US Senator John Kennedy has a message for Governor John Bel Edwards: Step Down.
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TOPS will be cut by 30 percent without additional funds from a special session tax deal, and that could cost Louisiana students big. Matt Doyle has the story.
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Presidential confidant Rudy Guiliani will be in Lafayette to raise money for US Congressman Clay Higgins primary opponent. Becca Dill has the story.
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US Senator John Kennedy is calling on Governor John Bel Edwards to step down due to his handling of the state’s fiscal cliff. Kennedy, who is reportedly readying up a run for the Governor’s Mansion, says the legislature’s inability to find a long term solution to the budget crisis come down to a lack of leadership from Edwards. The Republican called for the Lt. Governor to take over the state.
The Administration responded, saying “He hasn’t passed a single bill since being elected to the Senate, but has an infinite amount of time to do media interviews. We could similarly ask him to step down for being the most ineffective member of Congress, but that’d be nothing out of the ordinary as he’s run for every political office under the sun.”
Kennedy says the Governor has allowed the state budget to balloon, despite a lagging local economy. He says Edward’s inability to cut waste and reign in cost is because he’s a “Liberal Democrat”.
Edwards has fought with House GOP members over just how much should be raised to fill the budget gap. The governor supports a half penny sales tax that would fully fund government, while some House Republicans favor a third penny sales tax that would require 126 million in cuts. Kennedy says Edwards was negligent to reject the House Republican’s offer.
Edwards’ Spokesperson Richard Carbo says “Sen. Kennedy’s absurdity knows no limits, and Gov. Edwards isn’t going to be distracted by childish comments or letters from our junior senator. More people are working in Louisiana than ever before, unemployment is at a 10-year low and we are scoring the biggest economic development deals in our state’s history. That’s what can happen when you focus on the job you have.”
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The eyes of the world are on the recent meeting between President Trump and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un. US Congressman Ralph Abraham says he’s thankful that relations with North Korea are at a point where talking is a possibility.
Cut 7 (10) “…things go the wrong way”
Abraham says the current discussions could always go south, but as of right now, it appears that the conversations are more advanced with North Korea than ever before.
Cut 8 (08) “…his father or his grandfather”
The congressman says he’s got faith in President Trump’s ability to strike up an effective deal with Kim Jong Un.
Cut 9 (12) “,,,to seeing what happens”
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Rudy Guiliani is visiting Cajun country to raise money for US Congressman Clay Higgins primary challenger, Josh Guillory. The former New York City Mayor, and adviser to the President, will be attending a fundraiser for Guillory on June 25th in Lafayette at the Petroleum Club. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pierson Cross says it’s… a bit surprising.
Guillory is considered to be a more moderate republican, who may lean towards a message that resembles the districts former Representative, Charles Bustany.
Cross says this doesn’t necessarily mean the president is turning his back on one of his more vocal supporters. He says this could just be another example of the Trump Administration’s tendency to lack a unified political agenda.
Cut 11 (10) “coherent message”
Higgins has had early fundraising troubles, and while Cross says Guiliani is unlikely to sway any undecided voters in North Louisiana, he could bring some deep pocketed donors into the race on Guillory’s side.
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Unless the Legislature approves additional revenue, TOPS will suffer a 30 percent reduction, a cost that will be passed right back to students and their families. Higher ed is also on the block for a substantial reduction, and Taylor Foundation Executive Director Dr. James Caillier says even if the state approves the funds, we’re already losing some of our highest performers who are tired of the uncertainty.
That 30 percent reduction would result in the average LSU student with TOPS graduating nearly 14,000 dollars more in debt than they would have if the scholarship program was fully funded. Caillier says many working class students just could not bear that kind of increased cost.
Caillier says if we fail to sure up TOPS, the state will bleed its best talents, exacerbating the problems in our already sluggish economy.
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Saints running back Mark Ingram talked to the media about his recent absence at OTAs, amidst rumors that he’s unhappy heading into the year without a new contract. The Saints will be without the pro bowl runner who went for over 1100 yards on the ground last year for the first four games due to a PED suspension, but Ingram has faith that the young guns can carry the Black and Gold In his absence.
Ingram says the rumors that he was planning a hold out to protest his contract that runs out this year, are false.
He says he’s spent some time this off season really working on getting faster, something that he says he felt he could do better away from the team than with it.
Alvin Kamara is a lock for the top of the running back depth chart, but the backup role is still a wide open competition.
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