-dollars an hour in 2020.
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Governor Edwards campaign reports it raised 2.5 million dollars in the 1st quarter of 2019, giving the reelection effort a total of 10.2 million dollars cash on hand.
His two Republican challengers have yet to release their latest numbers, but political analyst Clancy DuBos says Edwards fundraising sends a strong message to the GOP.
4,246 people donated to the campaign for an average donation of 600 dollars during the quarter that ended on April 5th.
But, Edwards fundraising is about to screech to a halt over the next three months as Louisiana law prohibits election fundraising during legislative sessions. DuBos says this gives the GOP a chance to dramatically close the gap.
Edwards is being challenged by businessman Eddie Rispone and Congressman Ralph Abraham.
There’s reports that other Republicans have been approached about joining the race, candidates who could potentially bring more robust fundraising, but DuBos says this late in the game the party is better off doubling down on the two they have…
The Edwards campaign has raised 12.1 million dollars total so far for the election cycle.
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It’s the first full day of the 2019 legislative session and for the first time since Governor John Bel Edwards took office, state lawmakers are not dealing with a significant budget deficit. Edwards says a two-billion dollar budget deficit has turned into a surplus
But the state republican party says Governor Edwards eliminated the budget deficit by signing the largest tax increase in the state history, just so the state can spend all of it.
Edwards says the state is much stronger and in a better place than just a few years ago. He points to recent data that showed personal income in Louisiana is the highest it’s ever been…
But Republican gubernatorial opponent Ralph Abraham points to a U-S News and World report that says Louisiana was ranked as the worst state for economic opportunity last year.
But Edwards says a recent survey out of LSU found that more people say the state is heading in the right direction compared to last year and he looks to keep the momentum going during this legislative session